Head of New Homes Development

London Borough of Tower Hamlets; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

London Borough of Tower Hamlets seeks a Head of New Homes Development to lead a complex, multi‑million‑pound regeneration programme from feasibility through to handover, ensuring time, cost, quality, safety and sustainability. You will build a high‑performing team, shape strategy and maximise opportunities across the council’s housing portfolio.

Reporting to the Director of Regeneration & Development, you will manage budgets, engage stakeholders and drive delivery across major housing

Qualifications

• Strategic leadership in major capital projects within local government.
• Experience delivering new-build housing and regeneration programmes.
• Strong knowledge of funding, procurement routes and governance frameworks.
• Ability to manage complex commercial negotiations and partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to the New Homes Development Service and drive delivery.
• Lead the development pipeline from inception through to handover, ensuring value for money.
• Oversee feasibility, business cases, procurement, construction and contract close.
• Manage budgets, risks and governance across the capital programme.
• Engage stakeholders and secure external funding opportunities including GLA and partners.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Housing development

Regeneration knowledge

Governance & procurement

Job description

Goodman Masson is exclusively partnering with the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in the appointment of a Head of New Homes Development

About London Borough of Tower Hamlets

Tower Hamlets is delivering one of the most ambitious regeneration and housing programmes in London. Home to globally significant economic centres and diverse, established communities, the borough presents a unique opportunity to shape growth at scale. Our ambition is not simply to accommodate growth, but to harness it to create exceptional places, deliver thousands of new homes, support economic prosperity and ensure that residents benefit from investment in their neighbourhoods.

As a senior leader, you will provide strategic direction across a portfolio of high-profile regeneration and development programmes, navigating complexity, building influential partnerships and driving delivery. You will help shape the borough's future places, ensuring regeneration leaves a positive and lasting legacy for current and future generations.

The Opportunity

Goodman Masson is delighted to be supporting Tower Hamlets Council in the appointment of a Head of New Homes Development.

Reporting directly to the Director of Regeneration & Development, you will provide strategic leadership for the Council's new homes development service and take responsibility for a complex, multi-million-pound development pipeline.

You will lead the service from opportunity identification and feasibility through to procurement, construction, completion and handover, ensuring schemes are delivered to the required standards for time, cost, quality, safety and sustainability.

This is a senior leadership role requiring a strong combination of strategic vision, commercial acumen, technical understanding and political awareness. You will work across the Council and with a wide range of external partners to maximise development opportunities and deliver the Council's housing and regeneration priorities.

Key Responsibilities

You will:

• Provide strategic leadership and direction to the New Homes Development Service, building a high-performing culture focused on delivery, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Lead the Council's new homes development pipeline from inception through to completion and handover.
• Ensure development opportunities maximise site potential and are commercially, financially and technically robust.
• Lead multidisciplinary internal teams and external professional advisers involved in housing development.
• Connect the Council's capital programme with wider strategic development and regeneration opportunities across the borough.
• Develop and implement strategies and policies that support the delivery of new capital investment opportunities across the Council.
• Lead major housing schemes, including feasibility, business cases, project initiation, procurement, commercial negotiations, contract documentation and contract close.
• Maintain rigorous financial and commercial control across the capital programme and ensure schemes deliver value for money.
• Identify and manage procurement, financial, legal, programme and delivery risks.
• Ensure contractual obligations are effectively managed, including matters relating to scope changes, delays, compensation events, notices and payments.
• Ensure the Council's capital governance arrangements are followed and that projects are effectively monitored and reported.
• Lead reporting to elected Members, senior officers and external housing delivery partners.
• Work with relevant client and service teams to maximise external funding opportunities, including working with organisations such as the Greater London Authority (GLA) and other strategic partners.
• Work closely with Housing Asset Management to ensure appropriate information is transferred and schemes support the Council's wider strategic asset management objectives.
• Develop effective communication strategies for major schemes and ensure stakeholders and communities are appropriately engaged.
• Manage service budgets and capital budgets, ensuring robust financial monitoring, control and reporting.
• Develop annual service plans, establish clear performance objectives and drive continuous improvement.
• Lead, motivate and develop managers and staff, creating a culture of accountability, professional development and innovation.
• Deputise for the Director of Regeneration & Development when required.

About You

We are seeking an experienced senior housing development professional with a strong track record of delivering new-build housing and major capital programmes within a complex local government or comparable environment.

You will bring:

Strategic & Technical Leadership

• Comprehensive knowledge of policy, legislation, statutory obligations and current practice relating to major capital projects in a local government environment.
• Strong knowledge of housing development and regeneration, including funding and procurement routes.
• A clear understanding of how high-quality building design, sustainability and placemaking can contribute to successful communities.
• Strong understanding of legal, financial, procurement and governance frameworks relevant to major development programmes.

Housing Development Experience

• Significant senior-level experience successfully delivering new-build housing.
• Experience leading housing development and regeneration programmes in a complex, urban or inner-city environment.
• Demonstrable experience taking schemes from inception through procurement and construction to completion.
• Experience managing complex commercial negotiations with bidders and partners, including contract close and the application of sound commercial principles.
• Strong experience of project management, financial management, budget monitoring and cost control.

Leadership & Change

• Substantial experience leading multidisciplinary technical and professional teams.
• A proven record of motivating and developing staff and delivering high-performing teams.
• Significant experience of managing performance and achieving agreed outcomes.
• Demonstrable experience of leading organisational or cultural change resulting in measurable service improvement.
• The ability to create a culture of innovation, accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.

Stakeholder & Political Awareness

• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively across organisational boundaries.
• Experience working with external partners, professional advisers and specialist providers.
• Experience preparing clear and accessible reports for a range of audiences.
• Proven ability to advise elected Members and senior officers on complex development, financial, commercial and delivery matters.
• The confidence and judgement to operate effectively in a politically sensitive local government environment.

Our Values

Tower Hamlets Council's values underpin the way it works with residents, communities, partners and colleagues.

TOGETHER

We work across boundaries and with partners to achieve the best outcomes for Tower Hamlets.

OPEN

We communicate clearly, honestly and transparently and remain approachable to colleagues, partners and communities.

WILLING

We are willing to challenge, innovate and take accountability for improving the way we work.

EXCELLENT

We empower one another to deliver high-quality services and go the extra mile.

RESPECT

We respect all communities and recognise that they are at the heart of everything we do.

We are looking for a leader whose approach reflects these values and who can demonstrate them through their day-to-day leadership and delivery.

Why Tower Hamlets?

This is a significant opportunity to join Tower Hamlets at an important stage in its housing and regeneration journey.

As Head of New Homes Development, you will have the opportunity to:

• Lead a substantial and complex new homes development programme.
• Shape the Council's approach to housing delivery and regeneration.
• Influence major investment and development decisions across the borough.
• Work with senior officers, elected Members, communities and strategic partners.
• Lead and develop a talented multidisciplinary team.
• Deliver high-quality, sustainable new homes and contribute to long-term place-making.
• Play a key role in the Council's wider corporate priorities and regeneration ambitions.

The role offers the opportunity to make a tangible contribution to the quality, supply and sustainability of housing across one of London's most dynamic boroughs.

Link to our Future Places plan - Tower Hamlets Future Places

Goodman Masson is acting as the recruitment partner to Tower Hamlets Council for this appointment.