Wendover is seeking an experienced Development Director to join our London team, responsible for leading commercial, residential, and mixed-use developments from early-stage design and planning through construction and delivery. This is a hands-on role overseeing consultant and contractor teams, managing cost and programme, and providing clear reporting on progress, risk, and delivery. The ideal candidate will have 9-15 years of relevant experience in construction, property development, design, and/or project management, with a strong working knowledge of commercial office, retail, and residential schemes. You will have direct experience working with architects, engineers, main contractors, quantity surveyors, sub-contractors, and developer-side teams, and be comfortable leading teams of varying sizes in fast-paced environments.
Key Responsibilities
1. Design, Planning & Technical Review
- Ability to review/comment on architectural, structural, building services (MEP), and interior architectural drawings working with internal stakeholders and other consultants.
- Experience with local planning authorities, building regulators, and utility companies throughout the design refinement and planning consent process.
- Keeps abreast of UK planning, building regulations, and construction industry regulatory changes affecting development/construction requirements to take advantage of or compensate for the changes which may impact projects.
- Coordination and management of the consultant team, including planners, engineers, architects, utility companies, quantity surveyors, and other third-party consultants, alongside the contractor team.
- Assist with the preparation of tender documentation, RFP/RFQ’s, consultant bids and appointments.
- Drive the pre-construction process by creating and updating programmes, budgets, timelines, and projections, as necessary.
- In some cases, managing multiple contractors in their budgeting, scheduling, or GMP / lump-sum price preparation.
- Also needs to work closely with leasing and asset management teams. Ensure timely delivery of project milestones through the preparation, review, and management of project programmes, coordinating all relevant parties.
- Ability to develop and manage project-specific cost plans and understand cost control and cash-flow management.
4. Construction Oversight
- Monitor multiple projects during construction through periodic on-site observations, identifying projects that require additional management focus.
- Provide clear, suitably detailed internal reporting across multiple projects at varying stages, including cost, programme and completion forecasts.
- Recognise and assess risks through the due diligence process.
- Identify and resolve problems and develop alternative solutions in a timely manner.
Ideal Candidate
- Experience: 9+ years’ of relevant Construction, Property Development, Design, and/or Project Management experience.
- Education: Bachelors or higher degree in architecture, engineering, construction management, planning, or a related business degree – Architectural/Construction/Land Development/Real Estate programs are preferred.
- Strong computer skills, including AUTOCAD, Microsoft Office (excel, word, and project), Adobe Design Suite, and Google applications preferred.
- Working knowledge of Procore, Primavera (or equivalent) are a plus. Strong written/verbal communications and negotiation/presentation skills.
- Adapt to understanding real estate development principles and strategies.
- Detail-oriented and organized work habits.
- Ability to act and operate independently with minimal daily direction.
- Candidates should have excellent time management and organizational skills, with the ability to work well under pressure.
- Ensure confidentiality of all privileged and proprietary information.
Why Join Us?
You will play a central role within a lean, senior team, working closely with principals and stakeholders on high-impact commercial, residential, and mixed-use projects. The role offers real ownership, visibility across the full development lifecycle, and the opportunity to influence decision-making from early strategy through delivery. This is an opportunity for a driven, commercially minded professional to take meaningful responsibility and help shape projects at a firm known for thoughtful, design-led development.
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