Head of Technical

CALA Homes; Bourne End; Remote; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

34 days holiday including public

Private healthcare

Enhanced salary sacrifice pension (5%/

ULEV car scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Retail discounts

Job summary

The Cala Group is a major UK housebuilder delivering high-quality residential developments across the UK. We are seeking a commercially focused Head of Technical to lead the Technical team from land appraisal through to pre-construction and delivery, ensuring compliant, buildable designs aligned with Cala standards.

You will manage external consultants, drive technical strategy across regions, and champion continuous improvement while maintaining delivery quality and stakeholder engagement.

Qualifications

• Background in Architecture, Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline.
• Extensive experience within the residential development or housebuilding sector.
• Proven experience leading and managing technical teams and external consultant supply chains.
• Strong understanding of residential construction methods and technical design processes.
• Demonstrable ability to provide strategic technical leadership, underpinned by commercial acumen.
• Experience working with multi-disciplinary project teams.
• Excellent planning, organisational, and prioritisation skills.
• Strong attention to detail with ability to maintain quality across projects.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills.
• Experience with building relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Self-motivated with ability to develop others.
• Experience using AutoCAD.
• Senior technical leadership role within a PLC housebuilder.
• Experience supporting consortium or complex infrastructure-led developments.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Technical team, creating a high-performing culture focused on quality and delivery.
• Manage the efficient delivery of architectural, engineering and infrastructure information to support the business development programme.
• Drive collaboration between internal departments and external consultants to ensure coordinated, buildable design solutions.
• Ensure technical information is delivered to programmes enabling sites to progress from acquisition through to completion.
• Challenge and optimise design solutions to maximise value and reduce risk.
• Oversee early technical input into site appraisals and development strategies.
• Lead technical aspects of planning submissions and secure planning consents with practical solutions.
• Oversee roads, drainage and utility infrastructure delivery and reporting.
• Chair technical review meetings and ensure quality and coordination standards.
• Build strong relationships with architects, engineers and consultants to maximise value.

Skills

Architecture

Civil Engineering

Structural Engineering

Residential Development

Leadership

Stakeholder Management

AutoCAD

Microsoft Office

Education

Chartered status

Tools

AutoCAD

Job description

Reporting to the Technical Director, the Head of Technical is responsible for leading and managing the Technical team to ensure the efficient, high‑quality delivery of architectural and engineering solutions across the residential development portfolio. The role plays a key part in supporting the strategic and corporate objectives of the business, providing strong technical leadership from early land appraisal through to pre‑construction and project delivery.Working closely with Land, Planning, Commercial, and Construction teams, the Head of Technical ensures developments are technically robust, commercially viable, and delivered in accordance with statutory requirements, Cala standards, and business expectations.

The key responsibilities of the role include (but are not limited to):

• Lead and develop the Technical team, creating a high-performing culture focused on quality, accountability and delivery.
• Manage the efficient delivery of all architectural, engineering and infrastructure information required to support the business development programme.
• Drive collaboration between internal departments and external consultants to ensure coordinated, accurate and buildable design solutions.
• Ensure technical information is delivered to agreed programmes, enabling sites to progress smoothly from acquisition through to completion.
• Challenge and optimise design solutions to maximise value, reduce risk and support the commercial objectives of the business.
• Support Land and Planning teams by overseeing early technical input into site appraisals, feasibility assessments and development strategies.
• Lead the technical aspects of planning submissions, helping to secure consents through practical, deliverable and commercially sound solutions.
• Oversee the design and delivery of roads, drainage and utility infrastructure, ensuring stakeholder requirements and statutory obligations are successfully managed.
• Chair technical review meetings, ensuring all drawings and supporting information meet required quality and coordination standards.
• Build strong relationships with architects, engineers and specialist consultants, driving performance and ensuring value is achieved from consultant appointments.
• Maintain effective coordination across all technical disciplines, proactively resolving design issues and reducing programme risk.
• Provide clear leadership and technical direction to support Construction, Commercial, Sales and Customer Service teams throughout the development lifecycle.
• Promote innovation, best practice and continual improvement, driving enhancements in quality, efficiency and technical performance.
• Act as a trusted technical lead for the region, providing expert guidance and professional representation both internally and externally.
• Champion Cala's standards, values and reputation, ensuring developments are delivered to the highest levels of quality and compliance.

