Development Manager

​Working for City Hall makes a difference to the lives of Londoners. Our staff are at the centre of long-term planning and development for our great city.

Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) is a Mayoral Development Corporation with planning, delivery, and compulsory purchase powers and a remit to deliver regeneration in its area. Old Oak is OPDC’s core regeneration project located in an area with a rich, cultural heritage and adjacent to London’s most successful industrial estate, Park Royal. It is one of London’s largest brownfield sites and is catalysed by significant investment in the HS2 Old Oak Common station, making it one of the largest and best-connected regeneration projects in the UK.

OPDC has ambitious plans for Old Oak, enabling the construction of an exemplary mixed-use urban district, incorporating approximately 8,000 homes and up to 200,000sq.m of commercial and community floorspace, alongside significant investment in infrastructure and placemaking.

Old Oak is a priority across government and has already received significant investment from the GLA, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Department for Transport, and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

The Old Oak project is at a pivotal stage with the selection of a development partner to deliver the new urban district for west London well underway, OPDC is looking to grow its delivery team with a range of roles to supplement its skills as it prepares to enter the next stage of delivery.

To support in this growth, we are seeking an experienced and passionate Development Manager to join the team and support the development team in transforming the Old Oak and wider OPDC areas.

This is a unique opening for an individual with an interest in working across commercial, residential, industrial and infrastructure development. As part of a close-knit team, and working closely with internal and external stakeholders, you will be involved in activities that could include funding and financing; developer procurement; strategy development; infrastructure investment and land and property acquisition.

Delivery Directorate

You will join the Delivery Directorate who are responsible for driving the physical, economic, and social regeneration of the Old Oak and Park Royal areas. This includes overseeing land assembly, infrastructure development, and the implementation of regeneration strategies.

Now is an exciting time to join the team. The programme of work is fast paced, the team is ambitious, and the scale of the Old Oak project and other OPDC led-projects affords unique opportunities to drive innovation and create change.

About the role

Reporting to the Senior Development Manager, you will be responsible for managing strategic development projects that will help facilitate the comprehensive redevelopment of Old Oak and other OPDC led projects within the OPDC area.

You will support the wider Delivery team – including land assembly, development, infrastructure, and design teams – to achieve OPDC’s strategic housing and regeneration objectives and provide technical support within the directorate. You will take a key role on project delivery, utilising planning and development experience to support the analysis of both land transactions and wider project opportunities. You will also be responsible for the financial control of projects, delivering to key milestones, and delivering outcomes in accordance with project objectives.

You will have experience of development and regeneration, as well as relevant project management skills. You will need strong organisational skills and personal resilience to thrive in a busy and demanding environment. Ideal candidates will be confident communicators, excellent relationship managers, and share our commitment and enthusiasm for regeneration.

What your day will look like

Your days will be varied as you respond to different stakeholder and organisational requirements. Working closely with Senior Development Managers, you will work across the following areas:

• Supporting OPDC’s strategic development plans for Old Oak and Park Royal including development viability, phasing, land assembly and delivery.

• Providing financial analysis to support the Delivery Directorate for a range of purposes, including: developer procurement, land transactions, scheme optimisation to support the preparation of development briefs, and budget forecasting.
• Effectively managing development projects and ensuring that all records are accurately maintained and updated.
• Providing solution focused advice on capital projects including the acquisition and development of land, the commercialisation of existing land and direct or joint venture development activity.
• Working with the Senior Development Manager and Finance and Governance teams to support business planning with accurate budget monitoring and forecasting / modelling of development cashflows including expenditure, receipts and valuations over time.
• Preparing decision papers and managing governance / finance reporting and ensuring that risk management is embedded in all aspects of delivery and reporting.
• Leading on the procurement of services required by the programme or project in line with the OPDC’s procurement procedures.
• Commissioning and coordinating multi-disciplinary consultancy teams and professionally appraising consultancy outputs.
• Developing key relationships with landowners, developers, investors, joint-venture partners, and other key commercial stakeholders.

Skills, knowledge and experience

To be considered for the role you must meet the following essential criteria:

• Professional qualification (chartered surveyor or similar) and appropriate experience in real estate development, property regeneration, or major residential/mixed-use delivery.
• Negotiating ability within complex and political environments.
• Experience of planning and development and understanding of place making principles.
• Awareness of project financing and management structures with the ability to interpret and interrogate financial appraisals thoroughly and convincingly.
• Experience of managing supply contracts including professional services, and good financial and contract management in the property sector.
• Good commercial awareness and understanding of London housing and regeneration issues.

In line with the GLA Competency Framework Guidelines you are also expected to demonstrate the following Behavioural Competencies in your role.

Building & Managing Relationships

… is developing rapport and working effectively with a diverse range of people, sharing knowledge and skills to deliver shared goals.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance

• Develops new professional relationships
• Understands the needs of others, the constraints they face and the levers to their engagement
• Understands differences, anticipates areas of conflict and takes action
• Fosters an environment where others feel respected
• Identifies opportunities for joint working to minimise duplication and deliver shared goals.

