Development Manager
| Posting date: | 19 August 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £56,000 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 07 September 2025 |
| Location: | Sunderland, Tyne & Wear |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 2 days per week |
| Company: | Gentoo Group Ltd |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: |
Summary
Are you passionate about creating homes that make a real difference in people’s lives? Gentoo are looking for a Development Manager to join our Affordable Development Team, based at our head office in Doxford Park, Sunderland.
As part of the Affordable Development Team, you will play a vital role in enabling Gentoo to achieve its growth ambitions, delivering much-needed housing across the north-east. You’ll manage development projects from the very beginning, identifying new opportunities, preparing financial appraisals, overseeing design development, securing planning permission, and appointing contractors. Once the groundwork is complete, you’ll hand projects over to the Delivery Manager to bring construction to life on-site.
You’ll work on a variety of sites, from small 40 home developments to large strategic schemes of over 300 homes. These include land-led deals, Section 106 affordable housing, and bulk acquisitions. You’ll work with housebuilders, contracts and manage consultant teams to ensure every project meets regulatory standards and delivers high-quality, affordable homes for our customers and communities.
This is more than just a development role, it’s a chance to be part of a team that’s transforming neighbourhoods and improving lives. The homes you help create will support families, individuals, and future generations across Sunderland.
We support a great work-life balance with our standard 36-hour working week, Monday to Friday. Plus, enjoy an early finish at 12:30 pm every Friday—giving you more time for the things that matter to you. We are also proud to be certified as a “Great Place To Work”.
All roles at Gentoo require a basic DBS check – paid for by Gentoo.
A full UK drivers’ licence is required for this position.
Key responsibilities will include:
Identify and secure new land and development opportunities which align with the Groups objectives and ambitions.
Manage design and planning teams to ensure projects are compliant with planning policy, achieve regulatory requirements and standards.
Lead planning public consultation to seek feedback and use to inform development proposals, products and delivery plans.
Complete financial appraisals to inform bids and tenders.
Negotiate commercial terms and legal agreements to secure proposals which are efficient, competitive, viable, deliverable and achieve value for money for the Group.
Prepare and submit grant funding bids to achieve project funding requirements.
What we are looking for:
A full UK drivers’ licence
A degree in a built environment discipline OR equivalent qualification is preferred. Candidates with the required experience will also be considered if the practical knowledge and proven expertise in the requirements of the role are demonstrated in the application.
A demonstrable understanding of key planning and development challenges for the housing sector and evidence proactive, focused ways of working with local authorities, consultants, contractors, and development partners to deliver projects.
Experience in the procurement of residential led development sites, with the ability to complete and analyze financial appraisals.
Demonstrable understanding of the required design standards and evidence of the ability to manage and deliver their implementation.
Highly developed communication skills with a proven track record in managing colleagues and external teams providing effective and engaging communication.
Self-motivated and able to manage multiple projects, meeting conflicting demands.
As part of the Affordable Development Team, you will play a vital role in enabling Gentoo to achieve its growth ambitions, delivering much-needed housing across the north-east. You’ll manage development projects from the very beginning, identifying new opportunities, preparing financial appraisals, overseeing design development, securing planning permission, and appointing contractors. Once the groundwork is complete, you’ll hand projects over to the Delivery Manager to bring construction to life on-site.
You’ll work on a variety of sites, from small 40 home developments to large strategic schemes of over 300 homes. These include land-led deals, Section 106 affordable housing, and bulk acquisitions. You’ll work with housebuilders, contracts and manage consultant teams to ensure every project meets regulatory standards and delivers high-quality, affordable homes for our customers and communities.
This is more than just a development role, it’s a chance to be part of a team that’s transforming neighbourhoods and improving lives. The homes you help create will support families, individuals, and future generations across Sunderland.
We support a great work-life balance with our standard 36-hour working week, Monday to Friday. Plus, enjoy an early finish at 12:30 pm every Friday—giving you more time for the things that matter to you. We are also proud to be certified as a “Great Place To Work”.
All roles at Gentoo require a basic DBS check – paid for by Gentoo.
A full UK drivers’ licence is required for this position.
Key responsibilities will include:
Identify and secure new land and development opportunities which align with the Groups objectives and ambitions.
Manage design and planning teams to ensure projects are compliant with planning policy, achieve regulatory requirements and standards.
Lead planning public consultation to seek feedback and use to inform development proposals, products and delivery plans.
Complete financial appraisals to inform bids and tenders.
Negotiate commercial terms and legal agreements to secure proposals which are efficient, competitive, viable, deliverable and achieve value for money for the Group.
Prepare and submit grant funding bids to achieve project funding requirements.
What we are looking for:
A full UK drivers’ licence
A degree in a built environment discipline OR equivalent qualification is preferred. Candidates with the required experience will also be considered if the practical knowledge and proven expertise in the requirements of the role are demonstrated in the application.
A demonstrable understanding of key planning and development challenges for the housing sector and evidence proactive, focused ways of working with local authorities, consultants, contractors, and development partners to deliver projects.
Experience in the procurement of residential led development sites, with the ability to complete and analyze financial appraisals.
Demonstrable understanding of the required design standards and evidence of the ability to manage and deliver their implementation.
Highly developed communication skills with a proven track record in managing colleagues and external teams providing effective and engaging communication.
Self-motivated and able to manage multiple projects, meeting conflicting demands.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident.