Pre-Contract Development Lead for Affordable Housing Growth

Great Places Housing Association; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Healthcare scheme

Hybrid working

Annual leave 26–30 days

Employee discounts

Job summary

Great Places Housing Association is seeking a Head of Development (Pre Contract) to lead the pre-contract Affordable Development programme and the pre-contract team. You will shape the delivery of new affordable tenures, manage funding bids, and drive high performance across the department while aligning with the Group’s Development Strategy.

You will collaborate across directorates to secure opportunities, manage risk, and ensure governance, probity and value for money in pre-contract work,

Qualifications

• Degree level (or equivalent) with demonstrated leadership ability.
• Minimum 8 years in a property development role with affordable housing expertise.
• Proven leadership, line management and mentoring skills.
• Strong programme, project, contract and cashflow management experience.
• Proven relationship builder with stakeholders and ability to generate new business.
• Experience in partnership work, collaboration and multi-disciplinary development teams.
• Solid understanding of financial appraisal methods and development feasibility.
• Ability to manage risk, audits and Homes England requirements.
• Experience managing development budgets and financial controls.
• Knowledge of the property development process including land acquisition, design, construction and procurement.
• Experience negotiating complex legal contracts including land and construction.
• Strong report writing and concise communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the pre-contract Affordable Development programme and team.
• Develop and deliver funding bids in collaboration with senior stakeholders.
• Provide leadership to foster high performance, accountability and cross-organisational collaboration.
• Monitor skills, capacity and workloads within the pre-contract team and delegate as needed.
• Collaborate with the Post Contract team to maintain plans, training schedules and performance data.
• Drive strategy to generate and secure new business and partnerships.
• Manage stakeholder relationships with Local Authorities, Homes England and the private sector.
• Oversee pre-contract development against targets (e.g., ~520 homes per financial year).
• Manage development risk with robust investment data and mitigations.
• Lead the preparation of bids for strategic opportunities, land and new schemes.
• Ensure feasibility studies and financial appraisals align with financial parameters and risk framework.
• Maintain compliance with procurement, probity policies and funders’ requirements.
• Prepare and present reports to Exec Directors, Growth Committee and Board.
• Ensure value for money in procurement, supply chain and materials selection.
• Embed Social Value within development contracts and programme cashflows.

Education

Degree level or equivalent

Job description

Great Places Housing Association is seeking a Head of Development (Pre Contract) to lead the pre-contract Affordable Development programme and the pre-contract team. You will shape the delivery of new affordable tenures, manage funding bids, and drive high performance across the department while aligning with the Group’s Development Strategy.

You will collaborate across directorates to secure opportunities, manage risk, and ensure governance, probity and value for money in pre-contract work,