Strategic Land Lead

Berrys; Towcester; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private Healthcare scheme via BUPA

35 days holiday incl. bank holidays

Salary sacrifice for EV/Cycle to Work

Professional memberships funded

Job summary

Berrys is recruiting a Strategic Land Lead to drive development opportunities across Northamptonshire and neighbouring counties. You will act as the expert for strategic land, lead appraisals, valuations and high-level viability, and collaborate with planners, architects and valuers to deliver cohesive client strategies.

The role requires an established track record in strategic land, strong stakeholder skills and a propensity to build a personal client book.

Qualifications

• Excellent stakeholder management and negotiation skills.
• A passion for land, planning and development with a 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 and adaptable to change.
• Commitment to innovation and continual improvement of service delivery.
• LinkedIn/online networking to support business development.
• Full, clean UK driving licence essential.

Responsibilities

• Act as the internal figurehead for the Strategic Land offer within the Towcester office.
• Cover the Northamptonshire market and surrounding counties.
• Lead identification, appraisal and securing of strategic land opportunities.
• Undertake development appraisals, land valuation, and viability assessments.
• Collaborate with planners, architects, valuers and development specialists to deliver cohesive strategies.
• Provide guidance to landowners through promotion, planning and disposal processes.
• Monitor planning landscape, local plan reviews and housing need.
• Mentor junior team members and develop technical understanding.
• Demonstrate commercial awareness and profitability focus.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Land valuation

Development appraisal

Planning policy

Business development

Mentoring

Client relationship

Education

RICS-accredited qualification (preferred)

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


• We offer salary sacrifice schemes for Electric Vehicles and Cycle to Work schemes

Closing Date: 15th October 2026