Vistry Group PLC
Strategic Land & Development Director
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Role Overview
In a Nutshell…
We have an exciting opportunity for a Strategic Land & Development Director to join our team within Vistry Services Strategic Land, at our Brentwood or Cheltenham office. As our Strategic Land & Development Director, you will provide strategic, commercial and operational leadership across the Strategic Land & Development function, ensuring the successful identification, acquisition, management and disposal of strategic land opportunities in line with the Company's business plan and long-term growth objectives.
The Strategic Land & Development Director will lead the land acquisition and development strategy, oversee the management of the entire strategic land portfolio, and ensure that all projects are progressed through planning and development in a commercially disciplined and financially robust manner.
The role is responsible for leading a team of Associate Land & Development Directors and their wider teams, providing clear direction, governance and accountability across all areas of the business. The role also has line management responsibility for the Associate Development Director (Technical), ensuring appropriate technical, infrastructure and delivery advice is provided to support the Planning function.
We value in-person collaboration and team culture, but we’re also committed to supporting flexible working where possible. We encourage you to raise any specific requirements during the interview process so we can explore how this could be accommodated.
Let’s cut to the chase, what’s in it for you…
- Competitive basic salary and annual bonus
- Company car, car allowance or travel allowance
- Salary sacrifice car scheme available to all employees
- Up to 39 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- 2 Volunteering days per annum
- Private medical insurance, with employee paid cover
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
- Competitive pension scheme through salary sacrifice
- Life assurance at 4 x your annual salary
- Share save and share incentive schemes
- Christmas company shutdown
- Employee rewards portal with many more benefits…
In return, what we would like from you…
- Behave in line with our company values – Integrity, Caring and Quality
- Significant experience operating at Director or Senior Leadership level within Strategic Land, Development or related sectors.
- Proven track record of securing major strategic land opportunities.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing senior professionals.
- Demonstrable success in delivering planning consents and commercial outcomes across large, complex development projects.
- Experience presenting investment recommendations and business plans at Board level.
- Proven leadership of business planning, budgeting and forecasting processes
- Expert understanding of strategic land acquisition structures, planning promotion and development processes.
- Advanced commercial, legal and financial negotiation skills.
- Strong understanding of development viability, financial modelling and investment appraisal.
- Comprehensive knowledge of UK planning legislation and policy.
- Strategic leadership capability with the ability to influence at Executive and Board level.
- Excellent communication, presentation and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to identify, evaluate and mitigate commercial risk
- Strategic and commercially minded leader.
- Inspirational and collaborative management style.
- High levels of integrity and professionalism.
- Strong decision-making capability.
- Resilient and able to operate effectively in a complex, fast-paced environment.
- Results-focused with a strong bias towards delivery.
- Committed to developing people and building high-performing teams
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Desirable…
- Experience in strategic land disposal and partnership-led development models.
- Experience operating within a PLC reporting environment
- MRICS, MRTPI or equivalent professional qualification.
- Postgraduate or executive leadership qualification
More about the Strategic Land & Development Director role…
Strategic Leadership
- Take overall responsibility for the preparation, approval and delivery of the Strategic Land business plan, ensuring alignment with Group strategy and long-term growth objectives.
- Lead the identification, evaluation and securing of strategic land opportunities through option agreements, promotion agreements, collaboration agreements, joint ventures and other innovative land assembly structures.
- Establish and maintain a high-quality pipeline of strategic opportunities capable of supporting future regional land requirements and external disposal strategies.
- Ensure the business maintains a disciplined approach to capital allocation and risk management across all projects.
Portfolio Leadership
- Take overall responsibility for the Strategic Land portfolio from initial opportunity identification through to land acquisition and ultimate transfer or disposal.
- Oversee portfolio performance against business plan targets relating to land secured, land transfers, disposals, profitability, return on capital employed and support the delivery of planning consent targets across the portfolio.
- Review, challenge and approve project strategies to ensure technical and commercial objectives are achieved.
- Ensure consistent application of business procedures, governance requirements and investment controls.
Commercial & Financial Responsibility
- Maintain overall responsibility for all land appraisals, development viabilities and investment recommendations.
- Establish investment parameters, acquisition strategies and viability assumptions across the Strategic Land portfolio.
- Ensure financial models are robust, accurate and supported by appropriate sensitivity analysis.
- Lead commercial negotiations on major or complex transactions.
- Review and approve Board papers, investment appraisals and strategic recommendations prior to submission to the Strategic Land Board and Executive Leadership Team.
- Lead annual budgeting, forecasting, cashflow planning and financial performance reporting for the Strategic Land business.
Planning & Development Oversight
- Provide commercial, land and technical leadership to support the Planning Director and Planning team throughout the planning promotion and consent process.
- Oversee technical, engineering, infrastructure and masterplanning strategies to ensure sites remain commercially viable and deliverable.
- Work closely with Planning leadership to ensure integrated project delivery and resource planning.
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Leadership & People Management
- Lead, mentor and develop the Associate Land & Development Directors and wider Land & Development teams.
- Establish a culture of high performance, accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Ensure succession planning and professional development programmes are in place across the function.
- Drive employee engagement and maintain high standards of professional conduct and wellbeing.
Governance & Risk Management
- Ensure appropriate governance, reporting and decision-making frameworks operate across the Strategic Land business.
- Monitor and manage legal, commercial, technical and financial risks across the portfolio, working collaboratively with the Planning Director in relation to planning risk.
- Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, corporate policies and business procedures.
- Maintain effective controls over expenditure, programme management and consultant performance.
- Ensure limited freehold assets are managed correctly and SHE procedures followed.
Stakeholder Management
- Act as the senior representative of the Company with landowners, agents, local authorities, government bodies, consultants, infrastructure providers, Homes England, registered providers and industry stakeholders.
- Develop and maintain an influential network of professional contacts to support future land opportunities.
- Represent the business at industry events, conferences, public inquiries and strategic stakeholder meetings.
Board Responsibilities
- Serve as a member of the Strategic Land Board and leadership team.
- Contribute to broader business strategy and decision-making.
- Provide regular reporting on land pipeline, investment opportunities, project performance and strategic risks.
- Present recommendations to Executive Leadership Team as required
Finally, let’s tell you a bit more about us…
We build more than homes, we’re making Vistry. Being a responsible developer and award-winning employer means we live each day through our ethos - doing the right thing. Our behaviours reflect this, as well as our values of integrity, caring and quality. Shaping all we do; they empower us to develop sustainable communities across affordable and private housing. We work in a partnership-led way, and you’ll recognise our renowned brands Bovis Homes, Linden Homes and Countryside Homes. Together with Vistry Works, our manufacturing operation, and the functional support of Vistry Services, we’re a proud UK Green Building Council member, UK top five housebuilder with a five-star House Builders Federation (HBF) customer satisfaction rating, and winner of many awards including Top Employer, Global Top Inspiring Workplaces, and Best for Talent Attraction and Outreach.
Join us in making Vistry.
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