Development Manager

Bowdon Associates Ltd; Wilmslow; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Bowdon Associates Ltd seeks an experienced Development Manager to drive a pipeline of residential and specialist care developments from land acquisition to practical completion.

You will balance commercial, technical and stakeholder demands while coordinating with architects, planning consultants, engineers and contractors across the development lifecycle.

This role offers the chance to shape a growing portfolio of care home and assisted living projects across the region.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Development Manager in residential property, with care home/assisted living experience preferred.
• Strong understanding of the planning system, esp. as it relates to C2/C3 use class schemes and specialist accommodation.
• Familiarity with operational requirements of care providers and translating them into design decisions.
• Track record of managing multiple projects concurrently, from inception to completion.
• Commercially astute with numeracy and experience managing development appraisals and budgets.
• Excellent stakeholder management with landowners, local authorities, contractors and care operators.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel to sites as required.

Responsibilities

• Manage development projects from site identification through to planning, construction and delivery.
• Lead site appraisals, feasibility studies and viability assessments.
• Coordinate with architects, planning consultants, engineers and contractors throughout each project stage.
• Oversee planning applications and manage relationships with local authorities and planning officers.
• Manage project budgets, programmes, and risk registers, reporting regularly to senior management.
• Negotiate land acquisitions, options and development agreements.
• Liaise with funders, investors, and operational partners to ensure schemes meet commercial and operational requirements.
• Ensure developments comply with relevant regulatory, building and (where applicable) care sector standards.
• Manage external consultant teams and hold contractors to programme, cost and quality expectations.
• Identify and mitigate project risks, escalating issues as needed.

Skills

Development management

Planning knowledge

Stakeholder management

Budget management

Multi-project management

Commercial awareness

Job description

Our client designs and delivers socially responsible developments with a particular focus on care homes and specialist supported living schemes. They are looking to add an experienced Development Manager to their team.

The Role of Development Manager

We are seeking an experienced Development Manager to join our clients team, driving forward a pipeline of residential and specialist care developments. This is a key role for someone who can manage projects from land acquisition through to practical completion, balancing commercial, technical and stakeholder demands across the development lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage development projects from site identification and feasibility through to planning, construction and delivery
• Lead site appraisals, feasibility studies and viability assessments
• Coordinate with architects, planning consultants, engineers and contractors throughout each project stage
• Oversee planning applications and manage relationships with local authorities and planning officers
• Manage project budgets, programmes, and risk registers, reporting regularly to senior management
• Negotiate land acquisitions, options and development agreements
• Liaise with funders, investors, and operational partners to ensure schemes meet commercial and operational requirements
• Ensure developments comply with relevant regulatory, building and (where applicable) care sector standards
• Manage external consultant teams and hold contractors to programme, cost and quality expectations
• Identify and mitigate project risks, escalating issues as needed

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Proven experience as a Development Manager within residential property, with care home and/or assisted living/extra care development experience strongly preferred
• Strong understanding of the planning system, particularly as it relates to C2/C3 use class schemes and specialist accommodation
• Familiarity with the operational requirements of care and assisted living providers, and how these translate into design and development decisions
• Track record of managing multiple projects concurrently, from inception to completion
• Commercially astute, with strong numeracy and experience managing development appraisals and budgets
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, comfortable liaising with landowners, local authorities, contractors and care operators
• Full UK driving licence, with willingness to travel to sites as required

What's on Offer

• Competitive salary, dependent on experience
• Performance-related bonus of up to 25% of salary per project
• Opportunity to shape a growing pipeline of specialist care and assisted living developments

Keywords: Developer, Development Manager, Care Homes, Property Development, Propery Developer, Land buyer, Land Director, Development Manager, Land Buying, Property Acquisition