Job info	Job info details
Job title	Development Manager – Social Housing
Strategic team/Directorate	Place
Service	Strategic Housing & Delivery
Business unit	Planning, Housing & Climate Emergency
Responsible to (day to day issues)	Head of Strategic Housing & Delivery
Accountable to (line manager)	Head of Strategic Housing & Delivery
Salary grade	L
JE ref	PLA048

1. Key purpose of job

• Client, responsible for the creation and delivery of high-profile capital projects and supporting the housing capital programme.
• To be responsible for the delivery of critical housing projects to unlock the potential of buildings, sites, and assets to meet targets for housing delivery.
• To translate the strategic direction of the Authority, MHCLG and other partner agencies into a pipeline of opportunities, with a particular focus on returning value to the Authority through investment capacity, grant funding, or significant capital receipts. 
• To lead the technical activities in relation to site appraisal, financial viability, the development process, and opportunities to maximise income and value for money.
• Manage a cross department/external group to support project delivery, including technical consultants, agents, professional services, and procurement/commercial specialists. 
• Influence the strategic direction of housing delivery and investment decisions within the Council’s capital programme. This involves identifying delivery opportunities, funding and planning solutions and maximising opportunities to draw in external investment from other providers. 
• The post holder will be response for achieving a number of significant development projects, to support delivery of the council’s growing housing programme.  

2. Anticipated outcomes of post

• Design emerging projects to comply with Council’s requirements and governance procedures, any MHCLG/Homes England obligations in respect of grant funding, and all procurement obligations.
• Manage a robust medium-term pipeline of opportunities.
• Delivery of projects and oversight of project teams.
• Knowledge of the market and suitable delivery partners, including opportunities to work with SME partners in the delivery of built schemes.
• Sustained housing growth over the next 5-10 years, leading to a step-change in delivery rates of housing and social housing in Torbay.
• A suite of robust data to monitor delivery performance as well as our future delivery trajectory, with an emphasis of understanding how the economy and housing sector is working, areas of demand, and options to further stimulate growth.

3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post

• Responsible for commercial and technically challenging projects that require negotiation, leadership, management and co-operation with internal and external stakeholders, as well as securing assets from private and portfolio landowners, developers, and the commercial sector.
• Identify opportunities and critically assess suitability to meet project objectives. Commission relevant technical advice, support construction activity required through compliant routes to market.
• Undertake full project assurance, and secure all necessary governance approvals to deliver schemes, including presentation to capital Boards, Cabinet and Council (as appropriate).
• Significantly enhance the technical capacity and skills within the Council, to innovate and ensure new opportunities transition into ‘Business as Usual’ activity in the medium-term. Lead on technical activities in relation to site appraisal, financial viability, the development process, and opportunities to maximise income and value for money. 
• Oversight and spend of capital and revenue funding to support our Accommodation Repurposing Programme, as well as budgets associated with other scheme delivery.
• A lead officer for provision of expert advice to Heads of Service, Directors, and Members in respect of all matters relating to housing supply.
• Work proactively with Homes England to maximise affordable housing delivery through use of internal subsidy and securing external investment from the public and private sector.
• Support the Head of Strategic Housing & Delivery and Housing Delivery Manager in respect of commercial development viability of council-derived programmes; support colleagues from other services to secure the best overall package of investment that a scheme can reasonably provide.
• To identify potential housing sites (including from our own land bank, via One Public Estate and commercially available opportunities), commission site appraisals, secure planning briefs and consents and advise colleagues on suitable opportunities for delivery within relevant Council programmes or relevant disposal opportunities.
• Provide expert advice and technical knowledge in the development of key policies and procedures, including the Local Plan, SPD, and technical advice/guidance notes.
• Support the development of Service Plans, Frameworks, and investment/capital programmes to maximise opportunities for sustainable growth.
• Play a fundamental role in securing and maintaining a Five-Year Housing Land Supply, through a pipeline of opportunities, which puts Torbay on a trajectory towards having delivery rates comparable with similar Local Authority areas.
• Deputise for the Head of Strategic Housing & Delivery and Housing Delivery Manager when necessary; support the work of the wider Housing Delivery Team and take a lead role in delivery of cross-team projects with other services where required.
• Ensure effective processes, systems, practices, and performance indicators are delivered to drive improvement and uphold the ethics of the Council, ensuring probity at all times. Establish quality control processes and advise/represent the Council on complex legal or strategic matters.
• Work with Registered Providers, landowners/developers, community groups, Town Councils, and the wider public sector to maximise opportunities for sustained delivery.
• As an Employee of Torbay Council all roles are expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. The Designated Senior Lead for Safeguarding is the Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services.

4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post

• The role holder will have responsibility for making sound, Value for Money recommendations in respect of housing delivery capital programmes and financial allocations, in accordance with established procurement opportunities.
• The role holder will have responsibility for working with Homes England to secure grant funding.
• The officer will support the allocation and spend of significant capital development finance, comprised of external grant funding and internal resources – in addition to the capital budgets associated with other housing schemes.
• The officer will support the investment of £250,000 revenue to fund project delivery. 
• The officer will have responsibility for income generation from completed schemes, including long-term rental income, grant funding, and disposal receipts
• The officer will be responsible for managing the revenue and capital finances of schemes they are working on, typically in the range of £1-5m per project.

5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post

• Direct Management of external suppliers and contractors to enable delivery of this fast-paced project.

6. Working environment and conditions of the post

• The role holder will typically work from home or in Torbay Council’s offices for most of the working week.
• There will be a need to travel to site, meetings in partners’ offices or premises, and other external events and venues elsewhere in Devon, throughout the South West, as well as nationwide from time to time.
• The role will involve visiting active construction projects (or those that have recently completed), as well as undertaking site visits of potential development opportunities both alone and with others.

