Technical Manager

Are you a Technical Manager looking to shape the future of residential and mixed-use developments from land acquisition through to planning and exit?

At Wates, our purpose is reimagining places for people to thrive. We're looking for an experienced Technical Manager to join our Land & Development team, supporting the growth of the Wates Manor Oak portfolio and helping bring forward high-quality residential and commercial development opportunities.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As Technical Manager, you'll provide expert technical leadership across our land and development portfolio, supporting projects from initial site identification and due diligence through planning, promotion and eventual disposal or delivery. You'll play a key role in assessing technical risks, identifying opportunities, managing consultants and ensuring developments are deliverable, cost-effective and commercially viable.

Working closely with internal stakeholders, consultants, local authorities and utility providers, you'll help maximise value across the portfolio while supporting the wider business in securing new land opportunities and planning consents

As our Technical Manager you will:

• Lead technical due diligence on new land opportunities and produce technical assessment reports.
• Provide technical support throughout planning promotion and application stages.
• Oversee infrastructure, abnormal cost assessments and viability inputs.
• Manage and benchmark external consultants, ensuring quality and value for money.
• Engage with planning authorities, highways teams, utility providers and statutory bodies.
• Support project teams with technical inputs to maximise returns during land disposals and negotiations.
• Act as the technical expert within the business, maintaining awareness of legislation, regulations and industry best practice.

What we are looking for

You'll bring experience from a residential developer, housebuilder or land promotion business and have a strong understanding of the development process from site acquisition through to planning and disposal.

We're particularly interested in candidates who have:

• Experience of technical due diligence and development appraisal.
• Knowledge of highways, utilities, drainage and infrastructure delivery.
• Understanding of development viability and land-related legal agreements.
• Strong stakeholder management and negotiation skills.
• The ability to present complex technical information to senior leaders, investors and external stakeholders.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously

WORKING FOR WATES MANOR OAK

Wates Manor Oak is an expert in delivering residential planning consents throughout Southern England and the Midlands and sits within the Wates Land and Developmet Division that forms part of the Wates Group founded in 1897. Today the family business, now led by the fourth generation, is one of the largest privately owned construction, property maintenance and development companies in the UK. We have a strong team of specialists who lead the agenda bringing forward new sustainable homes through the planning promotions of land and joint ventures.

The Wates vision is to be the most trusted partner in the built environment. The importance of both community and sustainability lies at the heart of the business and we see every development as an opportunity to enhance and improve.

Throughout the planning process Wates Manor Oak positively engage with Local Authorities, Elected Members, Parish Councils, residents and stakeholder groups to understand their needs and aspirations for the future of their environment, enabling us to then sensitively and respectfully inform our proposals.

All our development proposals are based on a thorough assessment of highway and infrastructure capacity, landscape and heritage impacts, and ecology and environmental sustainability. Wates Manor Oak open and consultative approach with the community is consistent with the highly regarded corporate responsibility credentials of the wider Wates Group. www.wates.co.uk   

Our commitments: 

Wates is proud to be an employer where anyone can thrive, and we welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds.  We encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every requirement, as we value transferable skills and assess all applications fairly.

We don't discriminate based on a criminal record; all applications are reviewed on an individual basis against the requirements of the role. Some roles may require additional checks, due to the nature of the work.  As a Disability Confident Leader, we offer an interview to applicants with a disability who meet the minimum criteria for the role and opt in to the Disability Confident scheme.  Reasonable adjustments are available, please contact us at recruitment@wates.co.uk