Partnerships Manager in Edinburgh

Build partnerships that create homes, unlock opportunities and deliver long-term value. We are looking for an experienced Partnerships Manager to develop and lead strategic relationships with Registered Providers, Housing Associations and social landlords, helping us deliver affordable housing, mixed-tenure developments and innovative partnership opportunities. This is a highly commercial role at the intersection of land, development, affordable housing and investment. You will identify opportunities, build relationships and negotiate agreements that enable us and our partners to deliver more homes.

What you will be doing:

• Build strategic partnerships: Develop strong, long-term relationships across the affordable housing sector, becoming a trusted point of contact for our RP and social landlord partners.
• Identify opportunities across Section 106, affordable housing, mixed-tenure and contracting-led schemes.
• Explore additionality opportunities and potential whole-site purchases.
• Lead negotiations on Section 106 packages, bulk sales and forward funding arrangements.
• Work collaboratively with partners on design, specification, tenure mix and delivery programmes.
• Identify opportunities where a partnership approach can unlock greater value for all parties.

Shape joint ventures and strategic agreements: Identify and assess opportunities to work with social landlords and institutional partners through joint ventures and longer-term strategic agreements. Support the structuring of development and collaboration agreements, establish clear commercial objectives and ensure commitments are delivered. Lead regular partnership reviews, keeping performance, delivery and relationships firmly on track.

Put commercial thinking at the heart of every deal: This isn't simply a relationship-management position. We are looking for someone who can understand, structure and appraise a deal. Working closely with our Land, Commercial and Finance teams, you will:

• Assess scheme viability and potential funding structures.
• Analyse affordable tenure mix, grant funding and forward-sale opportunities.
• Negotiate commercial terms that deliver value while managing risk.
• Understand programme, cashflow and partner contribution implications.
• Produce high-level scheme appraisals and more detailed assessments of offers from RPs and financial institutions.
• Bring a strong understanding of the affordable housing funding regime and Homes England funding.

You will be comfortable getting into the detail while never losing sight of the bigger commercial picture.

Get involved early: The strongest partnerships start well before construction begins. Work closely with our Land, Planning, Technical, Commercial, Finance and Construction teams, bringing partner insight into site acquisition, planning and development decisions. Help ensure proposals meet partner requirements, specifications, compliance standards and handover expectations, while identifying potential issues early enough to do something about them.

Be our eyes and ears in the market: Affordable housing is changing, and we want someone who understands where the sector is heading. Represent Dandara across the RP and affordable housing market, developing relationships and keeping us informed about:

• Funding and grant programmes.
• Regulatory changes.
• Homes England requirements.
• Emerging partnership and funding models.
• Market appetite and sector trends.

You will use that knowledge to identify opportunities and help shape our future partnership strategy.

What we are looking for: You will already have significant experience working with Registered Providers or Housing Associations within housebuilding, residential development or affordable housing. You will bring:

• A strong understanding of affordable housing delivery and Section 106 agreements.
• Knowledge of grant and affordable housing funding structures.
• Experience negotiating bulk sales, forward funding arrangements and/or joint ventures.
• The ability to prepare and understand development appraisals.
• Strong commercial judgement and an understanding of development viability and risk.
• Excellent negotiation and stakeholder-management skills.
• The confidence to work with senior decision-makers internally and externally.
• A collaborative approach across Land, Planning, Technical, Commercial, Finance and Construction.
• A good understanding of Homes England funding and compliance requirements.

The person we are looking for: You will be commercially astute, credible and relationship-driven. You know how to build trust with partners, but you're equally comfortable challenging assumptions, negotiating terms and protecting the commercial interests of the business. You will understand that the best partnerships aren't simply transactions. They're about finding structures where land, funding, development expertise and shared objectives come together to create opportunities that work for everyone involved.

Make an impact with Dandara: This is an opportunity to play an important role in growing our affordable housing and partnership activity. You will have the scope to identify opportunities, influence schemes at an early stage and create relationships that can develop from individual transactions into long-term strategic partnerships. If you have the RP relationships, affordable housing expertise and commercial mindset to help us identify opportunities and turn them into successful developments, we'd love to hear from you.

What's in it for you?

• £Competitive basic based on experience.
• Bonus Scheme.
• Car Allowance.
• 33 days holiday (inclusive of bank holidays).
• Private Medical Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Programme - EAP.
• Health Hero digital doctor - 24 hr virtual help and appointments.
• Health Assured Wisdom App.
• 3x salary life assurance (paid option to increase to x4).
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Employer matched pension scheme of up to 5%.
• Flexible benefits including shopping vouchers, airport parking and reduced gym membership.

No Agencies please.