Senior Partnerships Manager

Dandara; Southampton; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonus scheme

Car allowance

33 days holiday

Private medical insurance

Employee assistance programme

Cycle to work

Pension scheme 5%

Flexible benefits

Job summary

Dandara is seeking a Senior Partnerships Manager to lead strategic relationships with Registered Providers, Housing Associations and social landlords, delivering affordable housing and innovative partnerships.

You will shape deals from concept to delivery, negotiating terms and coordinating with Land, Planning, Technical, Commercial and Finance teams to unlock value for all parties. The role covers the Southern and Western regions with Bristol or Southampton offices.

Qualifications

• Experience building and managing strategic partnerships in housing or development sectors.
• Proven ability to negotiate complex commercial terms and contracts.
• Strong understanding of Section 106, affordable housing funding and delivery.

Responsibilities

• Build and manage long-term partnerships with RP/ Housing Association partners.
• Shape joint ventures and longer-term strategic partnership agreements.
• Lead commercial appraisal, funding discussions and deal structuring.
• Collaborate with Land, Planning, Technical, Commercial and Finance teams.
• Monitor partner performance and drive value across programs.
• Represent the business to external partners and market stakeholders.

Skills

Partnership development

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Strategic planning

Commercial acumen

Housing sector knowledge

Job description

Senior Partnerships Manager – Affordable Housing & Strategic Partnerships

Dandara | Housebuilding

Build partnerships that create homes, unlock opportunities and deliver long-term value

We’re looking for an experienced Senior Partnerships Manager to develop and lead strategic relationships with Registered Providers, Housing Associations and social landlords, helping us deliver affordable housing, mixed‑tenure developments and innovative partnership opportunities.

This is a highly commercial role at the intersection of land, development, affordable housing and investment. You’ll identify opportunities, build relationships and negotiate agreements that enable us and our partners to deliver more homes. From Section 106 packages and whole-site acquisitions to forward funding and joint ventures, you’ll have the opportunity to shape deals from initial concept through to delivery.

This role will support our Southern and Western regional businesses and requires someone with strong sector relationships and an established network across these regions. We are happy to consider candidates based from either our Bristol or Southampton offices

What You’ll Be Doing

Build strategic partnerships

You’ll develop strong, long-term relationships across the affordable housing sector, becoming a trusted point of contact for our RP and social landlord partners.

• Build relationships with Registered Providers, Housing Associations and PLC social landlords
• Identify opportunities across Section 106, affordable housing, mixed-tenure and contracting-led schemes
• Explore additionality opportunities and potential whole-site purchases
• Lead negotiations on Section 106 packages, bulk sales and forward funding arrangements
• Work collaboratively with partners on design, specification, tenure mix and delivery programmes
• Identify opportunities where a partnership approach can unlock greater value for all parties

Shape joint ventures and strategic agreements

You’ll identify and assess opportunities to work with social landlords and institutional partners through joint ventures and longer‑term strategic agreements.

Working with internal and external stakeholders, you’ll support the structuring of development and collaboration agreements, establish clear commercial objectives and ensure commitments are delivered.

You’ll also lead regular partnership reviews, keeping performance, delivery and relationships firmly on track.

Put commercial thinking at the heart of every deal

This isn’t simply a relationship‑management position. We’re looking for someone who can understand, structure and appraise a deal.

Working closely with our Land, Commercial and Finance teams, you’ll:

• Assess scheme viability and potential funding structures
• Analyse affordable tenure mix, grant funding and forward‑sale opportunities
• Negotiate commercial terms that deliver value while managing risk
• Understand programme, cashflow and partner contribution implications
• Produce high‑level scheme appraisals and more detailed assessments of offers from RPs and financial institutions
• Bring a strong understanding of the affordable housing funding regime and Homes England funding

You’ll be comfortable getting into the detail while never losing sight of the bigger commercial picture.

Get involved early

The strongest partnerships start well before construction begins.

You’ll work closely with our Land, Planning, Technical, Commercial, Finance and Construction teams, bringing partner insight into site acquisition, planning and development decisions.

You’ll help ensure proposals meet partner requirements, specifications, compliance standards and handover expectations, while identifying potential issues early enough to do something about them.

Be our eyes and ears in the market

Affordable housing is changing, and we want someone who understands where the sector is heading.

You’ll represent Dandara across the RP and affordable housing market, developing relationships and keeping us informed about:

• Funding and grant programmes
• Regulatory changes
• Homes England requirements
• Emerging partnership and funding models
• Market appetite and sector trends

You’ll use that knowledge to identify opportunities and help shape our future partnership strategy.

What We’re Looking For

You’ll already have significant experience working with Registered Providers or Housing Associations within housebuilding, residential development or affordable housing.

You’ll Bring

• A strong understanding of affordable housing delivery and Section 106 agreements
• Knowledge of grant and affordable housing funding structures
• Experience negotiating bulk sales, forward funding arrangements and/or joint ventures
• The ability to prepare and understand development appraisals
• Strong commercial judgement and an understanding of development viability and risk
• Excellent negotiation and stakeholder‑management skills
• The confidence to work with senior decision‑makers internally and externally
• A collaborative approach across Land, Planning, Technical, Commercial, Finance and Construction
• A good understanding of Homes England funding and compliance requirements

The person we’re looking for

You’ll be commercially astute, credible and relationship‑driven.

You know how to build trust with partners, but you're equally comfortable challenging assumptions, negotiating terms and protecting the commercial interests of the business.

You’ll understand that the best partnerships aren't simply transactions. They’re about finding structures where land, funding, development expertise and shared objectives come together to create opportunities that work for everyone involved.

Make an impact with Dandara

This is an opportunity to play an important role in growing our affordable housing and partnership activity.

You’ll have the scope to identify opportunities, influence schemes at an early stage and create relationships that can develop from individual transactions into long‑term strategic partnerships.

If you have the RP relationships, affordable housing expertise and commercial mindset to help us identify opportunities and turn them into successful developments, we’d love to hear from you.

What's in it for you?

• £Competitive basic based on experience
• Bonus Scheme
• Car Allowance
• 33 days holiday (inclusive of bank holidays)
• Private Medical Insurance
• Employee Assistance Programme - EAP
• Health Hero digital doctor - 24 hr virtual help and appointments
• Health Assured Wisdom App
• 3x salary life assurance (paid option to increase to x4)
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Employer matched pension scheme of up to 5%
• Flexible benefits including shopping vouchers, airport parking and reduced gym membership

Founded in 1988 on the Isle of Man, Dandara is the Housebuilding division of Dandara Group. It has been creating beautiful homes for over 30 years, providing our customers with an exceptional level of service all the way through the process. It’s part of the reason why we are one of the UK’s most respected private housebuilders, with our portfolio now stretching across the nation.