manager recruitment pack · esher, surrey kt10 9qy applications must be received by 5pm on friday...

Land &Planning Manager Recruitment Pack December 2017

Land & Planning Manager Recruitment December 2017

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December 2017 Dear applicant, Crown Simmons Housing – Land & Planning Manager Recruitment Thank you for your interest in this position. Enclosed is the information you will require to assist you in completing your application. To apply please can you:

Provide an up-to-date CV which shows your full career history– we recommend that this is no longer than three pages;

Write a supporting statement detailing how you are a good candidate for this post and how you fulfil the person specification and competency requirements – we recommend that this should be a maximum of around three pages;

Should you be shortlisted for interview, you will be required to complete a Compliance and Equal Opportunities monitoring form including details of two employment referees;

Please let us know if there are any dates during week commencing 22 January 2018 when you would not be available for interview.

Please note that applications can only be considered if all the documentation is completed and submitted. Once complete, please send your application by the deadline, preferably in MS Word format, by email to [email protected] or by post to: Land & Planning Manager Recruitment Crown Simmons Housing 1st Floor, Aissela 46 High Street Esher, Surrey KT10 9QY Applications must be received by 5pm on Friday 12 January 2018. If you are successful in being shortlisted it is likely that interviews will take place during week commencing 22 January 2018 so please make clear in your application any dates where you will not be available.

mailto:[email protected]


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It is your responsibility to ensure that we have received your application. If you do not receive confirmation of receipt of your application from us within 48 hours of sending, please call 01372 461 440 to ensure it has arrived. You should also ensure that you use a secure email address from which to send your application, as our system will filter out emails if it believes them to have been sent from unsecured sites that are often used to send spam emails. In order to avoid last-minute IT issues, we also ask that you allow yourself ample time to submit your application in advance of the deadline. Please do contact me if you wish to have an informal discussion about the role or if you have any questions on 01372 461 457. I look forward to hearing from you. Kind regards, Paul Yates Chief Executive


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CONTENTS

Page Welcome letter from the Chief Executive 5 About Crown Simmons Housing 7 Job Description & Person Specification 9 Terms and conditions 14


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December 2017 Land & Planning Manager I am delighted that you are interested in the role that we have available. This is a new post, reporting to me, and will take the lead on all new development business for Crown Simmons. The successful applicant will also work closely with our Customer Services Director and Finance Director, ensuring that the opportunities that we pursue are in line with our Development & Growth Strategy, meet the financial parameters that are set out in our financial appraisal model and Business Plan, and most importantly ensure that we provide high quality affordable housing. Our recent focus has been on the intermediate housing market (primarily shared ownership), but we have a varied portfolio of general needs housing, leasehold housing for older people, rented sheltered housing and we also provide management services for charities and the public sector. Crown Simmons is a relatively small housing association at just under 700 homes in management and 20 staff, but we have the financial capacity and ambition to grow our property portfolio by around 15% over the next five years. This may take the form of new development – most likely on small sites or through Section 106 arrangements or by acquiring tenanted stock from other landlords. To finance our ambitions we will be taking out a further £10M loan in early 2018 and have a number of offers on the table from lenders. In addition, as part of our asset management strategy we recently sold 40 tenanted homes in Islington to a more local housing association and are looking to reinvest the proceeds of this disposal in new housing as soon as possible. Crown Simmons has been an active developer of new homes over the last 15 years and we have built around 170 homes which have been a combination of small local authority sites and sites identified through our asset management programme following options appraisals. We are currently progressing two sites in our ownership. In March 2017 we obtained planning permission for the redevelopment of a sheltered housing scheme in West Molesey that will see 12 prefab bungalows and outdated communal facilities replaced with 28 new homes which we currently plan as a mixed tenure development of shared ownership and affordable rent. Red Loft have been appointed as project managers and we are looking to start on site by the end of March 2018.


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At Rosemary House in Esher we are demolishing our former office premises and replace with a new build development of 11 apartments for shared ownership and 2 for private sale. Planning permission was achieved in August 2017 and we intend to be on site by the early summer 2018. Again, Red Loft are appointed as our development agents. Crown Simmons has good links and partnerships with local authorities, particularly Elmbridge, Guildford, Runnymede and Kingston and our target operating area is Surrey and SW London. For the last two years this activity has been supported by independent development consultants who have been developing links with local agents and housebuilders. You will be expected to develop these links further to progress our growth ambitions. This role is available on either a full-time or part-time basis. Given our size we believe that this role could suit someone wanting to work on a part-time basis although our priority is appointing the right candidate. Yours faithfully,

Paul Yates Chief Executive


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About Crown Simmons Crown Simmons Housing was formed by the merger of Rosemary Simmons Memorial Housing Association and Crown Housing Association on 1 August 2014.

