Land Development Manager

Land Development Manager

London (1 x per week, rest of time remote / out at sites & meetings)

£65k – £90k plus package.

My client is seeking a Land & Development Manager to play a key role in sourcing, progressing and de-risking care-sector development opportunities across the UK.

Working closely with the Managing Director and Development Director, the role will span the full development lifecycle — from early site identification and appraisal, through planning strategy and delivery, to securing care operators and preparing sites for disposal or onward development.

They will either secure planning & sell on the sites, or develop out & deliver the project, to be handed over on completion.

This is a commercially driven, hands-on role suited to someone who enjoys working in a small, agile business where they can have genuine influence over deal-making and outcomes. As such it will not suit candidates who wish to work within a large team / organisation where work is split between various teams.

Key Responsibilities

Land & Opportunity Progression

• Support the identification, appraisal and progression of care-sector land opportunities (elderly care, specialist care, extra care, supported living etc.).
• Undertake high-level site feasibility, planning risk assessment and development appraisals.
• Work collaboratively with the acquisitions function to progress sites post-offer and pre-planning.

Planning & Development Management

• Lead and manage the planning process from pre-application through to determination.
• Appoint and manage external consultants (planning, highways, ecology, design, legal).
• Coordinate planning strategies to maximise value and manage risk.
• Navigate local authority engagement, consultees and political sensitivities.

Operator & End-User Engagement

• Assist in identifying and securing suitable care operators / end users.
• Support negotiations on heads of terms, leases or sale agreements.
• Work closely with operators to align scheme design with operational requirements.

Commercial & Stakeholder Management

• Prepare development reports, appraisals and recommendations for internal sign-off.
• Support negotiations with landowners, promoters, local authorities and partners.
• Maintain strong relationships across the care, planning and development ecosystem.

Candidate Profile

Essential

• Proven experience in land, planning or development within residential, care or real estate sectors.
• Strong understanding of the UK planning system and development process.
• Experience managing planning applications through to approval.
• Commercially astute, with the ability to assess risk and value at each stage of a project.
• Comfortable working in a lean, entrepreneurial environment with senior-level exposure.

Desirable

• Experience specifically within the care, healthcare or living sectors.
• Track record of working with care operators or institutional end users.
• Background in land trading, development management or planning consultancy.
• Ability to manage multiple projects at varying stages concurrently.

Personal Attributes

• Proactive, self-starting and comfortable taking ownership.
• Strong communicator with confidence engaging senior stakeholders.
• Detail-oriented but commercially minded.
• Collaborative, pragmatic and solutions-focused.

What’s on Offer

• Opportunity to work directly with founders and senior decision-makers.
• Exposure to high-quality care-sector deals from inception to exit.
• Competitive salary with performance-related upside.
• Clear scope for progression as the platform grows.