Senior Development Manager

Role Profile – Senior Development Manager

The Role

Working as part of a team to drive forward new and existing projects to bring about delivery in accordance with financial targets and Company requirements.

Liaise and communicate effectively with internal colleagues, key partners and external consultancy teams to ensure developments achieve agreed financial outputs and key project milestones in accordance with programme.

Identify, appraise and secure suitable new development opportunities for the business having regard throughout to Company strategy, policy and procedures.

The Muse team embraces an open, honest and proud culture which defines the way we behave and go about our work.

We have 5 team principles which underpin this culture.

1. Enjoy what we do and shout about it
2. Be bright, early and prepared
3. Show respect and care
4. Encourage diverse thinking and ideas
5. Learn from successes and challenges

These principles come naturally to the Muse team and it’s essential that a Muse project manager embraces these principles and the culture within the team.

Role and Accountabilities

• Support and assist Development Directors or Director of Development Management as required to bring about delivery of projects in accordance with Company objectives.

• Working alongside an internal Project Manager assume overall responsibility for project delivery and the achievement of key milestones throughout the development process.

• Responsibilities include negotiating legal agreements including development and funding agreements, undertaking viability assessments, securing planning and other statutory consents, securing finance, lettings and disposals and establishing long-term estate management arrangements, ensuring projects are viable and deliverable at all times.

• Establish and lead project teams. Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders and drive the project team to secure the delivery of the core project objectives in line with programme.

• Work collaboratively with the internal & external project team to make informed project decisions and co-produce solutions.

• Assume ownership of scheme development appraisals and programmes as appropriate and regularly review inputs and outputs for purposes of informing Company business planning.

• Manage expenditure to ensure it is monitored and maintained within Company approval levels and seek new expenditure approvals as necessary in line with Company procedures.

• Effectively report and communicate the activities and progress of projects and prepare written reports as required by Company timetables. Provide detailed information as requested for forecasts, budgets and board papers as necessary.

• Attend and chair team meetings as required, including deputising for the Development Director or Director of Development Management as necessary. Prepare and present scheme presentations.

• Take responsibility for ensuring that all funding and legal agreements attendant to a project are complete and accurate and properly reflect the Company’s understanding of the transaction/risk profile.

• Represent the Company in the marketplace in a professional and quality driven manner promoting the business and encouraging relationships which might deliver new development opportunities for the Company.

• Identify and secure new development opportunities for the Company in line with corporate strategy and objectives. Conduct a thorough appraisal of new opportunities taking into consideration market data, prevailing competition, current market activity and consultant advice.

• Help promote the importance of Social Value and Sustainability within Company projects and ensure ESG policy and corporate procedures are adhered to during project implementation.

Experience, knowledge and skills

Experience

Support and assist Development Directors or Director of Development Management as required to bring about delivery of projects in accordance with Company objectives.

• Experience in property development / regeneration / real estate development, with a track record of delivering complex projects from inception to completion

Proven experience of managing major development projects, including:

• Viability assessments
• Planning and statutory approvals
• Securing funding and finance
• Lettings, disposals, and estate management arrangements

• Demonstrable experience in leading and managing teams, including Development Managers and senior professionals

• Strong track record in identifying, appraising, and securing new development opportunities

• Experience of working with senior stakeholders, including board-level reporting and presentations

• Experience of negotiating complex legal agreements (e.g. development agreements, funding agreements)

• Proven ability to work with external partners, consultants, and stakeholders to deliver projects Skills

• Leadership and people management

• Ability to lead, mentor, and develop high-performing teams

• Strong capability in motivating teams and fostering a positive working environment

• Strategic thinking and commercial acumen

• Strong financial and commercial awareness

• Ability to assess viability and risk of development opportunities

• Capability to align projects with wider business strategy

• Project and programme management

• Excellent planning and organisational skills

• Ability to manage multiple projects and ensure delivery against milestones

• Strong attention to detail in overseeing complex project inputs and outputs

• Communication and influencing

• Strong written and verbal communication skills