At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic land acquisition and development, driving innovative projects and team success.
- Company: Join Vistry, a top UK housebuilder committed to integrity and sustainable communities.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, generous leave, private medical insurance, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Be part of an award-winning employer focused on professional growth and collaboration.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in shaping communities while leading a dynamic team.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in strategic land and development with strong negotiation skills.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Role Overview
In a Nutshell…
We have an exciting opportunity for a Strategic Land & Development Director to join our team within Vistry Services Strategic Land, at our Brentwood or Cheltenham office.
As our Strategic Land & Development Director, you will provide strategic, commercial and operational leadership across the Strategic Land & Development function, ensuring the successful identification, acquisition, management and disposal of strategic land opportunities in line with the Company's business plan and long-term growth objectives.
The Strategic Land & Development Director will lead the land acquisition and development strategy, oversee the management of the entire strategic land portfolio, and ensure that all projects are progressed through planning and development in a commercially disciplined and financially robust manner.
The role is responsible for leading a team of Associate Land & Development Directors and their wider teams, providing clear direction, governance and accountability across all areas of the business.
The role also has line management responsibility for the Associate Development Director (Technical), ensuring appropriate technical, infrastructure and delivery advice is provided to support the Planning function.
We value in-person collaboration and team culture, but we’re also committed to supporting flexible working where possible.
We encourage you to raise any specific requirements during the interview process so we can explore how this could be accommodated.
- Let’s cut to the chase, what’s in it for you…
- Competitive basic salary and annual bonus
- Company car, car allowance or travel allowance
- Salary sacrifice car scheme available to all employees
- Up to 39 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- 2 Volunteering days per annum
- Private medical insurance, with employee paid cover
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
- Competitive pension scheme through salary sacrifice
- Life assurance at 4 x your annual salary
- Share save and share incentive schemes
- Christmas company shutdown
- Employee rewards portal with many more benefits…
- In return, what we would like from you…
- Behave in line with our company values – Integrity, Caring and Quality
- Significant experience operating at Director or Senior Leadership level within Strategic Land, Development or related sectors.
- Proven track record of securing major strategic land opportunities.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing senior professionals.
- Demonstrable success in delivering planning consents and commercial outcomes across large, complex development projects.
- Experience presenting investment recommendations and business plans at Board level.
- Proven leadership of business planning, budgeting and forecasting processes
- Expert understanding of strategic land acquisition structures, planning promotion and development processes.
- Advanced commercial, legal and financial negotiation skills.
- Strong understanding of development viability, financial modelling and investment appraisal.
- Comprehensive knowledge of UK planning legislation and policy.
- Strategic leadership capability with the ability to influence at Executive and Board level.
- Excellent communication, presentation and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to identify, evaluate and mitigate commercial risk
- Strategic and commercially minded leader.
- Inspirational and collaborative management style.
- High levels of integrity and professionalism.
- Strong decision-making capability.
- Resilient and able to operate effectively in a complex, fast-paced environment.
- Results-focused with a strong bias towards delivery.
- Committed to developing people and building high-performing teams
Desirable…
- Experience in strategic land disposal and partnership-led development models.
- Experience operating within a PLC reporting environment
- MRICS, MRTPI or equivalent professional qualification.
- Postgraduate or executive leadership qualification
- More about the Strategic Land & Development Director role…
- Strategic Leadership
- Take overall responsibility for the preparation, approval and delivery of the Strategic Land business plan, ensuring alignment with Group strategy and long-term growth objectives.
- Lead the identification, evaluation and securing of strategic land opportunities through option agreements, promotion agreements, collaboration agreements, joint ventures and other innovative land assembly structures.
- Establish and maintain a high-quality pipeline of strategic opportunities capable of supporting future regional land requirements and external disposal strategies.
- Ensure the business maintains a disciplined approach to capital allocation and risk management across all projects.
- Portfolio Leadership
- Take overall responsibility for the Strategic Land portfolio from initial opportunity identification through to land acquisition and ultimate transfer or disposal.
- Oversee portfolio performance against business plan targets relating to land secured, land transfers, disposals, profitability, return on capital employed and support the delivery of planning consent targets across the portfolio.
- Review, challenge and approve project strategies to ensure technical and commercial objectives are achieved.
- Ensure consistent application of business procedures, governance requirements and investment controls.
- Commercial & Financial Responsibility
- Maintain overall responsibility for all land appraisals, development viabilities and investment recommendations.
- Establish investment parameters, acquisition strategies and viability assumptions across the Strategic Land portfolio.
- Ensure financial models are robust, accurate and supported by appropriate sensitivity analysis.
- Lead commercial negotiations on major or complex transactions.
- Review and approve Board papers, investment appraisals and strategic recommendations prior to submission to the Strategic Land Board and Executive Leadership Team.
- Lead annual budgeting, forecasting, cashflow planning and financial performance reporting for the Strategic Land business.
- Planning & Development Oversight
- Provide commercial, land and technical leadership to support the Planning Director and Planning team throughout the planning promotion and consent process.
- Oversee technical, engineering, infrastructure and masterplanning strategies to ensure sites remain commercially viable and deliverable.
- Work closely with Planning leadership to ensure integrated project delivery and resource planning.
- Leadership & People Management
- Lead, mentor and develop the Associate Land & Development Directors and wider Land & Development teams.
- Establish a culture of high performance, accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Ensure succession planning and professional development programmes are in place across the function.
- Drive employee engagement and maintain high standards of professional conduct and wellbeing.