Crown Simmons Housing is the Trading Name for Rosemary Simmons Memorial Housing Association which is a charitable industrial and provident society registered under the Co-operative & Community Benefits Societies Act 2014 (Soc no.IP15355R) and registered as a housing association by the Homes and Communities Agency (no.LH1026). We own and manage approximately 700 properties across parts of Surrey, London and the South coast. A key driver for the merger was to offer enhanced services for residents, as well as the capacity to develop and acquire new homes. Our Board of Management meets at least six times a year. There are two committees which meet to consider issues in more detail: Governance & Remuneration and Audit & Risk.

In recent years we have been successful in receiving funding from the Government, via the Homes & Communities Agency, as well as from our local authority partners, to build a number of new homes. We are members of the Wayfarer development consortium which comprises a number of large and small housing associations based in the South East.

Wayfarer acts as the conduit for our development funding from the Government. We have planning permission to develop two sites in our ownership which would see the development of 39 new homes – these developments will commence in early 2018. We have capacity in our Business Plan to fund up to 130 more homes over the next 5 years. We are currently in discussions with lenders to add £10m of additional funding to support our growth plans. Where are our properties? Crown Simmons has properties in the boroughs of Elmbridge, Guildford, Runnymede, Kingston-upon-Thames, Sutton and Greenwich. Our sister organisation, the Fellowship Houses Trust has properties in the Brighton & Hove, Worthing, Woking and Adur. We also manage sheltered housing for a charity


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in Barnes (the Barnes Workhouse Fund) and for another very small charity in Weybridge. We also provide management services for organisations such as the Merchant Taylor’s Company (one of the twelve City Livery Companies), and Surrey Police. Most new residents are referred to us by local authorities, but we also hold a waiting list for sheltered housing applicants. How many staff? Crown Simmons employs 19 staff, the majority are based in our Esher office and some at our seven sheltered housing schemes. Our Leadership Team comprises a Customer Services Director and a Finance Director reporting to the Chief Executive. We are a small organisation and work very closely together. Some of our staff work part-time, allowing us to maximise the talent available to us. Our Mission To develop a range of homes and services for the benefit of lower to middle income people who are unable to access housing through the normal market process. Our Vision To be a top performer with a strong reputation for innovation, delivery, value for money and excellent services for customers. The Board recently approved a new Strategic Plan ‘Better, Stronger, Smarter’ for the period 2017-2021 and this is available on our website.

Our Values We believe that our values can be summarised as follows:

Value for Money Innovation Delivery Customer Focus Collaboration


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JOB DESCRIPTION

POSITION

Land & Planning Manager

LOCATION

Esher

TEAM Corporate LAST UPDATED

December 2017

REPORTING TO Chief Executive

DIRECT REPORTS

None

PURPOSE OF ROLE

To take the lead on progressing Crown Simmons’ growth ambitions by identifying and progressing new development opportunities in Surrey and South West London. This will include:

Liaison with land owners, agents, developers and local authority enabling and planning teams about sites that could be of interest to Crown Simmons Housing for the development of new affordable housing in Surrey and South West London

Carrying out financial appraisals (using Proval) on such opportunities, ensuring that they are in line with the Association’s Business Plan and agreed financial parameters for new development. This is to include liaison with the Association’s Finance Director and other members of the Leadership Team as appropriate

Drafting Leadership Team, Board and Committee reports setting out recommendations for new business projects

Putting together project teams to progress new business opportunities and competitions e.g. architects, employers agents, planning consultants, and progressing new schemes through to planning permission approval

Progressing opportunities up to receipt of planning permission, working with project teams, the Crown Simmons Leadership Team and Board as necessary

Liaison with the Wayfarer Partnership for HCA grant claims; and GLA (or development agent working on our behalf) for sites in London

Any other duties agreed in advance with the chief executive of Crown Simmons Housing


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KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

POLICY Work in accordance with Crown Simmons’ development and growth strategy, development policies and procedures, financial regulations and standing orders. OPERATIONAL Seek out new growth opportunities that fit Crown Simmons’ growth strategy. Including, but not exclusively: Affordable housing and mixed tenure developments; S106 planning gain opportunities; Partnerships with developers and agencies; Acquisition of tenanted homes from other landlords. Forming effective relationships with external organisations and stakeholders, local authority enabling and planning teams, local charities and public sector bodies and other local landowners. Instruct and manage valuers, architects, quantity surveyors, engineers and other consultants as required. Prepare detailed financial and risk assessments, and prepare reports for project approval. Ensure projects are effectively managed in line with funding requirements and internal procedures and ensure that they are handed over to team members with a comprehensive briefing. Develop comprehensive knowledge of Local and Regional Policy Guidance and practice especially in relation to housing tenure and grant support COMMUNICATION Prepare written reports for senior management and Board. Work with internal colleagues as necessary building and maintaining effective relationships. Ensure effective relationships are built and maintained with key external partners especially Developers, Land Agents, Local Authorities, the Greater London Authority and the Homes and Communities Agency. OTHER Attend occasional evening or weekend events or meetings. Travel to the Association’s offices or to other sites as required


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GENERAL OBLIGATIONS

1. To ensure that maximum use is made of IT systems, supporting the development of

information systems to enhance the service provided. 2. To ensure that Crown Simmons’ Equality and Diversity policy is fully implemented at all

times, demonstrating commitment to equality and diversity strategies and policies. 3. To take responsibility for own personal development and update knowledge and skills to

perform the role at an effective level. 4. Undertake such training as is deemed necessary to improve personal performance and

knowledge. 5. To maintain confidentiality of information and files in accordance with Crown Simmons’

policy.

6. Ensure that duties are undertaken within the Crown Simmons Competency Framework and Values.

7. Carry out duties and responsibilities in accordance with the corporate Health’s Health &

Safety Policy and relevant Health & Safety Legislation. 8. Perform duties not specifically identified in the job profile but which are in line with the

general responsibilities of the post. 9. Ensure that duties are undertaken with regard and compliance with the Data Protection Act

and other legislation.


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PERSON SPECIFICATION

POSITION Land & Planning Manager

LOCATION Esher

TEAM Corporate

LAST UPDATED December 2017

QUALITY

ESSENTIAL DESIRABLE

Education & Qualifications

The successful applicant should preferably be educated to at least ‘A’ level standard or equivalent (HNC/HND) and have a qualification in construction, planning, development and/or project management.

A Degree in Housing or Construction related would be an advantage, as would studying for or having achieved a recognised professional qualification, preferably CIH, RICS, RTPI or CIOB

Experience, Knowledge and Understanding

Knowledge of working with public sector organisation such as local authorities, development agencies etc.

Good knowledge of the development process

Good knowledge of financial and risk appraisal of projects.

track record in meeting targets and working to deadlines

Ability to prepare and understand Excel spreadsheets and manipulate bespoke appraisal software; excellent level of numeric ability.

Knowledge and previous application of a development appraisal model such as Proval.

Knowledge of Homes and Communities Agency/ Greater London Authority policy and procedures for development.

Job related skills

Acquisition of land, development agreements, land transfers, building licences, funding agreements and nomination agreements


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Understanding of local, regional, and national development and growth priorities.

Successful track record in a new business environment.

Experience of commissioning and management of consultants.

Personal Skills/Qualities

Achieving results and seeing things through. Planning and organisation. Good with people and at building relationships. Sound Analytical and Numerical skills. Good negotiation skills. Seeks to be positive at all times


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Summary of Main Terms & Conditions Post: Land & Planning Manager Contract Term: Permanent Location: Esher Salary: c.£50,000 (depending on skills and experience) Car Allowance: £1,239 (pro rata for part-time) Hours: Flexible, either full (35 hours) or part time Holidays: 25 days from April-March plus bank holidays. Additional 1 day

leave entitlement after 3, 4 & 5 years’ service (totalling 3 additional leave days applied on a pro rata basis for part-time staff). The offices will also normally be closed for the 3 days between Christmas and New Year periods. This is subject to service requirements and will be reviewed annually.

Sickness: Statutory sick pay during probationary period. Full pay for up

to 12 weeks in any year in line with length of service. Up to further 12 weeks half pay in exceptional circumstances.

Probationary period: 6 months Notice period: 2 months upon satisfactory completion of probationary period Other benefits: Defined Contribution Pension Scheme administered by SHPS Cycle to work scheme Childcare voucher scheme Employee Assistance Programme Learning and Development opportunities Discounts on products and services through Perkbox

manager recruitment pack · esher, surrey kt10 9qy applications must be received by 5pm on friday...

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