Partnerships Manager

Partnerships Manager – Affordable Housing & Strategic Partnerships

Dandara | House building

Build partnerships that create homes, unlock opportunities and deliver long-term value

We’re looking for an experienced Partnerships Manager to develop and lead strategic relationships with Registered Providers, Housing Associations and social landlords, helping us deliver affordable housing, mixed-tenure developments and innovative partnership opportunities.

This is a highly commercial role at the intersection of land, development, affordable housing and investment. You’ll identify opportunities, build relationships and negotiate agreements that enable us and our partners to deliver more homes. From Section 106 packages and whole-site acquisitions to forward funding and joint ventures, you’ll have the opportunity to shape deals from initial concept through to delivery.

This role will support our Southern and Western regional businesses and requires someone with strong sector relationships and an established network across these regions. We are happy to consider candidates based from either our Bristol or Southampton offices

You’ll develop strong, long-term relationships across the affordable housing sector, becoming a trusted point of contact for our RP and social landlord partners.

You’ll:

• Build relationships with Registered Providers, Housing Associations and PLC social landlords
• Identify opportunities across Section 106, affordable housing, mixed-tenure and contracting-led schemes
• Explore additionality opportunities and potential whole-site purchases
• Lead negotiations on Section 106 packages, bulk sales and forward funding arrangements
• Work collaboratively with partners on design, specification, tenure mix and delivery programmes
• Identify opportunities where a partnership approach can unlock greater value for all parties

You’ll identify and assess opportunities to work with social landlords and institutional partners through joint ventures and longer-term strategic agreements.

Working with internal and external stakeholders, you’ll support the structuring of development and collaboration agreements, establish clear commercial objectives and ensure commitments are delivered.

You'll also lead regular partnership reviews, keeping performance, delivery and relationships firmly on track.

This isn’t simply a relationship-management position. We’re looking for someone who can understand, structure and appraise a deal.

Working closely with our Land, Commercial and Finance teams, you’ll:

• Assess scheme viability and potential funding structures
• Analyse affordable tenure mix, grant funding and forward-sale opportunities
• Negotiate commercial terms that deliver value while managing risk
• Understand programme, cashflow and partner contribution implications
• Produce high-level scheme appraisals and more detailed assessments of offers from RPs and financial institutions
• Bring a strong understanding of the affordable housing funding regime and Homes England funding

You'll be comfortable getting into the detail while never losing sight of the bigger commercial picture.

The strongest partnerships start well before construction begins.

You'll work closely with our Land, Planning, Technical, Commercial, Finance and Construction teams, bringing partner insight into site acquisition, planning and development decisions.

You'll help ensure proposals meet partner requirements, specifications, compliance standards and handover expectations, while identifying potential issues early enough to do something about them.

Affordable housing is changing, and…