Senior Development Manager

Job Introduction

We are committed to the development of our workforce. This position is only available to applicants who already work for Surrey County Council. We thank you for your interest in our roles and would encourage you to review our vacancies which are open to all.

This role has a starting salary of £68,774 per annum, based on a 36-hour working week.

We have an exciting strategic and professional opportunity for a Senior Development Manager to join our fantastic Capital Projects Team, within the Corporate portfolio. You will be joining a team that values professional development and supports a commercial and agile approach to its diverse portfolio.

This role is open to hybrid working and as a team we split our time between working from home and collaborating together in the office.

Rewards and Benefits

• 26 days’ holiday (prorated for part time staff), rising to 28 days after 2 years' service and 31 days after 5 years’ service
• Option to buy up to 10 days of additional annual leave
• An extensive Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to support health and wellbeing
• Up to 5 days of carer’s leave per year
• Paternity, adoption and dependents leave
• A generous local government salary related pension
• Lifestyle discounts including gym, travel, shopping and many more
• 2 paid volunteering days per year
• Learning and development hub where you can access a wealth of resources

About the Role

Surrey County Council is on a mission to transform our operational estate to better serve our residents, ensuring that ‘no one is left behind’. Our commitment to the health and wellbeing of our environment and communities is at the heart of everything we do.

We are a dynamic and dedicated organisation, fully invested in transformation and improvement. Our teams thrive in a fast-paced environment, collaborating to lead, advise, and deliver meaningful change. This strategic delivery role involves working on local, regional, and national projects as part of a multi-disciplinary, cross-functional team.

As a Senior Development Manager within our Capital Projects Corporate Estate team, you will take on the exciting challenge of leading and managing projects that range from £1m to £20m in value. Your work will span key areas, such as, but not limited to, Libraries, Shared Service Hubs, Depots, the Fire & Rescue Service, and our Corporate Office estate.

You will be expected to carry out regular site visits from both a technical and health and safety perspective. You will collaborate closely with our appointed consultancy teams and manage external resources to ensure the successful development of projects from the planning stages through to construction. Your goal will be to enhance service delivery by creating, redeveloping, refurbishing, and repurposing assets. This role requires you to deliver technically complex programmes of work, achieving agreed outcomes and objectives. Our transformational work is supported by the Asset and Place Strategy 2019-2030 which sets out the Council’s approach to the strategic management of its assets.

In this position, you will liaise and work with other teams, stakeholders, and in-house resources within Land & Property. Your experience in developing project proposals from initial feasibility through to successful procurement will be invaluable. You will work in a highly collaborative way with service leaders to understand their requirements, identify risks, and develop appropriate and achievable solutions.

Shortlisting Criteria

To be considered for shortlisting for this position, your CV and personal statement will need to evidence the following:

• Proven project delivery experience in the following key areas : Libraries, Shared Service Hubs, Depots, Fire & Rescue Service, Corporate Office estate
• Knowledge of relevant legislation, regulations, and technical requirements
• Ability to lead diverse, multidisciplinary teams to achieve challenging goals
• Strong relationship-building skills
• Passion for delivering high-quality results for our customers

In return, you’ll gain access to a diverse portfolio of projects, each offering unique challenges and opportunities. This is a career enhancing role which will broaden your experience. If you have the vision, confidence and expertise to help Surrey deliver these projects and realise our ambition, we would love to hear from you.

As part of the application process you will be asked to upload your CV and answer the following questions:

1. Describe a project you have managed. What were the project's objectives, and how did you ensure its successful delivery?
2. Explain your understanding of the legislation, regulations, and technical requirements relevant to managing capital projects within a corporate estate. How have you applied this knowledge in your previous roles?
3. Provide an example of a time when you led a diverse, multidisciplinary team to achieve a challenging goal. What strategies did you use to ensure effective collaboration and successful outcomes?
4. Discuss a situation where you built strong relationships with stakeholders to enhance service delivery. How did these relationships contribute to the project's success?

Contact Us

Please contact us for any questions relating to the role. This could be to discuss flexible working requests, transferable skills or any barriers to employment. 

For an information discussion please contact Darren Humphreys by email or on MS Teams.

Our Values  

Our values are as important as our abilities and shape who we are as an organisation. Discover more about our values. 

Before submitting your application, we recommend you read the job description. Our Life at Surrey handbook provides insights of the culture at Surrey and how as a valued employee, you can help shape our Council.

Our Commitment 

Surrey County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer. A guaranteed interview will be offered to all disabled applicants where: 

• The candidate has evidenced the minimum criteria for the role through their application 
• The candidate has chosen to share that they have a disability on the application form 

Our application form and onboarding process will provide an opportunity to request any reasonable adjustments for the interview and/or the role. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all underrepresented groups.