UK Ministry of Defence
Project Manager - Housing Estate Planning
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Job Summary
Do you want to work on one of the most exciting transformation projects in the public sector?
The Defence Housing Service (DHS) is being created through the Armed Forces Bill to deliver a step-change in housing for the UK’s Armed Forces and their families following the publication of the Defence Housing Strategy on 3 November 2025, which marked the most significant change to Armed Forces housing in over 50 years. DHS will bring a dedicated focus to improving the homes, communities and lived experience of Service personnel, placing families firmly at the heart of everything it does.
This is one of the most ambitious housing transformation programmes in the UK today. Backed by a £9.2 billion investment, DHS will modernise tens of thousands of homes, introduce a more proactive and customer-focused approach to maintenance, and unlock new opportunities to develop housing on Defence land. DHS will have the focus and agility to deliver change at pace, combining public service values with greater flexibility to build the skills, systems and partnerships needed for the future.
This is a rare opportunity to be part of shaping its culture, influencing how it works, and helping deliver lasting improvements for Service families across the UK.
The Defence Housing team is currently part of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), who respond to the evolving needs of our military personnel, and the ways in which they live, work, train and deploy. We are proud to be the expert partner Defence needs for all their infrastructure requirements. From large scale infrastructure projects such as runways for the F35 fighter jets to net carbon-zero accommodation for our Service families, our activities focus relentlessly on our customers, and our outputs are unique in the UK and across the globe!
DIO, What we deliver every day.
The future delivery model for this team is currently under review and may change as part of potential organisational developments. This could include the team or function transferring to a different employer or organisational structure in the future. Should activities transfer out of the Ministry of Defence existing employees transferring with those activities will maintain the same, or substantially the same, terms and conditions of employment.
Job Description
Could you lead projects that make a real impact while driving innovative approaches to property sales and delivery? Join our Planning & Delivery Division and help shape the future through effective project leadership and collaboration.
As a Project Manager – Housing Estate Planning, you’ll play a key role supporting the strategic management of the MOD housing estate, helping to identify surplus properties and develop plans that maximise the value and efficiency of Defence housing assets.
Working closely with accommodation teams across the business, you will coordinate and consolidate housing portfolios suitable for disposal, ensuring a joined-up approach to estate management and asset optimisation. You'll play a pivotal role in property rationalisation activity, developing clear, deliverable plans that support wider DHS priorities while contributing directly to the successful delivery of the DHS Delivery Plan.
Leading a team and working with a diverse range of stakeholders, you will use your negotiation, influencing and communication skills to drive progress and achieve the best outcomes for Defence Housing Service. Providing clear strategic direction and guidance, you'll support colleagues involved in sales requirements and wider DHS outputs, helping to shape programme delivery and future direction.
You will also provide expert advice to senior stakeholders across DIO, Top Level Budgets (TLBs) and industry partners, ensuring alignment with broader Defence infrastructure priorities. Reporting to the Assistant Head Plans & Requirements, you'll enjoy a high degree of autonomy, managing planning activities with minimal supervision while making a visible contribution to the future of Defence housing.
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What You’ll Be Doing
- Identify and assess surplus properties across the MOD housing estate through analysis of estate data, property usage, condition, and future requirements, developing long-term plans for the disposal, release or repurposing of surplus properties and ensuring this aligns with the MOD estate management objectives.
- Work with estate managers, accommodation teams and key stakeholders to identify opportunities for rationalisation whilst monitoring market conditions, policy developments and emerging trends to inform decision-making and maximise disposal opportunities.
- Build and maintain effective relationships with estate managers, accommodation teams, local authorities and other key stakeholders to facilitate collaboration and constructive dialogue, ensuring stakeholder buy-in and informed decision making.
- Gather, validate and analyse information relating to property usage, condition and future requirements to inform planning decisions.
- Coordinate stakeholder input into rationalisation and disposal strategies, ensuring plans align with wider MOD objectives.
- Provide regular updates on progress, market developments and policy changes, promoting transparency and engagement throughout delivery.
- Lead, develop and motivate a high-performing team to support the planning and delivery of surplus property initiatives across the MOD housing estate.
- Set clear objectives, provide direction and monitor performance to ensure successful delivery of business priorities.
- Foster an inclusive and collaborative environment that encourages innovation, continuous improvement and knowledge sharing to ensure professional growth within the team.
- Manage resources and workloads effectively, ensuring priorities are balanced, deadlines are achieved and that colleagues are supported through challenges and organisation transition.
- Act as deputy to the line manager providing leadership and overseeing day-to-day team activities in their absence, including monitoring progress, addressing issues and maintaining clear communication across the team.
- Support the delivery of strategic priorities, decision-making and representation of the team across the wider organisation.
- Provide guidance, coaching and support to team members by acting a trusted point of contact and promoting a positive and productive working environment.
A full UK driving licence is essential, as the role requires travel to project sites across the Defence estate.
Person Specification
To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:
- Proven ability to present data, business cases and information clearly to a variety of audiences.
- Evidence of strong analytical skills with ability to influence senior decision-making and resolve strategic issues.
- Evidence of excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Experience of delivering at pace, taking responsibility for timeous delivery of outcomes in a complex environment with focus and drive.
Whilst this role is advertised as a full-time position of 37 hours per week, we recognise the benefits of flexible working and are open to discussing part-time hours, job share arrangements, or other flexible working patterns with suitable candidates. Regular in-person attendance is required (this is expected to be approximately 60% of your working week) to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance and business need. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourselves with the site, the team, and your role.
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Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential, as you will engage with a wide range of stakeholders across the business. As a manager within the Delivery Planning Division, you will provide clear and visible direction and guidance to your team, supporting staff involved in sales requirements and DHS outputs. Reporting directly to the AH Plans & Requirements, you will be expected to work independently with minimal supervision, managing planning activities to deliver results effectively.
Licences
A full UK Driving Licence.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Delivering at Pace
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Seeing the Big Picture
Salary and Benefits
Alongside your salary of £46,040, Ministry of Defence contributes £13,337 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
- 25 days’ annual leave plus one day a year up to 30 days after five years, and eight bank holidays
- An extra day off to honour the sovereign’s birthday
- Flexible and hybrid working wherever possible to support your work-life balance - attending site a few days each week will be required and encouraged, depending on your role and team.
- Market-leading employer pension contribution of around 28.97%
- Enhanced parental leave schemes
- Recognition awards
- Access to specialist training and funded professional qualifications
- Support for progression
- Huge range of discounts – plus more!
The post does not offer relocation expenses (move of home, excess fares or temporary transfer). Non Standard move applicants will be eligible for the full package, subject to eligibility.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection Process Details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
Your application will go through the following stages of assessment:
Sift Stage
At Sift Stage, Applicants Will Be Required To Provide:
- A CV in the Job History section, ensuring it clearly demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria outlined in the person specification. We encourage you to use specific evidence from your experience to illustrate your suitability for the role.
- A personal statement (no more than 500 words) providing specific examples of how you meet the two most critical criteria for the role. Further guidance is given within the Personal Statement section of the application.
Applications will be assessed against the essential criteria, with each criterion scored on a scale of 1 to 7. An overall score will then be calculated using the average of all criterion scores. To progress beyond the sift stage, applicants must achieve a minimum score of 4 on every essential criterion. This means that even if your overall average score is 4 or higher, you will not progress if you score below 4 on any individual essential criterion.
Please note that, in the event of a high volume of applications, the
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