Senior Land Manager

Dandara; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Dandara is seeking an experienced Senior Land Manager to join its regional team from the Tunbridge Wells office, taking ownership of residential land opportunities from identification through to acquisition and successful planning consent.

You will build relationships with landowners, agents and authorities, lead viability modelling and appraisals, and influence Local Plans and Section 106 processes while mentoring junior staff.

Qualifications

• Proven experience securing residential land opportunities from identification through to completion.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen, with the ability to appraise sites and build viability models.
• Excellent knowledge of the planning system and Local Plan processes.
• Strong network to source on- and off-market opportunities.
• Excellent negotiation skills to secure advantageous deals.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating with stakeholders.
• RICS or equivalent qualification would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Own opportunities from identification to acquisition and through to exchange and implementation of planning consent.
• Lead financial and technical appraisal of development sites.
• Prepare and present residual land appraisals, viability models and development forecasts to senior management.
• Lead negotiations and secure commercially attractive land acquisitions.
• Develop divisional land acquisition strategies with senior leadership.
• Influence Local Plans, planning applications and Section 106 agreements.
• Provide market intelligence to support growth strategy.
• Mentor junior members of the Land team.

Skills

Land acquisition

Financial acumen

Negotiation skills

Networking

Planning knowledge

Communication skills

Education

RICS qualification

Job description

Ready to shape the next generation of residential development?

At Dandara, land is where great developments begin. Were looking for an experienced Senior Land Manager to join our regional team, based from our Tunbridge Wells office, and play a key role in identifying, appraising and securing residential development opportunities that will drive our future growth.

This is a role for someone who knows the land market, enjoys building relationships and has the commercial confidence to turn opportunities into successful acquisitions.

The Opportunity

As Senior Land Manager, youll take ownership of opportunities from the moment they are identified through to acquisition, working closely with our Land, Technical, Commercial, Sales and wider leadership teams.

Youll have the opportunity to make a real impact by:

• Building and maintaining strong relationships with landowners, agents, developers, promoters and local authorities.

• Identifying both on-market and off-market land opportunities and keeping ahead of competitor activity, planning policy and market trends.

• Leading the financial and technical appraisal of potential development sites.

• Preparing and presenting residual land appraisals, viability models and development forecasts to senior management and Group Boards.

• Leading negotiations and securing commercially attractive land acquisitions.

• Managing opportunities through the full acquisition lifecycle, from initial identification through to exchange, completion and implementable planning consent.

• Developing and delivering divisional land acquisition strategies alongside senior leadership.

• Influencing Local Plans, planning applications and Section 106 agreements to help build a strong medium- and long-term land pipeline.

• Providing market intelligence and insight to support the divisions growth strategy.

• Building strong relationships across the business and ensuring land decisions are aligned with technical, commercial and sales objectives.

• Supporting and mentoring junior members of the Land team.

What You'll Bring

Were looking for an established land professional with a strong track record in residential land acquisition and a genuine understanding of what makes a development opportunity commercially viable.

Youll ideally have:

• Proven experience securing residential land opportunities from initial identification through to completion.

• Strong financial and commercial acumen, with the ability to appraise sites, build viability models and identify opportunities to create value.

• Excellent knowledge of the planning system, Local Plan promotion and the political landscape surrounding residential development.

• A strong network of industry contacts and the ability to source both on- and off-market opportunities.

• Excellent negotiation skills and the confidence to secure commercially advantageous deals.

• The resilience and self-motivation to operate independently while working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders.

• Strong communication skills and the confidence to present recommendations and opportunities to senior management and Boards.

• RICS or an equivalent professional qualification would be advantageous.

Why This Role?

This isnt simply a role managing an existing land pipeline. Youll be helping to identify where the business can grow next, building relationships in the market and taking ownership of opportunities that can shape the future development programme.

Youll have visibility with senior stakeholders, influence across multiple functions and the opportunity to make a tangible commercial impact through the land you secure.

Youll also play an important part in ensuring our developments support wider Environmental, Social and Governance objectives, including sustainability, Net Zero Carbon and social value initiatives.

JBRP1_UKTJ