Assistant Development Manager

Thomas Gray; Watford; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Thomas Gray is seeking a proactive project professional to manage client-side liaison and coordination across contractors, consultants and authorities in a dynamic development environment.

The role focuses on maintaining programme integrity, overseeing governance tasks, and ensuring smooth handovers with housing providers and agents, across multiple stages of development.

Responsibilities

• Client-side liaison with main contractors, external consultants, statutory authorities and development partners.
• Manage and update pre-start trackers (M1–M15) and Project Lifetime Trackers, chair meetings and ensure actions recorded.
• Monitor master programmes across departments, track critical path milestones and keep delivery on schedule.
• Act as Project Lead during transitional stages to maintain continuity between internal teams.
• Manage third-party relationships including neighbours, managing agents and legal agreements.
• Conduit between internal departments and external specialist technical consultants.
• Cultivate partnerships with industry suppliers and sector stakeholders to stay at the forefront of modern construction.
• Oversee project completion, coordinate building control sign-offs, Designer documentation, latent defect warranties and sales progress.
• Carry out client-side governance tasks including register developments, naming/numbering and notifying authorities of council tax triggers.
• Direct day-to-day relationships with Affordable Housing Providers and maintain company systems with technical department.

Job description

This position requires genuine buy-in to high-quality placemaking and contemporary development standards, alongside the diplomatic touch needed to manage relationships with external consultants, contractors, joint-venture partners, local authorities and neighbouring communities.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a core client-side liaison, assuming typical client roles to manage daily coordination between main contractors, external consultants, statutory authorities and development partners.
• Run, manage and update each project's pre-start trackers (M1 through to M15) and Project Lifetime Trackers, chairing associated meetings and ensuring outcomes are recorded and actioned.
• Monitor master programmes across all departments, tracking critical path milestones and intervening promptly to ensure delivery stays on schedule.
• Act as Project Lead during transitional stages to maintain continuity between internal teams and disciplines.
• Manage third-party relationships including neighbours, interested parties, managing agents and relevant legal agreements.
• Act as a conduit between internal departments and external specialist technical consultants.
• Cultivate partnerships with industry suppliers, manufacturers and sector stakeholders to keep the business at the forefront of modern, innovative construction practices.
• Oversee the project completion process, pulling together building control sign-offs, Principal Designer documentation and latent defect warranties to ensure sales progress without delay.
• Carry out client-side governance tasks, including registering developments for naming and numbering and notifying local authorities of council tax triggers.
• Direct day-to-day operational relationships with Affordable Housing Providers.
• Maintain and update company-wide systems alongside the technical department, including the housing catalogue and specifications.
• Assist the construction team with site inspections to monitor build quality, site safety standards and architectural integrity.
• Prepare comprehensive client progress reports, board packs and programme updates for internal directors and external investment partners.
• Facilitate statutory approval workflows, including planning condition discharges, Section 106 agreements, Building Safety Act compliance and utility connections.
• Oversee end-stage handover processes and coordinate commissioning records, taking an instrumental role in establishing customer handover frameworks alongside appointing Managing Agents.

Ref: 4486IG