Residential Development Manager
JOB PURPOSE
The Development Manager is responsible for the overall operational management, resident experience, compliance, presentation, and performance of a residential development.
The role will ensure the development is maintained to the highest standards, providing residents, leaseholders, and stakeholders with an exceptional living environment whilst ensuring full compliance with statutory obligations, health and safety legislation, and building safety requirements.
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
Development Operations
- Assume day-to-day responsibility for the operational management of the development.
- Ensure all communal areas, amenities, plant rooms, external areas, and facilities are maintained to the highest standard.
- Conduct regular inspections of the development and identify areas requiring improvement.
- Monitor building performance and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
- Ensure all operational policies, procedures, and site-specific management plans remain current and effective.
- Support mobilisation, building handovers, defect management, and transition from developer to operational management.
Resident and Leaseholder Engagement
- Act as the primary point of contact for residents and leaseholders.
- Build positive relationships with residents and promote a strong community environment.
- Respond to resident enquiries, complaints, and service requests professionally and within agreed service standards.
- Draft and issue resident communications, newsletters, notices, and service updates.
- Organise resident meetings, forums, and engagement events.
- Manage escalated complaints and ensure satisfactory resolution.
- Promote resident satisfaction through proactive communication and service excellence.
Concierge and Estates Team Management
- Lead, manage, motivate, and develop all on-site staff.
- Provide leadership to concierge, security, cleaning, maintenance, and estate teams.
- Ensure staffing levels remain appropriate to operational requirements.
- Conduct regular team meetings, training sessions, and performance reviews.
- Manage recruitment, induction, probationary reviews, and employee development.
- Support disciplinary, grievance, welfare, and absence management processes.
- Foster a positive, customer-focused culture across the development.
Contractor and Supplier Management
- Procure, manage, and monitor hard and soft service contracts.
- Manage contractor performance against agreed KPIs and Service Level Agreements.
- Undertake regular contractor review meetings.
- Ensure contractors comply with site procedures, permits, and health and safety requirements.
- Review service specifications and identify opportunities for service improvement and cost savings.
- Support tendering exercises and contract renewals.
- Monitor quality, responsiveness, and value for money across all service providers.
Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM)
- Oversee implementation and delivery of all Planned Preventative Maintenance programmes.
- Ensure all building systems and equipment are maintained in accordance with statutory requirements and manufacturer recommendations.
- Monitor completion of maintenance schedules and remedial works.
- Review maintenance records and identify recurring issues.
- Support lifecycle planning and long-term asset management strategies.
- Assist in the preparation of capital expenditure programmes.
Building Inspections and Defect Management
- Conduct regular inspections of common areas, plant rooms, external areas, and resident facilities.
- Identify defects and arrange corrective actions.
- Monitor latent defect issues and coordinate resolution with developers and contractors.
- Maintain comprehensive inspection records and action trackers.
- Escalate significant risks or defects appropriately.
Emergency Response and Incident Management
- Act as lead point of contact during emergencies.
- Coordinate responses to incidents including fire alarms, floods, power failures, lift entrapments, security incidents, and major building defects.
- Ensure emergency procedures remain current and tested.
- Investigate incidents and implement corrective actions.
- Maintain emergency response records and reporting procedures.
Cleaning, Security, Waste and Estate Standards
- Ensure communal areas are maintained to exceptional standards.
- Monitor cleaning and housekeeping standards.
- Manage waste and recycling operations.
- Ensure landscaping and external areas are maintained appropriately.
- Oversee security operations and access control procedures.
- Conduct routine quality inspections and audits.
Reporting
- Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual management reports.
- Attend client and resident meetings.
- Present operational performance data, compliance updates, budget information, and project progress reports.
- Build strong relationships with clients, managing agents, consultants, and residents.
- Ensure accurate record keeping and reporting.
KEY SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE
- Good working knowledge of residential property management, facilities management, and service delivery processes.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to support and work collaboratively with site teams, contractors, and stakeholders.
- High standard of written and verbal communication.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and maintain accurate records.
- Experience working in a service-led environment with attention to detail and customer focus.
- Good problem-solving and coordination skills.
- Computer skills: proficient in Excel, Word, and Outlook.
- Ability to work independently while escalating issues appropriately.
CORE COMPETENCIES
- Flexibility – Ability to adapt to changing priorities and operational demands.
- Integrity – Deals with colleagues, residents, and clients honestly and to a high ethical standard.
- Knowledge Sharing – Ability and willingness to obtain, use, and share information, ideas, and good practice with others.
- Team Orientation – Ability to work collaboratively and support others to achieve shared outcomes.
- Continuous Improvement – Drive to improve skills, processes, and service quality.
- Focus – Ability to identify and address important issues in a timely manner.
- Tenacity – Determination to see tasks through to completion despite challenges or delays.
- Proactivity – Ability to anticipate issues and take appropriate action before they escalate.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
Essential
- Significant experience managing residential, mixed-use, or Build-to-Rent developments.
- Strong knowledge of residential property management operations.
- Excellent understanding of building compliance and health and safety legislation.
- Proven contractor and supplier management experience.
- Experience managing operational budgets and service charge expenditure.
- Strong resident and customer service focus.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong organisational and prioritisation skills.
- Experience managing emergencies and operational incidents.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and property management systems.
Desirable
- Property management qualification (IRPM, ATPI, MTPI, MIRPM, or equivalent).
- IOSH Managing Safely.
- NEBOSH General Certificate.
- IWFM qualification.
- Building Safety Act knowledge and experience.
- Project management qualification.
- Experience of major works and capital projects.
- Knowledge of Section 20 consultation processes.
Pay: £60,000.00-£70,000.00 per year
Licence/Certification:
- IOSH (required)
- NEBOSH General Certificate (required)
- IWFM (required)
- MIRPM (required)
Work Location: In person
