Director of Acquisitions and Partnering

We are looking for:

The Director of Acquisitions and Partnering is accountable for increasing land supply for housing.

This is a senior and strategic role that will undoubtedly change the housing market for the better.

You will provide excellent leadership and the right level of oversight of the site acquisitions process managing risk with commercial considerations. You will provide the necessary assurance to investment decision makers, including Treasury. You will use your extensive commercial and technical expertise to guide and coach your team to ensure that business plan targets and our policy objectives are met.

You will devise innovative and entrepreneurial approaches that maximise opportunities for (exceeding) the Agencies strategic objectives and policy goals.

You will also oversee the acquisition and transfer of suitable surplus sites from other government organisations and public sector organisations. You will be the senior interlocutor with our public sector partners providing them with strategic level updates and resolving any escalated issues.

Our successful candidate will:

Work collaboratively with colleagues across the Agency to create, identify and develop opportunities to increase housing supply.

Effectively make use of funding and tools, including partnering; acquisition by private treaty; and compulsory purchase to meet annual targets and ensure that commercial transactions are executed to secure the best outcomes for Homes England.

Ensure that the identification, evaluation and acquisition of residential development opportunities are robust, underpinned by technical and commercial viability and is aligned with the Agency’s strategic objectives and policy goals.

Lead and develop a high performing team, driving forward Homes England's mission and objectives, exemplifying the Homes England Way, leading and communicating organisational change and playing an active role in the Agency’s Wider Leadership Network.

Establish strong and effective relationships with key public and private individuals and groups to monitor land and market activity and act proactively and reactively to secure land acquisition and partnership opportunities.

Ensure the effective delivery of high quality partnering services and meet the obligations in any formal agreements between public sector organisations and Homes England.

Grow the function and identify new opportunities for closer collaboration and partnering with public sector organisations.

Effectively contribute to the overall leadership and management of the Land and Development Directorate influencing and leading strategies for how a pipeline of land is acquired and managed and disposed of across its end to end life cycle with the Agency.

Implement and where appropriate contribute to the development of relevant policies, procedures and guidelines that support delivery of the Agency’s strategic plan.

Represent Homes England at external forums acting as a positive ambassador for Homes England promoting an excellent reputation nationally and regionally as the Government’s housing accelerator.

The skills we would like are:

Extensive experience of complex acquisitions and disposals demonstrating a broad delivery record of differing commercial deal structures and financial development appraisals.

Proven experience in the identification and acquisition of residential land.

Deep knowledge and practical experience of undertaking and reviewing viability appraisals.

Excellent leadership skills focused on building high performing agile and innovative teams to continually drive performance.

Credible communicator able to represent Homes England at senior level in dealings with the market and across the public sector.

Experience of building and maintain effective stakeholder relationships. 

Preferably a degree in a property related discipline such as surveying, town planning and/or membership (or working towards such) of a professional body in the land and property discipline such as RICS or RTPI or other appropriate professional qualifications.

Strong self-motivation with an entrepreneurial attitude.

Strong commercial acumen coupled with emotional intelligence and problem solving skills.