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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to ensure top-notch property management and customer service.
- Company: FirstPort is the UK's leading residential property service provider, managing over 310,000 homes.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salaries, exclusive discounts, and comprehensive training support.
- Why this job: Join a friendly, inventive culture focused on high standards and community impact.
- Qualifications: Experience in operational management and health & safety is essential.
- Other info: Diversity is valued; applications from job share candidates are welcomed.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Job description
Job Role: Development Manager
Location: Southeast Wales
Salary: £30,000 – £35,000 per annum plus benefits
Job Sector: Large & Complex
Hours: Monday to Friday 9.00am – 5.00pm
As Development Manager you will contribute to our vision of being the UK\’s favourite residential property manager by:
- Adopting a proactive and strategic focus, having overall operational accountability for a development, compliance, health safety and wellbeing, service excellence and value for money.
- Ensuring all employees on site provide an efficient, value for money management service to our customers and achieve high standards of performance within a team of individuals to create a welcoming, friendly and courteous environment for our residents.
- Being passionate about delivering consistently high standards of customer service, working within our Four Pillar strategy, ensuring our development is well maintained and demonstrate full compliance with our own policies, procedures and internal performance measures.
The Development Manager reports directly into the Regional Manager.
About You
You will be an experienced operational manager who has successfully run a large and complex estate with multi-facilities. You are an expert in all things health and safety and have implemented new systems and procedures in your last role. As an inspiring people leader, you work closely with your team to achieve the best results for your workforce and customers. You will be financially astute and able to set budgets incompliance with lease agreements. It will be beneficial if you have mobilised new developments and have experience in working with property developers.
About Us
FirstPort is the UK’s leading residential property service provider, caring for 310,000 homes in England, Wales and Scotland, across 5,600 developments. With over four decades of experience and 4,000 employees, FirstPort works with developers, investors, freeholders and over 1,300 Resident Management Companies.
Main Responsibilities
- Delivering effective service levels, and acting as the FirstPort representative towards customers, clients and Developers as appropriate, ensuring all areas aspects of the development are fully presentable, serviced and properly maintained. To include building and maintaining working relationships with the committee of any Residents Association / RMC, RTM Co and attending their meetings as appropriate
- Identify and deliver on-going training needs to support the team, utilising appropriate internal and external methods and support as well as conduct frequent reviews with direct reports providing constructive feedback and coaching, ensuring KPI’s and SLAs are met.
- Monitor and manage performance, setting guidelines, managing holiday / sickness absences and organise shift cover, undertaking or organising emergency cover as required.
- Effective cost control and review of expenditure and accounts, including assisting with setting service charges and presenting of accounts together with preparation and presentation of bi-monthly financial summary reports.
- Hold proactive customer / contractors and client meetings, ensuring issues are promptly administered and dealt with within the agreed timeframes.
- Investigating and responding to complaints, up to Stage 1, and collaborating with Regional Manager in Stage 2 complaints responses
- Undertake required risk assessments, health and safety checks and routine testing requirements ensuring concerns are acted upon and completed within the given timeframe.
- Support with the monitoring and supervision of contractors, carrying out works on and around the development. Raising of works orders and ensuring all orders are monitored and delivered within the designated time frame. Ensuring reactive/planned works are conducted to a high quality.
- To ensure all irregular incidents are investigated and reported to the development manager. To provide a response to emergency queries (out of normal office hours) directing colleagues as appropriate including attendance where necessary.
- Carry out regular inspection audits of the site and take/organise remedial action if and when required, ensuring the fabric of the building both externally and internally is maintained and serviced to a high standard, including the achievement of all KPIs set.
Our Values
Friendly – We look out for people’s best interests and show them we care by dealing with them in a warm and friendly manner.
Inventive – We’re creative and resourceful. We strive to improve what we do and how we do it, so we can provide the best ideas and solutions to look after people, their homes and communities.
Respectful – We listen, consult and take on-board people’s opinions and needs. We understand the importance of the home and community in people’s lives, and act with respect at all times.
Skilled – We’ve the qualifications, experience and take great pride in our work to consistently deliver the highest standards and value for money. We’re informed, and we’re always building on that knowledge to constantly improve our quality of service.
Trustworthy – We’re always professional, reliable, open and honest. People can depend on us to keep our promises and follow through on our commitments.
The Benefits
Our customers deserve the best and the same applies to our people. We’ll support you with all of the technology, training and support that you need to do your job well. We offer competitive salaries and a range of benefit packages. In addition to the core benefits, we also offer a range of exclusive discounts on extra benefits to help you and your family make the most of your money, safeguard your future and look after your health.
Diversity
We’re committed to promoting diversity at FirstPort and recruit on merit. We will consider applications from job share applicants.
Ready to Apply?
Click the below apply button to start your application for this role. We will ask you to upload your CV and answer a few questions. You may also be asked to complete verbal and numerical reasoning tests online.
If you meet the criteria for the role, we’ll be in touch to arrange a short telephone interview and our shortlist of candidates will be invited to attend interviews with the hiring manager and up to three other key stakeholders
Development Manager employer: FirstPort
Contact Detail:
FirstPort Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Development Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with FirstPort's values and mission. When you understand what they stand for, you can tailor your conversations and demonstrate how your experience aligns with their goals during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of FirstPort on platforms like LinkedIn. They can provide insights into the company culture and expectations, which can help you prepare better for your interview.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare specific examples from your past experience that showcase your operational management skills, particularly in health and safety compliance. Be ready to discuss how you've implemented systems and improved service delivery.
✨Tip Number 4
Research the latest trends in property management and customer service excellence. Being knowledgeable about industry standards will not only impress your interviewers but also show your commitment to continuous improvement.
We think you need these skills to ace Development Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience in operational management, particularly in large and complex estates. Emphasise your expertise in health and safety, budget management, and team leadership to align with the requirements of the Development Manager role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for delivering high standards of customer service. Use specific examples from your previous roles to demonstrate how you have successfully implemented new systems and procedures, and how you can contribute to FirstPort's vision.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your application, focus on your experience with property developers and any instances where you've mobilised new developments. This will show that you understand the complexities of the role and can hit the ground running.
Prepare for Assessments: Be ready to complete verbal and numerical reasoning tests as part of the application process. Brush up on these skills beforehand to ensure you perform well and demonstrate your analytical abilities.
How to prepare for a job interview at FirstPort
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Development Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to lead and inspire a team. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed teams in the past, focusing on your approach to training, performance management, and fostering a positive work environment.
✨Understand Health and Safety Regulations
Given the importance of health and safety in this role, brush up on relevant regulations and best practices. Be ready to discuss how you've implemented safety measures in previous positions and how you plan to ensure compliance in this new role.
✨Prepare for Financial Discussions
You'll be responsible for budget management and financial reporting. Familiarise yourself with key financial concepts and be prepared to discuss your experience with setting budgets, managing costs, and presenting financial summaries.
✨Align with Company Values
FirstPort values friendliness, inventiveness, respect, skill, and trustworthiness. Think about how your personal values align with these and prepare to share specific examples that illustrate your commitment to these principles during the interview.
