Senior Development Manager

Senior Development Manager

St Austell, Cornwall 

Competitive Salary and Benefits

Gilbert & Goode is seeking an ambitious and commercially astute Senior Development Manager to join our growing Pre-Construction team. This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced development professional to play a leading role in securing and delivering residential development opportunities across Cornwall and Devon .

Working closely with the Land & Partnership Team Manager and the Pre-Construction Director, you'll help drive business growth through land acquisition, strategic partnerships, and planning delivery, ensuring schemes are both commercially successful and aligned with our reputation for quality homes and great customer outcomes.

The opportunity:

As Senior Development Manager, you will lead residential developments from land identification through to planning approval and handover, managing the full pre-construction development lifecycle. You'll work with internal teams, local authorities, landowners, consultants and stakeholders to bring forward viable, sustainable and customer-focused developments.

This is a strategic and influential role where you'll help shape long-term business plans, and contribute to the continued growth of Gilbert & Goode.

What you will be doing:

• Identifying, assessing and progressing land, development and new business opportunities.


• Developing strategic land and pipeline plans to support business growth.


• Leading feasibility studies, due diligence, viability assessments and development appraisals.


• Negotiating land acquisitions, joint ventures, option agreements and commercial partnerships.


• Managing planning applications and guiding projects through the planning process.


• Building and maintaining strong relationships with landowners, local authorities, consultants and key stakeholders.


• Monitoring programme delivery, budgets, risk and scheme viability.


• Supporting Board and senior leadership decision-making through high-quality reporting and appraisal presentations.


• Acting as a key ambassador for Gilbert & Goode and contributing to the wider management team

About you:

You'll be a highly motivated development professional with a proven track record of securing land opportunities and delivering successful residential developments.

Essential Experience & Knowledge:

• Extensive experience across the residential development lifecycle.


• Proven success in land acquisition and delivering planning consents


• Strong understanding of development appraisal and financial viability.


• Experience generating new business opportunities and managing customer and stakeholder relationships.


• Excellent knowledge of planning policy and local and national housing strategies.


• Experience developing land and pipeline strategies that support business plans.


• Strong commercial awareness and understanding of market conditions.

Essential Skills:

• Outstanding negotiation and influencing skills.


• Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities.


• Strong financial, risk and budget management capability.


• Effective project and programme management skills.


• Ability to analyse complex information and present clear recommendations.


• Entrepreneurial mindset with the confidence to identify and seize opportunities.


• Resilient, self-motivated and focused on delivering results.


• Ability to collaborate across teams and build professional networks.


• Confidence presenting at senior leadership level.

Qualifications:

• Degree or Level 6 qualification in any discipline (or equivalent).Desirable to have a qualification in planning, construction or development related discipline.

Why Join Gilbert & Goode?

Bring your skills to a company with a strong regional reputation and a values‑led purpose.

We build more than homes — we create places where life unfolds.

At Gilbert & Goode, we are committed to “building inspiring homes and creating lasting memories”, placing customers at the heart of everything we do.

Award‑winning customer satisfaction.

We proudly hold the In‑house 2026 Platinum Award for Customer Satisfaction, reflecting the trust our customers place in us and the exceptional buying experience we deliver.

A leading regional housebuilder with purpose.

Since 1972, Gilbert & Goode has grown into one of the South West’s most respected new homes developers, creating inspiring neighbourhoods across Cornwall and Devon.

Your work has real social value.

As part of Ocean Housing, our profits are gift‑aided back to support the delivery of affordable housing. This means your contribution directly helps provide homes for local people and strengthens the communities we serve.

Community‑first approach.

We believe the most successful developments are shaped by the people who live in them. Community voices influence our designs, ensuring our homes and neighbourhoods genuinely meet local needs.

Alongside this sense of purpose, you’ll join a supportive, collaborative, and forward‑thinking team, based at our St Austell headquarters with strong local roots and a deep commitment to the region.

We are passionate about creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels supported to perform at their best.

Our Benefits

We offer a flexible and supportive working environment, plus an excellent benefits package:

• 27 days’ holiday plus bank holidays


• 10% car allowance


• Professional membership fees paid


• Company sick pay scheme


• Workplace pension with death-in-service benefit


• Home office work payment


• Medicash health plan (including dental and optical cover)


• Cycle to Work scheme


• Rewards and recognition programme


• On-site parking


• Employee Assistance Programme


• Family-friendly policies

Key Dates:

• Closing Date: Sunday 9th of August 2026 at Midnight


• Interviews to be held: Tuesday 18th of August 2026 in St Austell

We may close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications—so apply soon!