Strategic Land Director in Yorkshire

The Strategic Land Director is responsible for leading the identification, acquisition, and promotion of strategic land opportunities that underpin the long-term growth of the business. Working in close partnership with the Chief Operating Officer and Divisional Managing Directors, the role ensures that regional business units are supported with a sustainable pipeline of land aligned to their strategic objectives and delivery targets. This role will lead the strategic land function, overseeing the promotion of land through the planning system and managing key relationships with landowners, agents, and planning authorities. This role combines commercial insight, planning expertise, and leadership to deliver land assets that secure the company's future development potential and regional competitiveness.

Strategic Direction:

• Working closely with the Chief Operating Officer (COO), Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and Divisional Managing Directors (DMDs), to undertake an in-depth review of the current strategic land operation, portfolio, team, pipeline, and systems.
• Develop a progressive Strategic Land strategy to grow both the number and quality/potential of land opportunities and the progression of strategic sites through to consented handover to the regional business units.
• Weigh up and balance the different ownership options including fixed price contracts, Option Agreement, JV/freehold purchase, etc. and incorporate into the strategy.
• Oversee the preparation and presentation of Approval Packs to support new strategic site acquisitions.
• Provide expert advice on legal structures and planning strategies to ensure proposals are commercially sound and aligned with both regional and group objectives.
• Identify, monitor, and carefully plan access to future land opportunities including long term planning/asset allocations, emerging technology/power/water requirements, and changes in work/lifestyle plans.
• Regularly engage with the Regional MD's and Land Director's to ensure that new strategic sites are well aligned with the geographies, requirements, and ultimate delivery capabilities of the regional business units.

Leadership & Management:

• Set the tone for dynamic and commercial leadership of the strategic land activities across the business.
• Build, develop and lead a high quality, commercially successful specialist business unit that can ultimately provide a substantial proportion of the Group's land pipeline.
• Ensure that the team is managed, motivated, skilled, and incentivised to deliver the agreed strategy.
• Encourage and build on the collaborative culture of the Group.
• Drive projects forward to achieve successful outcomes that consistently meet or exceed their business plan (time and value).
• Build, maintain and actively manage a broad external network and team of specialist consultants and advisors.
• Ensure that all appropriate controls and reporting tools are in place to inform the business on new opportunities, the progress of projects, capital requirements, etc.; Identify & monitor risks at the earliest stage.
• Represent the Group in the strategic land market, building trusted relationships and maintaining a high profile with agents/advisors, landowners, partners, planning consultants and local authorities to ensure the business remains at the forefront of market opportunities and planning developments.
• Work closely with legal teams (internal & external) to ensure all documentation related to land acquisition and progression is accurate and aligned with business objectives.

Required skills and qualifications:

• Exercise the relevant financial authority in line with Gleeson agreed Delegated Levels of Authority (DLA), ensuring expenditure decisions support delivery of the agreed cashflow position and contribute to achieving budgeted targets.
• Be an ambassador of the HomeSafe culture and ensure that at all times the business and its people comply with responsibilities under the Health & Safety and Environmental policies and processes and understand the impact of these on customers, external partners, and stakeholders.
• Experienced property professional with demonstrable track record for managing and growing a strategic land portfolio.
• Likely to be operating at a senior level in a substantial housebuilder or strategic land promoter.
• Entrepreneurial, tenacious, and confident with a strong 'ownership' mentality and an enquiring mind.
• Forward thinking - demonstrates initiative and anticipates future requirements across the portfolio.
• A problem solver, able to identify ways to maximise the potential of complex strategic sites.
• Solid market profile and a broad network of contacts across the industry.
• Well-rounded experience (at both asset and portfolio level) with full-cycle property skills including acquisitions, design & planning, etc.
• Strong negotiating skills with strong numeracy skills - risk management, cash flows, P&L, etc.
• Analytical, commercial, highly motivated, organised and with strong attention to detail.
• Able to think laterally and consider all outcomes/opportunities for a site.
• Strong intellect and personal authority with the gravitas to engage with and maintain the full confidence of the Senior Management team.
• Clear leadership and people management capability - able to motivate a multi-disciplinary hybrid (internal/external) team around a clear vision for the strategic land portfolio.
• First rate interpersonal and presentation skills, able to develop long-term business relationships.

Benefits:

• Generous holiday entitlement of 26 days per annum + bank holidays
• Discretionary Bonus Scheme
• Holiday Buy Back Scheme
• Company Pension Scheme
• Private Medical Insurance Scheme
• Healthshield membership
• Life Assurance Scheme
• Share Purchase Plan
• Highstreet/ Store Discounts
• Development Opportunities