Development Manager

Development Manager - West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) £58,091 - £65,108 | Hybrid Working | Birmingham | 12 month FTC Some developments simply don't happen without intervention. Town centre regeneration schemes. Brownfield housing developments. Build-to-rent projects. Extra care schemes. Complex partnerships bringing together local authorities, developers, investors and communities. At WMCA, you'll help unlock projects that create new homes, regenerate places and deliver lasting social and economic impact across the West Midlands. This is an opportunity to work at the intersection of regeneration, development finance and placemaking, helping shape projects that the market alone would often struggle to deliver. The Role As a Development Manager, you'll play a key role in assessing funding applications and supporting the delivery of high-impact development projects across the region. Part of the role involves detailed appraisal and due diligence work. You'll review development proposals, assess financial viability, analyse funding structures and provide evidence-based recommendations on grant funding decisions. Equally important is the outward-facing side of the role. You'll work closely with local authorities, developers and other stakeholders to identify opportunities, build relationships and help develop a pipeline of future projects. No two projects are the same. One week you could be reviewing a residential development appraisal. The next, you could be discussing a major regeneration opportunity with local authority partners or helping shape a complex town centre scheme involving multiple stakeholders. What You'll Be Doing

• Reviewing development funding applications across a range of residential and regeneration projects
• Analysing development appraisals, costs, values and funding structures
• Conducting due diligence and preparing clear, evidence-based reports
• Supporting funding recommendations for projects seeking public sector investment
• Building relationships with local authorities, developers and delivery partners
• Identifying and developing future project opportunities across the region
• Presenting findings and recommendations to senior stakeholders
• Helping deliver projects that create lasting economic and social value About You We're open-minded about background and recognise that strong candidates can come from a variety of sectors. You may currently work in development finance, real estate, regeneration, housing investment, development consultancy, banking, local government, a registered provider or a development organisation. What matters most is your ability to combine commercial awareness with strong analytical thinking and excellent stakeholder skills. You'll likely bring:
• Experience reviewing development appraisals, business cases or funding proposals
• Strong numerical and analytical capability
• An understanding of development funding structures and project viability
• Excellent report writing and communication skills
• The confidence to engage with a wide range of stakeholders
• The ability to work independently and exercise sound judgement
• A genuine interest in development, regeneration and placemaking We recognise that great candidates don't always meet every requirement. If you can demonstrate most of the experience we're looking for and are excited by the opportunity, we'd encourage you to apply. Why Join WMCA? This is a chance to work on projects that genuinely shape the future of the West Midlands. You'll join a supportive and collaborative team with significant autonomy, exposure to major projects and opportunities to develop your expertise further. The environment is professional without being overly corporate, with a strong focus on learning, innovation and making a tangible difference. Recent investment activity has grown significantly, with the team now supporting a much broader and more complex portfolio of projects involving major institutional investors, developers and public sector partners. Benefits include:
• Generous Local Government Pension Scheme
• Competitive annual leave entitlement
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements
• Shared Cost Additional Voluntary Contribution (SCAVC) Scheme
• Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme
• Ongoing professional development and learning opportunities
• The opportunity to make a visible impact across one of the UK's most dynamic regions