Head of Land
Greater Manchester | £100,000 base + 40–50% performance-linked commission
Build the land function of an ambitious, growing residential developer.
An established and fast-growing residential developer is looking for an exceptional Head of Land to lead its acquisition strategy across Greater Manchester and the wider North West.
The business has a clear ambition to scale its delivery significantly over the coming years, while remaining focused on quality, disciplined site selection and strong commercial returns. This is a foundational hire with the opportunity to shape the land function and progress towards a Land Director role as the business grows.
The Role
You will own the land acquisition process from identifying opportunities through to exchange, building a high-quality pipeline of residential development sites and developing the relationships that generate off-market opportunities.
Key responsibilities include:
- Sourcing and securing residential development sites, particularly 60–80 unit suburban and urban infill opportunities.
- Building and maintaining a strong network of land agents, landowners and introducers across the North West.
- Producing and interrogating detailed development appraisals, including residual land value, IRR, margin and sensitivity analysis.
- Negotiating Heads of Terms and progressing acquisitions through due diligence and exchange.
- Assessing planning and development risk alongside internal Development and Commercial teams.
- Providing clear, commercially robust acquisition recommendations and pipeline reporting to the Board.
- Maintaining detailed knowledge of the North West land market and identifying emerging opportunities ahead of the competition.
About You
You'll be an experienced land acquisition professional with:
- A proven track record of acquiring residential development land with a regional or SME housebuilder.
- Strong technical appraisal skills, including residual land value, IRR and sensitivity analysis.
- An established North West network of agents, introducers and landowners.
- Strong commercial judgement and a willingness to walk away from deals that don't stack up.
- Good planning literacy and an understanding of development risk.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to present clear, Board-ready recommendations.
- The drive and resilience to build pipeline, develop relationships and convert opportunities into completed acquisitions.
Most importantly, you'll be commercially driven, well connected and proactive. You'll know how to create opportunities before they reach the open market, move quickly when the right deal appears, and maintain the discipline to protect returns.
The Opportunity
This is an opportunity to join a business at an exciting stage of growth and have genuine influence over its future land strategy.
You'll have significant ownership, direct exposure to senior leadership and the opportunity to build something rather than inherit an established function.
Location: Greater Manchester, with travel across the North West
Salary: £100,000 base + 40–50% performance-linked commission
Progression: Clear pathway towards Land Director
Call Simon Chevis on 0161 607 5087 or schevis@macdonaldandcompany.com