Assistant Development Manager

Do you share our passion for creating a safe, secure, and affordable place for everyone to call home? That's exactly what we're working towards at Affordable Homes. With a fast-growing pipeline, we collaborate with well-known developers, housing associations and public sector bodies across the country to drive new investment into the affordable housing sector.

As part of the wider Legal & General Group, our heritage goes back over 180 years, with a solid reputation as one of the leading financial services groups. We are pioneering institutional investment into the housing sector, whilst providing excellent service and quality homes.

Focusing primarily on the Shared Ownership and affordable rent markets, we strive to be the UK’s leading private affordable housing provider, known for excellent service and quality homes.

We’re recruiting for a Assistant Development Manager to join our Affordable homes business. The purpose of this role will be to support the wider regional team to source, appraise, scrutinise and contract s106 and package deal opportunities. The role holder will contribute to the development pipeline across the region under the direction of the Head of Development and Senior Development Manager.  

This role is suitable to those who do not necessarily have direct experience within development,  but rather have the demonstrable skills/attributes required to carry out this business function. Training and support will be provided.

What you'll be doing:

• Reporting to the Senior Development Manager and working with the Finance and Operations team, support the full and successful delivery of s106 and package deal opportunities across the South of England. Undertake business development activities in relation to the new business opportunities within the designated target area, assisting with the pricing and negotiation of schemes and executing affordable housing forward funding and direct acquisitions from house builders and developers.
• Prospect opportunities, appraising the schemes jointly with Finance and Operations teams, and then appraising and testing schemes in accordance with the approved investment parameters and the scrutiny processes and reporting to the Senior Development Manager, reviewing and ensuring that scheme appraisals are 100% accurate.
• Check that the emerging design complies with all regulatory controls including Local Authority, Homes England, GLA, CDM, Building Regulations and our own internal funding and technical requirements. Peer reviewing financial appraisals and project reports as required and providing recommendations to ensure an approval is achieved first time.
• Ensure a robust sign-off process is followed in line with agreed governance policies, operating within agreed financial and risk parameters.
• With the support of the Senior Development Manager, manage negotiations in a transparent, trustworthy, and honest manner and to ensure the reputation of the company is safeguarded at all times and ensure that projects are contracted in accordance with the approvals and in accordance with the adopted policies and procedures.
• Support the preparation and submission of compliant bids and grant claims.
• Work with the Grant Team to provide updates on any changes and to achieve agreed funding deadlines

Who we're looking for:

• Local knowledge of both the social housing and wider residential sectors, in particular an understanding of social housing development, housing management and regulatory requirements 
• Knowledge and/or experience of developing new business relationships
• Acting efficiently and productively within defined decision making processes 
• Commercial and/or financial management of affordable housing schemes.
• A self-driven entrepreneurial spirit that embraces change and opportunity
• A commercially minded individual that works collaboratively with colleagues within and across the business with the capability of being highly effective in a corporate environment
• Ability to build new business ventures and teams to change business models and be “disruptive”
• You are a team player and able to work collaboratively and constructively within the team and the wider business. You will show respect and consideration for others and work co-operatively towards shared objectives. 
• You will be proactive, set high standards, be targets focused and able to work independently, taking responsibility for your work.
• You are a self-motivated individual who is not afraid to ask questions and you show a keen commitment to improve your knowledge and skills through ongoing personal and professional development.

Whatever your role, we reward performance and behaviour with a package that looks after all the things that are important to you. Here are some of the benefits we offer: 

• The opportunity to participate in our annual, performance-related bonus plan and valuable share schemes  
• Generous pension contribution  
• Life assurance   
• Private medical insurance (permanent employees only) 
• At least 25 days holiday, plus public holidays
• Competitive family leave 
• Participate in our electric car scheme, which offers employees the option to hire a brand-new electric car through tax efficient salary sacrifice 
• There are the many discounts we offer – both for our own products and at a range of high street stores and online   
  • In 2023, some of our workspaces were redesigned. Our offices are great spaces to connect and collaborate and have your wellbeing at the heart  

.

Legal & General is a leading financial services group and major global investor, named Britain’s Most Admired Company in 2023, for the second year running. Rated top in our sector and top for inspirational leadership, we have a strong heritage and an exciting future.

We aim to build a better society for the long term by investing our customers’ money in things that make life better for everyone.

If you join us, you’ll be part of a welcoming culture, with opportunities to collaborate with people of diverse backgrounds, views and experiences. Guided by leaders with integrity who care about your future and wellbeing. Empowered through initiatives which support people to develop their careers and excel.

We strive to be open, mindful and inclusive, so are always willing to discussing flexible working arrangements and reasonable accommodations for candidates with specific needs.

If you’re open to find out more, we'd love to hear from you.