Head - MPP Strategic Projects

Head - MPP Strategic Projects

We are recruiting for 2 vacancies, 1 permanent contract and 1 fixed term contract / secondment opportunity for 12 months

Closing Date: 22/6/2025

Interviews will take place week commencing 7/7/2025 and 14/7/2025

A bit about the role...

Working in the team with Hannah Pankhurst, Assistant Director for London and Major Projects and Victoria Duerden, Head of London, this role will play a critical part in the Markets Partners & Places (MPP) London Team. You will be joining a highly experienced and skilled team who are focussed on unlocking tens of thousands of homes across the capital in sustainable, well-designed communities.  

We do this by supporting the coordination and delivery of complex, large-scale regeneration projects.  We work collaboratively with local authorities, the Greater London Authority (GLA), central Government and leading private sector partners. This is an exciting role providing the opportunity to participate in London’s most transformational regeneration projects and work in partnership to meet London’s housing need. 

The team work on long term pre-development projects requiring complex or multiple interventions to unlock delivery and drive projects forward. We also coordinate a range of interventions offered by Homes England meaning you will be at the heart of the Agency’s capacity to support housing and regeneration, including through loan finance. 

The team is currently working across 15 projects in the capital and delivering a £150m grant programme, with the potential to deliver over 90,000 homes collectively. Our role is to coordinate partnerships between the public and private sector to bring the required mix of capital, land, and delivery expertise to each project.

Recent projects include:

• A £125m loan to a major housebuilder, Berkeley Group, to fund infrastructure works across three brownfield sites. This intervention will unlock c.8,000 homes. 

• Working in partnership with local sponsors to deliver an extension to the Docklands Light Railway unlocking c. 25,000 new homes along the route. The team are working closely with project stakeholders which include two local authorities, the GLA, Transport for London, and three private sector developers. We provide funding and expertise as well as  acting  as the key interface with Central Government.

In line with our place-based working practices, we focus on specific locations in London where regeneration and housing delivery is most needed to address acute social challenges, including deprivation and housing supply shortages. Our mission is to accelerate the delivery of high-quality homes in these locations, whilst also supporting economic growth through regeneration and placemaking.

This is a rare chance to work for an organisation with real social purpose, one which is uniquely positioned to shape the future of place-based housing delivery and regeneration in London.  Working with influential stakeholders, you will support our experienced team in driving delivery of a range of complex workstreams.

A bit about you…

We are looking for someone to join our team who understands and is passionate about the delivery of complex regeneration projects, understands the barriers faced in delivering them, and is used to working in a fast-paced environment.

You’ll have a strong understanding of the development delivery process and the ability to influence projects at various stages of delivery.

You will enjoy leading multi-disciplinary team to resolve complex issues, drawing on the skills and experience of others and challenging yourself.

You’ll have worked in environments and on projects where attention to detail is of paramount importance, but also where you can take a strategic approach.

You will be resilient and comfortable managing stakeholders at a very senior level and be able to produce concise reports and briefing notes for internal and external stakeholders.

You will be a critical friend to partners, while also being supportive and engaging, you will be comfortable with having difficult and challenging conversations. 

You will be aware of political sensitivities and be able to steer your way through to co-ordinate stakeholders, deal with uncertainties and be an advocate of the team and London.

Key Skills & Experience

- Working in partnership – you will be used to working successfully with the full range of partners and stakeholders involved in the development process and understand their needs and priorities.

- Development Experience - Experience of leading large scale or complex development projects, with an understanding of the factors that drive strategic development and planning, including experience of undertaking land assembly and/or delivery models.

- Development Appraisals & Cash Flows - We regularly receive appraisals prepared by third parties which require review by our team. The ability to navigate cash flows and identify the risks is a key component of the role, as is knowing where to source supporting evidence of construction costs and development values. The ability to build bespoke cash flows from scratch is an advantage, but not essential.

- Funding Knowledge – Knowledge of the economics and funding of major infrastructure to support large scale housing developments. Experience of infrastructure / development funding would be an advantage, but it is not essential.  

- Report Writing – preparing reports for internal and external readership is a core part of the role. The reports produced by our team may include briefing papers for our CEO, Ministry for Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), Secretary of State and internal decision-making boards.

- Green Book compliant business cases – The Green Book is the government’s recommended framework for developing business cases based on a five-case model. The ability to develop and analyse market failures and articulate the strategic rationale for public intervention and a project’s value for money is an essential part of the role. Experience of the Green Book is an advantage, but not essential. However, you will be able to demonstrate examples of producing reports to support strategic decisions.

- Leading teams - Experience of managing and inspiring a small team in a caring and inclusive way, as well as being someone who isn’t afraid to get into the detail and help with project work.

Essential: degree level qualification or equivalent experience as a: Chartered Surveyor (MRICS), Town Planner (RTPI), urban regeneration specialist or experience in development finance.  

As the Head of London you will be asked to lead on a number of projects that require various property development skills and knowledge. We appreciate you may not have all of the skills/experience listed in the job description, but you will have the majority or at least an understanding of them.

Who are we? 

Homes England: The Housing and Regeneration Agency

We believe that affordable, quality homes in well-designed places are key to improving people’s lives. As the government’s housing and regeneration agency, we create thriving new places and transform urban areas, combining the full breadth of our powers, expertise, land, capital and influence to bring investment to communities and get more homes built.

How? We form long-term partnerships that bridge the gap between the public and private sector to meet local needs and aspirations. We use our influence to champion the creation of sustainable homes, communities and places that are brilliantly designed for the people that live there now, and in the future. And we use our funding and support to build a more resilient, diverse and innovative housing sector, helping new entrants in the market, encouraging modern methods of construction and design, and promoting the utmost attention to building safety.

Together with our partners, we’re accelerating the pace of house building, remediation and regeneration across the country, as we seek to deliver ever more affordable homes in places people are proud to call home for generations to come.

What we offer... 

As well as a competitive salary and 33 days annual leave, we are committed to 50/50 hybrid working. We’ll support you, wherever possible, so that you don’t miss out on what matters to you. 

Membership of the Homes and Communities Agency Pension Scheme, which is a contributory defined benefit scheme with the amount you receive on retirement based on your salary and years worked at the Agency.

Internal applicants: please note that if you are successful, the salary you are offered will be in accordance with our pay policy. You can find details on the HR Hub SharePoint site.

If you ever need a bit of extra help, we have a great employee assistance programme, financial wellbeing support and access to many great discounts with leading high street names. 

Our range of network groups are also there to support you to be yourself at work and play a key role in helping shape our future. 

If you are a member of a professional body, we’ll pay for your membership and once you get your digital kit, you’ll be good to go. 

Homes England are a geographically diverse community. We work to a 50/50 office/ home based model. Moving back into our office environments has enabled us to utilise our space and time together in the most collaborative way. 

We would encourage all applicants to apply as soon as possible as we may close vacancies early should we receive a high number of applications. 

We also encourage you to apply using the full application option as opposed to quick apply, this is especially important if you would like to indicate to us that you would like to be considered under the disability confident scheme. 

If your application is shortlisted to interview we will require you to provide proof of your right to work in the UK at this stage.