- Governance & Risk Management
- Ensure appropriate governance, reporting and decision-making frameworks operate across the Strategic Land business.
- Monitor and manage legal, commercial, technical and financial risks across the portfolio, working collaboratively with the Planning Director in relation to planning risk.
- Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, corporate policies and business procedures.
- Maintain effective controls over expenditure, programme management and consultant performance.
- Ensure limited freehold assets are managed correctly and SHE procedures followed.
- Stakeholder Management
- Act as the senior representative of the Company with landowners, agents, local authorities, government bodies, consultants, infrastructure providers, Homes England, registered providers and industry stakeholders.
- Develop and maintain an influential network of professional contacts to support future land opportunities.
- Represent the business at industry events, conferences, public inquiries and strategic stakeholder meetings.
- Board Responsibilities
- Serve as a member of the Strategic Land Board and leadership team.
- Contribute to broader business strategy and decision-making.
- Provide regular reporting on land pipeline, investment opportunities, project performance and strategic risks.
- Present recommendations to Executive Leadership Team as required
- Finally, let’s tell you a bit more about us…
We build more than homes, we’re making Vistry.
Being a responsible developer and award-winning employer means we live each day through our ethos - doing the right thing.
Our behaviours reflect this, as well as our values of integrity, caring and quality.
Shaping all we do; they empower us to develop sustainable communities across affordable and private housing.
We work in a partnership-led way, and you’ll recognise our renowned brands Bovis Homes, Linden Homes and Countryside Homes.
Together with Vistry Works, our manufacturing operation, and the functional support of Vistry Services, we’re a proud UK Green Building Council member, UK top five housebuilder with a five-star House Builders Federation (HBF) customer satisfaction rating, and winner of many awards including Top Employer, Global Top Inspiring Workplaces, and Best for Talent Attraction and Outreach.
Join us in making Vistry.
#LI-WS1
Strategic Land & Development Director employer: Vistry Homes
At Vistry, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a competitive salary and a wealth of benefits including up to 39 days of annual leave, private medical insurance, and a supportive work culture that values integrity, caring, and quality. Our Wolverhampton office fosters collaboration while also accommodating flexible working arrangements, ensuring that our employees can thrive both personally and professionally. With numerous opportunities for growth and development, along with a commitment to building sustainable communities, joining our team means becoming part of a responsible and award-winning organisation dedicated to making a positive impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategic Land & Development Director
✨Get Involved in Local Property Events
Dive into local property expos and networking events! Real estate thrives on connections, so attending these events helps us meet potential employers and industry leaders, plus it's a chance to show off your enthusiasm for the field.
✨Connect with Local Agents on Social Media
Follow and engage with local real estate agents and firms on platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn. Sharing their posts and commenting with your insights can put you on their radar and might even lead to job opportunities at companies like Vistry Homes.
✨Don’t Underestimate the Power of Cold Outreach
Got your eye on a specific company like Vistry Homes? Don't hesitate to send a direct message or an email expressing your interest. Personalise your approach, maybe mentioning a recent listing or project of theirs, and it could set you apart from other candidates.
✨Utilise Property Management Platforms
Check out property management platforms and job boards tailored for the real estate sector. They often have exclusive listings, especially for full-time roles. Don't forget to visit Vistry Homes's careers page directly; we love seeing passionate candidates applying through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Strategic Land & Development Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Real-Estate Savvy:When crafting your CV and cover letter, make sure to highlight any relevant experience in the real estate sector. If you've done internships, assistant roles, or even relevant coursework, lay it out clearly. We want to see your familiarity with market trends, property management, or any sales experience you've got under your belt!
Quantify Your Achievements:In real estate, numbers speak volumes! When detailing your past roles, use concrete figures to demonstrate your achievements. For example, mention how many properties you sold, the percentage increase in client satisfaction, or any successful negotiations. These metrics can give your application that extra punch it needs!
Tailor Your Documents for the Job:Every application should feel personal. When applying for the Strategic Land & Development Director role at Vistry Homes, tweak your CV to focus on aspects that are important to them. If they value client relationships, emphasise your interpersonal skills. We want to see you aligning your experiences with what they're looking for!
Keep It Professional Yet Approachable:While we want you to show off your expertise, don't forget to let your personality shine through in your cover letter. A touch of friendliness can set you apart, especially in real estate where client interaction is key. Show that you're ready not just to work with the property but also with people!
How to prepare for a job interview at Vistry Homes
✨Know Your Market Trends
In real estate, it’s all about staying ahead of the curve. Make sure we brush up on the latest market trends in the area where Vistry Homes operates. Being able to discuss local property values, demand, and upcoming developments will show that we’re not just interested in the job, but genuinely invested in the industry.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions during the interview. We might get asked how we’d handle different client situations or property evaluations. Preparing our responses for common real estate scenarios not only demonstrates our problem-solving skills but also shows that we can think on our feet in a client-facing role.
✨Showcase Your Connections
In full-time real estate, networking is key! Let’s think about our connections in the industry and what we can bring to Vistry Homes. Whether it’s insights on prospective clients or relationships with local contractors, talking about these experiences can set us apart from other candidates.
✨Demonstrate Technical Savvy
Familiarity with different real estate software tools is a big plus. We should be ready to discuss any platforms we've used, whether it's for property management, CRM, or data analysis. Being comfortable with technology not only makes us more efficient, but also shows that we’re adaptable to the tools used at Vistry Homes.
