- Bridge Mills Business Centre, Stramongate, Kendal LA9 4BD.
- I – £41k per annum including a Market supplement
Hours
Purpose of the job:
The Development Officer will play a key role in delivering our new homes programme, taking the lead onour Section 106 (S106) and acquisitions programme and supporting the Development & Sales Managerwith land-led development, including leading on land-led schemes where required.
This is an active, relationship focused role. You will build strong and positive relationships with all keystakeholders, creating the connections needed to keep schemes moving and deliver high-quality newhomes for our residents.
You will take ownership of a varied portfolio of schemes, maintaining a strong understanding ofprogress, risks, quality and key milestones. Regular presence on our development sites will be animportant part of the role.
Working across Development, Sales and the wider organisation, you will be highly organised, responsiveand comfortable managing multiple priorities at different stages of delivery. You will also work closelywith and provide support to the Sales & Home Ownership Officer and Development and Sales Assistant,helping to create a seamless journey from development through to handover, sale and occupation.
Key accountabilities:
1. Lead the appraisal and delivery of the S106 and acquisitions programme, taking day-to-dayownership of allocated schemes from initial scheme reviews, financial appraisals, acquisitionand contract stages through construction, handover and completion making sure the schemeruns to programme and budget.
2. Develop strong and productive external relationships with open market developers,contractors, Clerks of Works, local authorities, consultants and other partners. Be a visibleand engaged ambassador for the organisation, developing new business opportunities andincreasing our profile and networks within the sector.
3. Maintain an active presence on development sites, undertaking regular site visits, attendingproject and progress meetings and building effective working relationships with site teams.Develop a thorough understanding of progress on each scheme and ensure emerging risks,delays or quality issues are identified, acted upon and escalated to team members whereappropriate.
4. Drive schemes forward, maintaining oversight of programmes, key milestones, informationrequirements, risks and risk registers, service charges, financial viability of developers, projectcosts, cashflows and actions. Proactively follow up outstanding matters and work withcolleagues and partners to find solutions where barriers arise. Ensure significant risks, delaysor issues are addressed or escalated promptly to the Development & Sales Manager, with clearinformation on impact and proposed next steps.
5. Support the Development & Sales Manager with land-led development, including projectcoordination, consultant and contractor appointment and liaison, scheme information,meetings, financial and programme monitoring and external grant applications. Whereappropriate, take the lead on individual land-led schemes through to delivery.
6. Coordinate and lead the handover of new homes, bringing together all stakeholders to ensurehomes and all required information are ready at the right time.
7. Work closely with, support and oversee the day-to-day work of the Development & SalesAssistant in relation to allocated schemes, providing clear direction on priorities and ensuringkey administrative, handover, defect, aftercare, resident satisfaction and project actions areprogressed accurately and on time.
8. Support the Development & Sales Assistant with coordinating defects, aftercare and end ofdefects activity, managing resident and contractor communication, maintaining accuratedefect records and monitoring against KPI’s and dashboards.
9. Work collaboratively with the Sales & Home Ownership Officer, sharing information andproviding support across the sales and home ownership programme where required.
10. Build strong relationships across the organisation, working particularly closely with Asset,Building Safety, Housing, Sales, Finance and other colleagues to ensure their requirements areunderstood and incorporated into development delivery.
11. Champion equality, diversity and inclusion and the resident experience, ensuring new homesmeet agreed design, specification and quality requirements, reflecting the diverse needs of ourcommunities. Use customer feedback and performance information to improve the service,identifying recurring issues and recommending improvements.
12. Maintain accurate and up-to-date scheme information and trackers, including programme,property, financial, Homes England audit and handover information, ensuring systems andrecords provide a clear and reliable picture of each development. Prepare information forinternal meetings, Committee meetings and Board meetings relevant to your responsibilities.
13. Support with managing the development inbox, ensuring enquiries are reviewed, responded toor allocated promptly and information is shared with the right colleagues.
14. Support the Development and Sales Manager to ensure adherence to health, wellbeing, andsafety policies and procedures, taking responsibility for the SLH’s compliance with statutory sitesafety requirements and other relevant regulations including CDM.
15. Support customer complaints and feedback within your area of responsibility, ensuring issuesare responded to promptly, learning is captured and improvements are made to services.
16. Take responsibility for your continued professional development, actively building knowledge,skills and experience to support your role and the wider team.
17. Development and Sales is a varied and fast-moving area and no profile can capture everyactivity. The postholder will be expected to work proactively, flexibly and collaboratively,supporting wider team priorities as required.
Skill Requirements
Qualifications
Good standard of general education, including English andMaths, or equivalent experience.
Evidence of continued professional development.
Experience of working in a role requiring the coordination ofmultiple projects, activities or stakeholders.
Driver’s license with the ability and willingness to travelregularly to development sites and partner locations.
Relevant housing, development, construction or propertyqualification.
Knowledge, skills, and abilities
A natural relationship builder, able to establish positive, credibleand productive relationships with a wide range of people
Proactive and highly engaged, with the confidence to pick upthe phone, arrange a site visit, bring people together and followissues through rather than waiting for others to act.
Highly organised, with the ability to manage a busy and variedportfolio of schemes, competing priorities, deadlines andactions without losing attention to detail.
Strong personal ownership and accountability, takingresponsibility for understanding what is happening acrossallocated schemes and ensuring actions are progressed tocompletion.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with theability to adapt communication to different audiences andrepresent the organisation professionally.
Confident working independently and using judgement toresolve day-to-day issues, while recognising when matters needto be escalated.
Ability to communicate with and influence people.
A collaborative approach, actively sharing information,supporting colleagues and building effective relationships acrossdifferent teams.
Able to constructively challenge, negotiate and influence otherswhile maintaining strong working relationships.
Competent in the use of Microsoft Office and digital systems,with the ability to confidently manage and interpret projectinformation.
Experience within housing, residential development,construction, property or a related sector.
Knowledge or experience of affordable housing development,including Section 106 delivery.
Values & behaviours
Leads in a values-led way, consistently modelling SLH values andsetting clear expectations for behaviour and culture. Takesownership and acts with integrity, transparency andaccountability, making balanced decisions in the best interestsof residents and the organisation. Creates an inclusive andpsychologically safe environment where colleagues feel able tocontribute, challenge and grow. Demonstrates a strongcommitment to resident-focused services, ensuring fairness,respect and dignity in all interactions. Is confident to leadthrough challenge and change, making clear, ethical decisionseven when these are difficult.
An unwavering commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion,ensuring this is embedded in the work of SLH.
An unwavering commitment to SLH values which of:
- Do the right thing
- Show respect and kindness, always
- Be honest and fair
- All belong at SLH
Closing date for applications is by 9am on Thursday 5th November 2026.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Development Officer in Kendal employer: Cumbria Chamber
As a Customer Services Advisor at SLH, you will join a supportive and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee growth and development. With a strong commitment to equality, diversity, and community engagement, SLH offers meaningful opportunities to make a positive impact while enjoying a range of benefits, including training programmes and a focus on work-life balance. Located in a vibrant area, this role not only allows you to connect with customers but also to be part of a team dedicated to delivering quality services and fostering a sense of belonging for all.
