Development Manager - Technical, Volume Housebuilding

About Us

untypical are an ambitious, customer focused house builder that put people and the planet at the heart of everything we do. We're dedicated to delivering the best possible standards in design, build quality, and service for our customers.

Our benefits package includes:

• Bonus Scheme
• Enhanced Pension Scheme
• Life Assurance
• 26 days holiday with additional bank holidays
• Holiday Buy Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme

We have an exciting opportunity for an Development Manager to join a friendly team working within our Western region and based at our office in Exeter on a permanent contract.

Aim of the role

To manage and co-ordinate all aspects of the development process concerning architectural and engineering activities and technical solutions/efficiencies for the business in respect of land purchase (upon confirmation of offer accepted by the Land Department), planning and pre-start preparations and build development prior to handover to build management. Dealing with technical and design issues that arise on site at all times working closely with all other functional teams within the business.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Demonstrate safety objectives/culture through personal actions and communicate H&S best practice throughout the company to maintain a safe working environment.
• Be cognisant of required site start dates in line with the current Business Plan and manage projects accordingly.
• Take ownership of pre-development of a project upon confirmation offer accepted by the Land Department and upon department handover meeting with the Engineer, as well as managing technical elements of the planning process.
• Demonstrate a strong commercial commitment to maximising profit by value engineering designs working closely with the Engineer and wider team.
• Identify and manage risk within projects, ensure the risk register is regularly updated for review and that consultants incorporate risk assessment and CDM procedures in their designs.
• Liaise with consultants, suppliers and manufacturers to ensure preparation of technical support information.
• Appoint, brief, challenge, assist and manage consulting engineers and other external consultants and agencies in the delivery of cost-effective design solutions.
• Procurement, management and co-ordination of utilities, including new supplies and diversions.
• Responsible for the delivery of key information, reports, assessments/status updates, activity analysis and recommendations in relation to the delivery of efficient technical solutions and all regional technical matters to ensure land purchase, planning, pre-start preparations and build activity and commercial value is optimised.
• Actively manage external consultants to ensure that all development technical information is received, co-ordinated, checked for purpose and efficiency and distributed on time and within budget, liaising closely with Group support teams.
• Coordinate the communication and distribution of design drawings and specifications to the wider business as a matter of priority using the relevant document management procedures as well as maintaining the technical folder.
• Prepare and maintain project delivery, implementing ‘stop gate’ milestones and control programmes and maintain tracking documents for the monitoring of progress and for use in providing status reports to the Technical Director and business Senior Management Team.
• Help prepare and maintain detailed individual project tracking schedules and regularly update & report to the relevant manager on progress against agreed development design delivery programs that meet the Company's project delivery requirements leading up to and including pre-tender handover to the Commercial Department. Coordinate the preparation of the Pretender Health and Safety Plan and Temporary Works design.
• Ensure that all drawings / details meet with Local Authority and NHBC requirements.
• Lead and chair monthly Project Team Meetings up to the point of groundworks tender pack issue, then provide handover of these meetings to the Commercial Department.
• Manage the technical fee budgets.

• You must have an excellent design ability and details technical knowledge…