Job Role:
You will be responsible for supporting the Development
Director in the delivery of high-quality homes across Northern Ireland. As well
as assisting the team in the delivery of new homes, the role involves all
aspects of development from inception to handover and final completion,
encompassing: site identification, acquisition, feasibility, design, planning,
construction, project management, procurement, and health and safety compliance.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
·
Undertake site visits and carry out site
appraisals / feasibility studies to understand and quantify site specific
risks.
·
Assist the Development Director to formulate and
prioritise the Association's development programme in line with strategic
objectives for consideration, approval and implementation.
·
Complete / check Total Cost Indicator (TCI)
calculations and work with the Development Director to prepare accurate financial
projections/investment appraisals to aid decision making on potential new
opportunities.
·
Co-ordinate the process of scheme design,
detailed design, preparation of contract documentation, planning negotiations
and applications.
·
Attend Design Team meetings and progress scheme designs
in accordance with the Alpha Design Guide and Department for Communities’ (DfC)
Housing Association Guide. Ensure both quality and cost are key considerations
as designs develop.
·
Assist in all aspects of control and supervision
of projects within the development process.
·
Negotiate, liaise and communicate effectively
with all clients’ design teams and local communities and other key
stakeholders.
·
Organise and manage community consultations and
follow up with any additional information and further engagement. (These
meetings may be held outside normal office hours).
·
Assist with development-related PR, social media
and events.
·
Preparation and submission of Applications for
Project Approval and Housing
Association Grant claims to the Housing’s Executive’s Development
Programme Group (DPG).
·
Contract management, liaising with contractors
when issues arise, and leading in monthly contract management meetings.
·
Monitor all scheme-related income and expenditure and
process payments within delegated authority limits.
·
Ensure all development files and finance
information for all projects are up to date.
·
Complete handovers; manage latent defects; complete
adoptions; end of defects inspections etc.
·
Complete Post Project Evaluations returns for
all projects.
·
Proactively
review the Risk Register to identify risks and ensure mitigating actions are in
place.
·
Assist with preparation of internal Committee
and Board reports.
·
Learn, understand and continually review
compliance of Housing Association Guide/DfC requirements.
·
Initiate procurements as required and monitor
progress of individual processes and their compliance with relevant
regulations.
·
Procure consultants and contractors in
accordance with the Alpha Corporate Procurement Policy.
·
Ensure all procurement procedures are fully
implemented and participate in procurement exercises.
·
Procure frameworks of developers/contractors for
Land, Design and Build opportunities.
·
Co-ordinate provision of insurances and warranty
cover for schemes.
·
Attend individual meetings or site meetings and Liaise
with Clerks of Works regularly.
·
Monitor defects in conjunction with colleagues during
the Defects Liability Period.
·
Work with the Development Director to develop
project specific design specification and requirements on fixtures and finishes.
·
Update and oversight of the Alpha Design Guide.
·
Deliver the Development Strategy, helping update
periodically as required.
·
Assist the Development Director to Draft
policies and procedures in line with sector good practice and legal and
regulatory obligations.
·
Operate and maintain Development Department
procedures and audit requirements in line with regulations and external
auditing requirements.
·
Assist the Development Director and Finance
Director in preparation of the 30-year Long-Term Financial Plan and ensuring
financial viability and loan covenant compliance.
·
Participate in corporate activities including
health and safety and continuous improvement initiatives.
·
Provide regular internal updates and/or reports
on projects as required to monitor strategic objectives.
Governance, Assurance & Compliance
·
Ensure compliance with the highest standards in
Health and Safety, especially in the delivery of the social housing development
programme.
·
Support the Development Director in enabling
compliance with all statutory and regulatory obligations.
· Assist
in the Provision of accurate, timely and full reports to Board and Committees.
· Advise
colleagues on regulatory compliance and implementation of new guidance.
· Facilitate
internal audits, and promptly implement recommendations.
Duties may vary from time to time within the broad remit of
this role. The postholder will be
flexible and pro-active in undertaking any such reasonable duties.
Person
Specification
All criteria are essential unless indicated otherwise.
Qualifications:
A third level qualification in a relevant subject, e.g.
Surveying, Building or Engineering.
And
A minimum of three years’ experience gained in a housebuilding
related role with the ability to demonstrate specific experience in the delivery
of housing or construction projects or property acquisitions.
Desirable
Qualifications
·
Membership of a relevant professional body, e.g.
RICS,
·
Experience of working on social housing
residential development projects.
Experience:
•
A minimum of three years’ experience gained in a
housing, building, or related organisation, with the ability to demonstrate relative
experience.
•
Managing construction contracts (Development
Agreements and/or NEC3/4)/Development project management experience.
•
Public sector or housing association experience
(Desirable)
•
The ability to work on a range of projects
simultaneously achieving challenging targets and objectives.
Knowledge/Skills:
•
Knowledge of Building Regulations and statutory
health and safety requirements.
•
High standard of verbal and written
communication.
•
Strong planning skills, anticipating and solving
potential problems in advance.
•
Experience of writing reports, presentations,
and policies.
•
Excellent time management skills and ability to
organise and prioritise workload to fulfil deadlines, working under pressure at
times.
•
Commitment to business improvement, including
through problem solving and developing new processes.
•
IT proficiency – ability to confidently use a
range of applications, especially MS 365 / Office, experience and understanding
of spreadsheets, cash flows and economic appraisals.
•
Understanding of technical drawings and contract
documentation.
•
Knowledge of housing, to include planning
processes, development processes and basic construction knowledge.
•
An understanding of risk management within
the Housing Development Process.
•
Knowledge of the DfC Housing Association
Guide (desirable).
•
Understanding and experience of working with
local communities.
•
Full
driver’s licence and access to own car – regular travel across NI will be
required.
Personal Qualities
•
Strong interpersonal skills.
•
Excellent communication and presentation skills.
•
High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
•
Strong commitment to high quality customer
service.
•
Adopts a flexible approach to the requirements
of the job.
•
Adapts positively to change.
•
Ability to work as part of a team as well as on
own initiative.
•
Promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion in
all aspects of employment and service delivery.
If you would like to discuss the role, please contact
James Wright, Development Director: