Careers at Owl

As a Senior Land Manager, you will play a leading role in identifying, assessing and securing strategic and immediate land opportunities across the East and West Midlands regions for both Owl Homes and Owl Partnerships. Working closely with Planning, Technical, Commercial and Legal teams, you will be responsible for building and maintaining a strong land pipeline that supports the business’s growth objectives. The role requires excellent market knowledge, strong negotiation skills and the ability to develop relationships with landowners, agents, local authorities and strategic partners. You will take ownership of opportunities from initial identification through appraisal, negotiation and acquisition, ensuring all opportunities align with the company’s commercial and operational objectives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Identify and secure strategic and immediate land opportunities across the East and West Midlands regions
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of development opportunities for both private sale and partnership-led schemes
• Develop relationships with landowners, agents, promoters, local authorities and other key stakeholders
• Negotiate land acquisitions, option agreements, promotion agreements and conditional contracts
• Prepare and present land acquisition recommendations to senior management and the Board

Land appraisal and due diligence:

• Undertake detailed site appraisals, including planning, technical, commercial and legal assessments
• Coordinate internal and external consultants to support land evaluations
• Assess development viability, risks and opportunities
• Prepare financial appraisals and sensitivity analyses to support acquisition decisions
• Ensure robust due diligence is completed prior to land acquisition

• Identify opportunities for strategic land promotion and longer-term land investment
• Support the delivery of partnership-led developments with housing associations, local authorities and registered providers
• Explore opportunities for mixed-tenure and affordable housing developments
• Monitor local planning policy and housing land supply positions to identify emerging opportunities

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of local land markets, competitor activity and planning policy changes
• Attend industry events, networking opportunities and stakeholder meetings
• Develop and maintain strong professional relationships across the development sector
• Provide regular market intelligence and land pipeline updates to senior leadership

• Work closely with Planning, Technical, Commercial and Construction teams throughout the land acquisition process
• Support the smooth transition of acquired sites into the development and delivery stages
• Contribute to regional land strategies and business planning objectives
• Ensure acquisitions align with company values, quality standards and growth targets

Skills and experience:

• Proven experience in a Land Manager or Senior Land Manager role within residential development or housebuilding
• Strong understanding of the land acquisition process, planning system and development viability
• Experience securing both immediate and strategic land opportunities
• Knowledge of affordable housing and partnership-led developments (desirable)
• Strong financial appraisal and negotiation skills
• Excellent network of industry contacts across the Midlands region
• Strong commercial awareness and decision-making capability
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and land appraisal software

Qualifications:

• Degree qualified in Real Estate, Planning, Surveying, Property Development or a related discipline
• Membership of RICS, RTPI or a relevant professional body (desirable)
• Full UK Driving Licence

Personal attributes:

• Commercially driven with strong strategic thinking skills
• Excellent negotiator and relationship builder
• Self-motivated and proactive
• Confident communicator and presenter
• Resilient and results-focused
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail
• Collaborative and aligned with Owl’s values and culture

Why join Owl?

At Owl Homes and Owl Partnerships, you’ll be part of a growing and ambitious business where your contribution directly influences the future growth of our business and the delivery of high-quality homes and thriving communities. We value teamwork, accountability and continuous improvement — and we support our people to develop and progress.