Strategic Land Lead

Berrys; Towcester; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private Healthcare

CPD funding

35 days holiday pro rata

Birthday day off

Employee loan

Pension (NEST)

Employee discount

Remote/office hybrid working

Professional memberships paid

Job summary

Berrys is seeking a Strategic Land Lead to drive development opportunities across Northamptonshire and neighbouring counties from Towcester. You will lead identification, appraisal, and acquisition strategies for strategic land, working with planners, architects, valuers and development specialists.

The role demands a proven track record advising landowners, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to manage a personal portfolio of instructions while mentoring junior team members.

Qualifications

• Proven track record advising landowners on strategic land instructions.
• Full, clean UK driving licence required for site visits and meetings.
• Strong understanding of planning policy and development lifecycle.
• Excellent stakeholder management and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Act as internal figurehead for our Strategic Land offer within the Towcester office and be the go-to source for technical and market expertise.
• Lead identification, appraisal, and securing of strategic land opportunities through promotion agreements, option agreements, JV structures, and freehold acquisition/disposal.
• Undertake development appraisals, land valuation, and high-level viability assessments to inform strategic decision‑making.
• Work collaboratively with planners, architects, valuers and development specialists to deliver cohesive advice and coordinated strategies for clients.
• Provide expert guidance to landowners, from initial site appraisal through to the promotion, planning and disposal processes.
• Maintain a strong understanding of the evolving planning landscape, local plan reviews, call-for-sites and regional housing need.
• Support and mentor junior team members, helping them develop technical understanding of strategic land, planning policy and the development lifecycle.
• Demonstrate commercial awareness, understanding drivers of profitability, efficiency and team productivity.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Strategic land development

Land valuation

Development appraisal

Planning policy

Client relationship management

Driving licence

Analytical thinking

Education

RICS-accredited qualification preferred (Rural, Planning & Development or Commercial routes considered)

Job description

Berrys

At Berrys, we are all about land and property. Working from four offices across the Midlands, we offer an array of services - planning, architecture, building surveying, valuation and business consultancy - to help our clients make the most of their assets.

You will be part of a multi-disciplinary development team made up of engineers, surveyors, archaeologists, planners and architects. You will be part of a business which is big enough for a varied range of work and opportunities. However, it is small enough to provide autonomy and a chance to really get to know everyone – expanding your skills and building new connections.

Operational Requirements - Strategic Land Lead:

• Act as the internal figurehead for our Strategic Land offer within the Towcester office and be the go‑to source for technical and market expertise.
• Cover the Northamptonshire market and surrounding counties
• Lead the identification, appraisal, and securing of strategic land opportunities through promotion agreements, option agreements, JV structures, and freehold acquisition/disposal.
• Undertake development appraisals, land valuation, and high‑level viability assessments to inform strategic decision‑making.
• Work collaboratively with planners, architects, valuers and development specialists to deliver cohesive advice and coordinated strategies for clients.
• Provide expert guidance to landowners, from initial site appraisal through to the promotion, planning and disposal processes.
• Maintain a strong understanding of the evolving planning landscape, local plan reviews, call‑for‑sites and regional housing need.
• Support and mentor junior team members, helping them develop technical understanding of strategic land, planning policy and the development lifecycle.
• Demonstrate commercial awareness, understanding drivers of profitability, efficiency and team productivity.

Strategic Requirements - Strategic Land Lead:

• Gain a deep understanding of Berrys’ business model and multi‑disciplinary service offering to promote a comprehensive development proposition to clients.
• Drive business development activity to expand our strategic land instructions across Northamptonshire and neighbouring counties.
• Build and maintain a strong network of landowners, promoters, developers, housebuilders, agents, and local authority contacts.
• Leverage existing relationships to enhance the pipeline of strategic land opportunities and cross‑sell other Berrys services where appropriate.
• Review our current strategic land portfolio, identify strengths and weaknesses, and implement a diversification and growth plan.
• Monitor market trends, land values, planning policy and developer appetite, shaping Berrys’ approach accordingly.
• Represent the company at industry events, maintaining a strong and positive presence within the regional land and development market.
• This is a senior hire and the person must be able to develop and sustain their own book of clients and portfolio of instructions.

Person Specification - Strategic Land Lead:

• Excellent stakeholder management and negotiation skills.
• A passion for land, planning and development with a friendly, professional manner and strong client focus.
• Strong track record of advising landowners and managing strategic land instructions.
• Ability to set technical and commercial strategy for the strategic land team.
• Exceptional skills in land valuation, development appraisal and planning‑led decision‑making.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving and decision‑making capabilities.
• Strategic thinker with excellent attention to detail.
• Resilient under pressure, adaptable to change and able to prioritise competing demands.
• Commitment to innovation and continual improvement of service delivery.
• RICS‑accredited qualification preferred (Rural, Planning & Development or Commercial routes considered).
• Confident using social media channels such as LinkedIn to support business development.
• Full, clean UK driving licence essential due to site visits and landowner meetings.

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, to be worked flexibly Monday-Friday in line with our Agile Working Philosophy.

Benefits - Strategic Land Lead:

• The role sits within a friendly and supportive team with opportunities to develop.
• We will offer an excellent salary for the right candidate reflective of your skills, qualifications and experience
• We will pay all the appropriate professional memberships and fund your attendance at relevant CPD events and time off for approved training
• We provide Private Healthcare scheme for all via BUPA
• We have an Employee Assistance Programme, including a health plan and annual flu jab
• We have an agile working philosophy allowing for a mix of remote and office working
• We provide an entitlement of 35 days holiday per annum (pro rata to working hours) inclusive of bank holidays
• An additional day off to celebrate your Birthday
• We give an additional day of holiday for every 3 years of service
• The is potential for discretionary bonus
• We provide an enhanced workplace pension scheme operated through the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST)
• Following successful probation period, access to employee loan and employee discount on Berrys services

Closing Date: 15th October 2026