Head of Development

• An exciting opportunity for a Head of Development
• Competitive annual salary and attractive benefits package

About Our Client

Westminster City Council is an organisation like no other - a flagship local authority in the heart of a global city. Westminster is home to a quarter of a million people and it is also an international centre for government, business, tourism and culture that welcomes more than a million visitors each day.

This is an exciting time to join Westminster City Council's Development team. The development programme is in place to deliver 1,850 new affordable homes over the next 4 years and we are on track to meet this challenging target. Beyond this, a pipeline of additional sites has been identified for a further potential 2,000 new homes.

Westminster City Council has committed to the most ambitious affordable housing initiative for a generation, with plans to deliver high quality affordable housing across the city. The programme is running more than 50 live projects. These range from some of the largest and most comprehensive regeneration schemes seen in central London, where we are investing to make a lasting difference to the lives of our communities, to the smaller infill sites that transform unused space into homes for Westminster's residents.

If you are passionate about delivering high quality projects and world class design, then we want to hear from you. In return, we offer you the opportunity to work in some of the most historic and high-profile neighbourhoods in the country.

Job Description

This is an exciting opportunity for a Head of Development to lead the delivery of all development-related activities (predominantly RIBA work stages 0-3) which will deliver the Council's strategic objective and also contribute to the success of the Development team. Reporting to the Director of Development, you will lead a development team and manage them to ensure projects are delivered in a timely manner, that they achieve target and meet stakeholders' requirements.

The Head of Development is responsible for the management of development budgets, risk management, maximising opportunities, achieving the Council's targets and positively influencing across the organisation to deliver a portfolio of development projects through all aspects of the preliminary design and town planning process, leading to a comprehensive handover to the Construction Team.

You will work closely with the Director of Development to deliver the programme for the delivery of new housing and regeneration schemes in accordance with strategic objectives and targets. Also, working closely with Procurement, you will oversee all procurement activity relevant to RIBA work stages 0-3, including supply chain management of consultant and developer appointments, maximising value for money for the Council.

As the Head of Development, you will lead, motivate, develop and manage staff to ensure they achieve their best. You will act as a role model for the Development Team and across the wider organisation and will be responsible for ensuring compliance with all key policies and upholding the Council's values.

The Successful Applicant

To succeed, you will have significant experience at a senior level in the development industry. You will have a strong understanding of residential development and a track record of delivering high profile, complex development projects to time, cost, and quality standards.

You will have led on multiple mixed-use development projects and be able to demonstrate that these delivered successful outcomes. You will have managed resources, including the day-to-day planning, supervision, direction and monitoring of staff and consultants. And you will have ensured that programme and projects were delivered in a safe, efficient and sustainable manner, whilst successfully managing risks, achieving project targets and meeting client expectations.

Stakeholder management is an important part of the Head of Development role. You will be approachable, influential and adept at building and managing relationships with people, both internally with senior management and elected councillors and externally with landowners, developers, consultants and the representatives of the Westminster's communities. Ensuring that this diverse set of stakeholders are bought in to the development programme is essential to the success of this role.

You will always demonstrate accountability to the senior management, elected members and clients and will act with integrity, actively promoting and supporting the values, ethos and aims of Westminster.

The Council and its partners are committed to achieving diverse shortlists for all vacancies at Band 4 or above to support our desire to increase the number of staff from underrepresented groups in our workforce. If you are from a black, Asian and minority ethnic background (BAME) and would like to self-declare this to the hiring manager as part of our positive action commitments, please do so.

What's on Offer

• A competitive annual salary
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• 30 days Annual Leave per year plus bank holidays (plus an extra day for your birthday)
• Agile Working
• A range of other benefits including On-site Occupational Health Service, Occupational Parental Pay and an inclusive Employee Benefits Platform.

Where specific UK qualifications are required we will take into account overseas equivalents. All third party applications will be forwarded to Michael Page.