7. Physical demands of the post

• Normal physical demands. 

8. Specific resources used by the post

• Normal Resources. 

9. Key contacts and relationships

External

• Registered Provider development staff, Development Directors, Senior Housing Managers staff, CEOs.
• Senior Homes England and MHCLG personnel.
• Members of Parliament.
• Planning Agents, architects etc.; expert witnesses, and key advisors.
• Developers (staff and senior management).
• Landowners.
• Regional/national housing specialists from other Local Authorities.
• External contractors/suppliers providing expert advice and guidance.

Internal

• Directors, Heads of Service, other staff.
• Cabinet Members.
• Group Leaders.
• Other Members.

10. Other duties

• To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.

Other Information

• All staff must commit to the Workplace Equality, Diversity and Anti-Discriminatory Practice.
• Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
• The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. And are aware that the Chief Executive and the Director for Children’s Services are the Safeguarding Leads for the Council. 
• The post is eligible for hybrid working.
• You will be asked to complete a Criminal Records Self Declaration Form. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post.  You will only be asked to disclose ‘unspent’ convictions.
• The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy, and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements.  Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement. 
• The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
• The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
• The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
• If this post is a customer facing role and meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2017 (part 7) the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.
• If you are required to access a government system such as HMRC, DWP or The Public services network (PSN) as part of your role with the Council you will be required to complete a basic disclose with your line manager before you can access these systems. Your manager will be required to complete a verification form that confirms your identity, nationality and immigration status, employment history and unspent convictions (third party).
• If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.

Person Specification

Note for Candidate

All Candidates

The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement. In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.

Candidates who consider that they have a disability

Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.

If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.

Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.

If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.

Job info	Job info details
Job Title	Development Manager – Social Housing
Strategic team/Directorate	Place
Service	Strategic Housing & Delivery
Business unit	Planning, Housing & Climate Emergency

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness

• Ability to successfully navigate complex political and legal environments, seeking to identify the most effective way to achieve objectives whilst minimising opportunities for confrontation.
• An ability to negotiate with a range of stakeholders to seek ‘the best deal’ for the Authority, and the people of Torbay. Such negotiation should be non-adversarial and identify areas of common ground; where conflict is unavoidable, an ability to robustly outline and defend the Council’s position will be essential.  At all times, adhering to the Council’s core values, acting with respect, dignity, and integrity.
• Development and presentation of robust, transparent, and technical reports on strategic, operational, and commercially sensitive matters.
• Highly numerate, with strong analytical skills and ability to ‘problem solve’ multiple complex issues.
• Familiar with development viability models and software (ProVal etc.). 
• Fluent in Microsoft Office/Office 365 products.
• Behaviour-based competencies:
  • Customer focus – experience of ability to work successfully with a range of stakeholders to reach consensus on decisions particularly in relation to major and/or controversial issues.
  • Leadership and Management – demonstrable evidence of strategic and/or operational management including (for example) experience of successfully leading teams of staff or project officers, together with evidence of a proven ability to successfully organise, management and motivate staff/officers to deliver specific objectives and targets.
  • Partnership working – evidence or developing and working successfully in partnership with external organisations, including the private sector to secure the delivery of quality development and shared/common objectives.
  • Financial skills – evidence of financial skills, ability, and experience in managing capital and revenue budgets.
• This role requires the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.

Desirable skills and effectiveness

• Record of operating successfully in a relevant, functional area, incorporating proven performance and change management experience.
• Experience supporting the delivery of social housing on a range of complex sites.

Knowledge

Essential knowledge

• Technical knowledge of social housing delivery, management, and operation, with demonstrable evidence operating at a senior level in a relevant organisation/field.
• Comprehensive understanding of the role, function and legal duties relating to social housing provision.
• Technical knowledge of the planning system and key legislation, policies, and guidance.
• Ability to understand and interpret technical planning and legal documents.
• Knowledge of construction, the planning process, valuation and development practices, policy development, best practice techniques, legislation, and customer engagement. 
• Project and risk management techniques to ensure successful delivery of projects and programmes.

Desirable knowledge

• Technical knowledge and understanding of development and economic viability appraisals and tools to improve scheme viability.
• Understanding of a Local Authority’s role in relation to social housing, opportunities to influence and strive for growth, and how complex political organisations operate and function.
• Familiarity with Homes England’s IMS for bid submissions and grant draw-down etc.
• Best practice in relation to successful stakeholder engagement. 

Experience and achievements

Essential experience and achievements

• Development and implementation of working policies and practices to implement delivery programmes.
• Providing high quality advice and recommendations to managers.
• Track record of successfully working with external bodies to secure significant funding. 
• Comprehensive knowledge of social housing and development. 

Desirable experience and achievements

• Providing Elected Members with objective, professional advice and technical guidance.
• Track record of successfully implementing/sustaining a performance management culture, supported by effective management systems and information.
• Experience of ‘own build’, package deals and turnkey acquisitions. 

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential qualifications/professional memberships

• Educated to degree level, or equivalent professional experience at an appropriate level.
• Relevant professional qualification and membership of a relevant professional body (or eligibility to join), such as RICS, CIH, RTPI, (or equivalent).

Desirable qualifications/professional memberships

• A recognised leadership & management qualification to NVQ L5 (or equivalent). 

Other requirements

Other requirements of the job role

• Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
• Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/South West/UK in order to carry out duties.
• Ability to accommodate unsociable hours from time to time.
• Flexibility to work both remotely and within an office as appropriate.