Built Development Manager

Are you interested in managing an exciting portfolio of property development projects?

• Leading a diverse portfolio of projects through the planning and development process 
• Managing relationships with planning authorities, development partners, contractors and consultants ensuring successful delivery of outcomes
• Using your knowledge and skills identifying opportunities to add value through planning and optimisation of future developments.

Join our Property Team where you can use your creativity and commercial acumen to develop innovative solutions which enhance the commercial viability of assets, while creating wider social, environment and economic value for the people of Scotland.

Crown Estate Scotland has an exciting opportunity for a Built Development Manager to join our team on a 13 months fixed-term basis. 

About the role

The successful candidate for this role within the organisation will be responsible for:

• Evaluating planning uses and property development opportunities through Crown Estate Scotland direct investment and/or in partnership.
• Building and maintaining productive relationships with planning authorities, key stakeholders and potential development partners to scope and progress potential development projects.
• Leading the planning, specification and financial and development appraisals of projects, on the existing estate and potential acquisitions and joint ventures.
• Managing the Crown Estate Scotland portfolio of development projects, implementing robust project management with appropriate governance, risk management, financial control, resource management, programme management, change control processes, review and reporting mechanisms.
• Planning and managing local consultation and engagement in relation to project proposals, working with colleagues and consultants, and with active involvement in public meetings as required.
• Specifying, procuring and managing appointments and contracts for planning consultants, design team members, technical specialists, contractors, site investigations, etc.
• Ensuring compliance with all relevant Health and Safety legislation and good practice in the planning, design and delivery of projects, including Construction Design and Management Regulations.
• Negotiating planning and development agreements.
• Co-ordinating and running design team meetings, incorporating professionals such as planning consultants, architects, engineers, surveyors, etc. as appropriate.

The contractual working location of this role is our Edinburgh office.  However, we believe work is something you do, not a place you go to, and we are committed to supporting employees to work flexibly and in a way that suits their role and preferences. 

The salary will be £50,938.77.  The role also benefits from 25 days’ annual leave, plus 11.5 of public/ privilege days.  Crown Estate Scotland encourage flexible working and operate a discretionary flexi-time scheme.  This role offers participation in the Civil Service pension scheme.  Contribution levels for the scheme are currently 5.45% employee contribution at the entry salary for this role whilst Crown Estate Scotland contribution levels are 27.9%.

At Crown Estate Scotland we believe that continuous learning and development helps us to do our best in work and build professional skills and expertise.  We offer a range of training opportunities delivered by external training providers and in-house experts and provide all employees with access to LinkedIn Learning.   We also support individuals to pay professional membership fees relevant to their roles and aim to support additional study and learning requests wherever possible. 

As well as helping you to develop professionally, we also support your personal development through our ‘Wellbeing Matters’ programme with its focus on four important pillars of wellbeing – physical, emotional, social, and financial. 

About You

You should:

• Have a degree (or equivalent) relating to property development, construction management, surveying or another relevant discipline.
• Hold a membership of a relevant professional body, such as Charter Engineer or RICS.
• Be able to demonstrate a track record of full life-cycle delivery of planning and property development projects.
• Have experience of development and financial modelling, appraisals and analysis.
• Be able to evidence of productive engagement with planning authorities.
• Possess working knowledge of Health and Safety law and CDM.
• Have extensive programme/project management experience, including managing a portfolio of projects.
• Have extensive knowledge of technical and contractual requirements relating to project and scheme development and construction.
• Demonstrate experience of co-ordinating, managing and negotiating with external consultants, contractors and planners.
• Have knowledge and experience of public sector procurement.
• Be able to demonstrate experience of preparing and presenting reports to a high standard and representing the organisation public meetings, out of hours where necessary.
• Have strong negotiation skills and the ability to develop effective and productive working relationships.
• Have strong organisational skills and a flexible approach in planning and managing work to meet tight deadlines.
• Be a competent user of Microsoft Office suite and appropriate appraisal and valuation software.

You will have the following qualities, which are key to success in this role:

• Excellent work ethic and highly motivated to achieve results.
• Leadership skills to enable productive and constructive engagement with internal and external parties.
• Be able to build effective relationships and contribute to the wider team.
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal including persuasion and influence.
• Excellent analytical skills including for financial analysis and interpretation.
• Well-organised with a methodical and objective approach, and an attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to work well under pressure and to deliver to tight deadlines.
• Ability to work under own initiative as well as effectively as part of a team.
• Be able to act in a confidential manner when dealing with commercial and/or personal information.