Managing Director – Residential Development in City of London

We are a privately-backed London-based residential development company committed to building a long-term, sustainable development business in the UK. Our objective is not single-project arbitrage, but to establish a credible residential developer with institutional standards, a robust project pipeline, and strong local delivery capability.

We are seeking a Managing Director to take full ownership of establishing and operating our UK business. This role requires a proven leader with deep local development expertise and the capability to build an operating structure from the ground up. It is a strategic and execution-focused position.

Strategy & Business Development

• Develop and execute the UK business strategy, covering land acquisition, planning, development, financing, and asset management.
• Build a sustainable project pipeline and implement a land banking strategy to drive long-term business growth.

Planning & Approvals

• Lead planning engagement with London Boroughs and manage the full planning application process.
• Navigate Section 106, CIL, and affordable housing requirements, mitigating planning risk effectively.

Financing & Capital Structure

• Lead the structuring and negotiation of development financing, establishing long-term relationships with UK banks and institutional capital providers.
• Design appropriate capital structures to ensure financing availability and cost efficiency.

Team Building & Operations

• Recruit and lead a local professional team across development, finance, construction, and external advisory functions.
• Establish corporate governance, internal processes, and decision-making frameworks.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure full compliance with UK company law, tax regulations (including SDLT, Corporation Tax, CGT), anti-money laundering requirements, and overseas investor rules.
• Identify and manage legal, financial, and operational risks across the development lifecycle.

Project Delivery Framework

• Coordinate design, cost, engineering, construction, and master programme planning to establish a comprehensive project delivery framework.
• Assess and validate the commercial and operational viability of key delivery routes, including modular construction, main contractor/subcontractor models, and direct supply of materials – evaluated across cost, quality, programme, and risk.
• Design the end-to-end delivery process, identifying critical path dependencies and establishing clear approval and decision-making protocols.
• Ensure that every stage from design development through to on-site construction and handover is systematically planned, resourced, and governed.

Candidate Profile

Essential:

• Significant senior-level experience in UK residential development, with a track record of multiple full-cycle London projects from land acquisition through to delivery.
• Deep knowledge of the London planning system, with proven experience negotiating planning applications, S106, CIL, and affordable housing with London Boroughs.
• Demonstrable track record of securing development finance from major UK lenders, with a strong understanding of development loan terms, structures, and risk parameters.
• Strong leadership capability with experience managing multi-disciplinary teams.
• Sound understanding of UK property tax, legal frameworks, and compliance requirements for overseas investment structures.
• Fluent in English (essential); Mandarin is an advantage but not required.

Desirable:

• Prior senior leadership experience with a major UK residential developer or established private development firm.
• Hands-on experience with affordable housing and mixed-tenure schemes.
• Established network of relationships with top-tier UK law firms, tax advisers, and planning consultants.