Development Director

cobaltrecruitment; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Cobalt is seeking a Development Director to join a new UK residential platform with 5-6 secured sites and a 5–7 year pipeline. The role reports to the senior team and involves strategic and commercial oversight across a portfolio of developments.

You will manage viability, cashflows, funding and debt requirements while overseeing governance and stakeholder relationships to ensure robust, high-quality delivery. Experience in housing and RP/Operators is advantageous.

Qualifications

• Strong experience across living and residential development including apartments and housing.
• Strategic and commercially focused approach to development needs.
• Strong financial understanding including viability and appraisals.
• Experience with development finance and debt structures.
• Proven ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships.
• Knowledge of risk, governance and value creation within development platforms.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic oversight across multiple residential development projects and tenures.
• Oversee viability assessments, appraisals, cashflows and value creation.
• Understand development funding and debt requirements.
• Manage governance, risk and compliance throughout the development lifecycle.
• Oversee senior consultants, partners and project stakeholders.
• Manage relationships with investors, operators and registered providers as needed.
• Support ongoing development of the platform, processes and delivery strategy.
• Ensure projects remain commercially robust with focus on quality and delivery.

Skills

Residential development

Strategic & commercial focus

Financial understanding

Development viability & cashflows

Development finance & debt

Stakeholder management

Risk, governance & value creation

Autonomous / entrepreneurial mindset

Job description

Cobalt is working exclusively with a well-capitalised, institutionally backed real estate business that is establishing a new development platform to deliver a significant pipeline of residential assets across the UK.

With 5-6 sites already secured and a development pipeline expected to span the next 5-7 years at least, they are now looking to appoint a Development Director to join the senior team and help shape the platform as it grows.

The Organisation

The business has significant institutional backing and an existing portfolio of residential development and other opportunities and assets across the UK, including BTR, Build to Sell, apartments and housing.

This is an opportunity to join at an early stage of the platform's growth, working within a small, experienced team with committed projects already in place and the opportunity to influence how the development and construction function evolves.

The Role and Responsibilities

Working closely with the senior leadership team, you will take strategic and commercial oversight across a portfolio of residential developments. Key responsibilities will include:

• Providing strategic oversight across multiple development projects and tenures.
• Managing development viability, appraisals, cashflows and value creation.
• Understanding development funding and debt requirements.
• Managing risk, governance and compliance throughout the development lifecycle.
• Overseeing senior consultants, partners and other project stakeholders.
• Managing relationships with investors, Operators and Registered Providers where required.
• Supporting the continued development of the wider platform, processes and delivery strategy.
• Ensuring projects remain commercially robust while maintaining a strong focus on quality and delivery.

The Skills and Requirements

We are looking for an experienced residential development professional with:

• Strong experience across living and residential development, ideally including both apartments and housing.
• A strategic and commercially focused approach to development.
• Strong financial understanding, including viability and development appraisals.
• An understanding of development finance and debt.
• Experience managing complex stakeholder relationships.
• Strong understanding of risk, governance and value creation.
• Experience working with Registered Providers and/or Operators would be beneficial.
• The ability to operate autonomously within a lean, entrepreneurial environment.

This is a rare opportunity to join a well-funded development platform at an early stage, with an established pipeline and significant scope to influence its future growth.