About You

We are seeking an experienced and commercially focused Head of Technical to lead our Technical team and drive the successful delivery of high-quality architectural and engineering solutions across our residential development portfolio. Reporting to the Technical Director, you will provide strategic technical leadership from land acquisition and planning through to pre‑construction and project delivery, ensuring developments are compliant, buildable, commercially viable, and aligned with Cala's standards. This is a key leadership role requiring close collaboration with Land, Planning, Commercial and Construction teams, as well as the management of external consultants and stakeholders. You will be responsible for ensuring the timely delivery of technical information, supporting planning and infrastructure strategies, promoting continuous improvement, and leading a high‑performing team that contributes to the region's success. The ideal candidate will have a background in Architecture, Civil or Structural Engineering (or a related discipline), and a proven track record of leading technical teams. Strong commercial awareness, excellent stakeholder management skills, and the ability to influence and collaborate at a senior level are essential.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Background in Architecture, Civil Engineering, Structural Engineering, or a closely related technical discipline.
• Extensive experience within the residential development or housebuilding sector.
• Proven experience leading and managing technical teams and external consultant supply chains.
• Strong understanding of residential construction methods and technical design processes.
• Demonstrable ability to provide strategic technical leadership, underpinned by commercial acumen, business judgement, and a proven track record of successfully delivering residential development projects.
• Experience working collaboratively within multi‑disciplinary project teams.
• Excellent planning, organisational, and prioritisation skills.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to maintain quality across multiple projects.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills.
• Effective relationship‑building skills with internal and external stakeholders.
• Self‑motivated with the ability to motivate and develop others.
• Computer literate, with experience using Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Experience working with AutoCAD
• Experience in a senior technical leadership role within a PLC housebuilder.
• Experience supporting consortium or complex infrastructure‑led developments.
• Chartered status or membership of a relevant professional body.
• Experience contributing to regional or business‑unit technical strategy

Personal Attributes:

• Acts with integrity, honesty and professionalism at all times.
• Demonstrates resilience, tenacity and adaptability.
• Presents a positive and professional image of both self and the organisation.
• Self‑motivated, proactive and willing to take ownership.
• Positive, can‑do attitude with a willingness to learn and develop.
• Commercially aware and outcomes‑focused.
• Confident working on own initiative while knowing when to elevate.
• Strong planning and organisational skills.
• Able to work effectively under pressure and adapt to changing priorities.
• Discreet, with respect for confidentiality and sensitive information.
• Personable, approachable and collaborative in working style

We recognise that a diverse team makes us a stronger and more successful company. We value different ideas and perspectives as it helps improve our decision‑making, products and services. And we’re striving to create an inclusive work environment, in which everyone can feel comfortable as themselves, uniquely contribute and do their best work. If we need to adjust anything in our recruitment process to support you, please contact [e-mail]

About Us

The Cala Group is a major UK housebuilder and leading provider of desirable new homes across Scotland, the South of England & Midlands. Driven by a mission to create vibrant and sustainable new communities, our homes are characterised by exceptional design and sector‑leading build quality, and we have a passion for providing our customers with a great home buying experience. This is an exciting time to be at Cala. Our approach to sustainability and technology is undergoing a dramatic transformation, and we’re aiming to create an industry‑leading experience for both our staff and customers. At Cala, you can expect to be part of an environment which allows you to do meaningful work, while offering opportunities for personal growth. Our goal is to be the favoured employer in our industry and beyond. We encourage applications from those who want to be part of a culture where they can thrive, feel a sense of belonging and be comfortable being themselves at work.

We offer an excellent benefits package of 34 days holiday (including public holidays and increasing by a day each year to a maximum of 40), the option to buy or sell up to 5 days holiday, private healthcare, enhanced salary sacrifice pension contributions of 5% employee, 10% employer, ULEV car scheme, Employee Assistance Programme, retail discounts and much more! (Some benefits will be pro‑rated if you were to join on a part time basis)