Communication & Influencing

… is presenting information and arguments clearly and convincingly so that others see us as credible and articulate, and engage with us.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance

• Communicates openly and inclusively with internal and external stakeholders
• Clearly articulates the key points of an argument, both in verbal and written communication
• Persuades others, using evidence based knowledge, modifying approach to deliver message effectively
• Challenges the views of others in an open and constructive way
• Presents a credible and positive image both internally and externally

Decision making

…is forming sound, evidence-based judgements, making choices, assessing risks to delivery, and taking accountability for results.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance

• Takes decisions as necessary on the basis of the information available
• Makes decisions without unnecessarily referring to others
• Involves and consults internal and external stakeholders early in decisions that impact them
• Analyses organisational risks associated with decisions, including those with long term impacts, before committing to action.
• Demonstrates awareness of the GLA’s decision making processes and how to use them

Operational awareness

…is understanding and being sensitive to organisational dynamics, culture and politics across and beyond the OPDC and shaping our approach accordingly.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance

• Challenges unethical behaviour
• Uses understanding of the GLA’s complex partnership arrangements to deliver effectively
• Recognises how political changes and sensitivities impact on own and team’s work
• Translates changing political agendas into tangible actions
• Follows the GLA’s position in the media and understands how it impacts on work

Problem Solving

… is analysing and interpreting situations from a variety of viewpoints and finding creative, workable and timely solutions.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance

• Processes and distils a variety of information to understand a problem fully
• Proposes options for solutions to presented problems
• Builds on the ideas of others to encourage creative problem solving
• Thinks laterally about own work, considering different ways to approach problems
• Seeks the opinions and experiences of others to understand different approaches to problem solving

Planning & Organising

… is thinking ahead, managing time, priorities and risk, and developing structured and efficient approaches to deliver work on time and to a high standard.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance

• Prioritises work in line with key team or project deliverables
• Makes contingency plans to account for changing work priorities, deadlines and milestones
• Identifies and consults with sponsors or stakeholders in planning work
• Pays close attention to detail, ensuring team’s work is delivered to a high standard
• Negotiates realistic timescales for work delivery, ensuring team deliverables can be met

OPDC follows the GLA Competency Framework Guidelines. Further detailing each competency and the different level indicators can be found here: GLA Competency Framework

How to apply

If you would like to apply for the role you will need to submit the following:

• Up to date CV
• Personal statement with a maximum of 1500 words. Please ensure you address how you demonstrate the essential criteria outlined above in the advert.

Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement have a maximum file size of 1.5MB each and upload your Personal Statement to the ‘CV and Cover Letters’ section’ of the form, ensuring you address the technical requirements and competencies in your Personal Statement.

Word or PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images. Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement are saved with the job reference number as part of the naming convention (E.g., “CV – applicant name - 012345)

As part of OPDC’s continuing commitment to be an inclusive and equal opportunity employer we will be removing personal identifiable information from CVs and Personal Statements that could cause discrimination.

If you have questions about the role

If you wish to talk to someone about the role, the hiring managers Iain Savill and Agnes Callaghan would be happy to speak to you. Please contact them at iain.savill@OPDC.london.gov.uk & agnes.callaghan@opdc.london.gov.uk

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, contact the glaopdcrecruitment@tfl.gov.uk who support the OPDC with recruitment.

This role DOES NOT meet the criteria for sponsorship for external candidates. It may meet the criteria for sponsorship for some internal candidates, in limited circumstances. Please contact the hiring manager if you wish to discuss this further.

Assessment process

Once you have submitted an application, your details will be reviewed by a panel.

If shortlisted, you’ll be invited to an interview/assessment.

The interview/assessment date is: w/c 7 December 2026 (may be subject to change)

We will make every effort to give you as much notice as possible, however some

interviews/assessments could be organised at short notice.

We may close this advert early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Equity, diversity and inclusion

London's diversity is its biggest asset, and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London's diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability.

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We would welcome applications from candidates who are seeking part time work as this role is open to job share.

Please note we are a Disability Confident Employer so for candidates who wish to be considered under the scheme and meet the essential criteria, they will automatically be invited to interview. Please note, should you require any adjustments through the process, we will accommodate as much as possible. Please contact the recruitment team for further information if required.

Benefits

OPDC staff are hybrid working up to 3 days a week in our offices and remotely depending on their role. As part of this, you will need to split your time between home working and coming into the office.

In addition to a good salary package, you will be paid every four weeks, providing frequent salary payments. We also offer an attractive range of benefits including 30 days’ annual leave, interest free season ticket loan, interest free bicycle loan and a career average pension scheme with the option to add to build up pension benefits with a separate provider alongside your LGPS pension via additional voluntary contributions.

Learning and development

At OPDC we are dedicated to empowering team members through ongoing learning opportunities and professional development initiatives. Our commitment to learning and development means that we will provide you with the resources and support to expand your skills and grow your career.

Additional Information

Please note, all candidates will need to confirm that the information provided in this application form is true and correct. Should a candidate deliberately give false information, including the use of AI software, they understand that this would disqualify them from consideration.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record (DBS) check but some roles may require additional security screening.

More Support

If you have a disability which makes submitting an online application form difficult, please contact glaopdcrecruitment@tfl.gov.uk.

The OPDC is proud to be a Level 1: Disability Confident employer. We are committed to becoming a more inclusive and accessible organisation and creating a truly inclusive and accessible workplace and culture for our disabled staff. We have named Disability Equality as a key corporate priority within our EDI Strategy. We welcome and encourage applications from disabled applicants. Should you wish to opt into the scheme, please let us know during your application.

Please note all applications for this vacancy must be submitted via our online recruitment system. We do not accept CVs alone for this role. Please upload a personal statement with a maximum of 1500 words to the ‘Additional Documents’ section of the form, ensuring you address the following technical requirements and competencies in your personal statement. Word or PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images.

The GLA Competency Framework Guidelines further detailing each competency and the different level indicators can be found here: GLA competency framework.

GLA staff are hybrid working up to 3 days a week in our offices and remotely depending on their role. As part of this, you will need to split your time between home working and coming into the office.

London's diversity is its biggest asset, and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London's diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith, or disability.

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. We are a disability confident employer who guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets all of the essential criteria.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We would welcome applications from candidates who are seeking part time work as this role is open to job share.

In addition to a good salary package, we offer an attractive range of benefits including 30 days’ annual leave, interest free season ticket loan, interest free bicycle loan and a career average pension scheme.