Area Land Director

About The Role

The Area Land Director (ALD) will work alongside the Land Director as their deputy, leading the land function to consistently deliver across strategic land acquisition and development site procurement within a defined region. They will ensure alignment with budgetary targets, drive long-term pipeline planning, deputise at senior forums, oversee every regional project, and lead a high-performing land team to meet Cala Homes’ growth objectives. While overseeing land managers and land buyers to fulfil business objectives, they will also secure and personally manage their own land acquisition projects, ensuring direct delivery and accountability.

Key Responsibilities / Deliverables:

The Area Land Director will be able to consistently deliver across the following critical areas:

Strategic Pipeline Management & Planning

• Develop and oversee the regional land-acquisition strategy, ensuring a balanced mix of short‑term and long‑term opportunities.
• Manage the land bank to maximise development potential and maintain robust forward visibility.
• Invest significant time in strategic analysis of market trends, identifying opportunities for growth and diversification.
• Personally source new development projects, leveraging both an established network and by implementing targeted sourcing strategies through the Land Buyers and Managers.

Deputy Leadership & Governance

• Deputise for the Land Director at key internal and external meetings, representing the land function with authority.
• Provide strategic oversight of every regional project, including contracted, TASI and speculative sites, maintaining a full understanding of each and the ability to rapidly assimilate project details as if fully embedded in them.
• Contribute to regional and Group governance forums, preparing and presenting decision-grade board packs and appraisals.
• Ensure adherence to CALA’s ISO procedures, Contracts Authority protocols and PTP requirements.

Team Leadership & Performance Management

• Set challenging targets and KPIs for Land Managers and Buyers within the region, monitoring performance and driving accountability.
• Line-manage and mentor senior and junior land colleagues, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional development.
• Coordinate multi-disciplinary project teams, including planning, technical and commercial consultants, to deliver sites within budget and timeframe.

Acquisition & Negotiation Excellence

• Lead negotiations with landowners, agents, joint-venture partners and local authorities to secure favourable heads of terms.
• Challenge internal stakeholders (e.g., planning, technical, design) to optimise site density, pricing and profit margins.
• Ensure high standards of due diligence, financial appraisal and risk assessment underpin all acquisition decisions.

Delivery & Stakeholder Engagement

• Drive sites through consent to start on site, working collaboratively with operational teams to ensure timely delivery of planning permissions and infrastructure.
• Build and maintain a strong network across the residential and property sectors, enhancing Cala Homes’ reputation and influence regionally.
• Maintain a positive professional image for themselves and for Cala Homes, ensuring external parties such as agents Housing Associations and landowners are keen to engage and do business with Cala.
• Present strategic updates and pipeline reviews to senior leadership and Group Board as required.

About You

The Area Land Director will demonstrate the following skills and competencies, supported by tangible achievements:

• Strategic Leadership & Influence: shapes strategy, influences stakeholders and drives regional alignment with corporate objectives.
• Commercial Acumen: expert in financial modelling, margin management and budget control; adept at identifying and mitigating project risks.
• Advanced Negotiation: secures land deals and joint-venture agreements with a track record of maximising value.
• Communication & Presentation: excels in high-stakes presentations to boards, planning committees and external partners.
• Organisational & Project Management: manages multiple simultaneous workstreams, ensuring on time and on budget delivery.

The Area Land Director will embody the following attributes and behaviours:

• Visionary & Strategic: thinks ahead, anticipates market shifts and positions Cala Homes for sustained growth.
• Decisive & Resilient: makes robust decisions under pressure and adapts to changing commercial and regulatory environments.
• Collaborative & Credible: builds trust across functions, with external partners and at Board level.
• Integrity & Accountability: demonstrates transparency, ethical judgment and takes ownership of results.
• Alignment with Cala Homes’ Values: Passion, Quality, Respect and Delivery evident in all actions.

About Us

The Cala Group is a major UK housebuilder and leading provider of desirable new homes across Scotland, the South of England & Midlands. Driven by a mission to create vibrant and sustainable new communities, our homes are characterised by exceptional design and sector-leading build quality, and we have a passion for providing our customers with a great home buying experience. This is an exciting time to be at Cala. Our approach to sustainability and technology is undergoing a dramatic transformation, and we’re aiming to create an industry-leading experience for both our staff and customers. At Cala, you can expect to be part of an environment which allows you to do meaningful work, while offering opportunities for personal growth. Our goal is to be the favoured employer in our industry and beyond. We encourage applications from those who want to be part of a culture where they can thrive, feel a sense of belonging and be comfortable being themselves at work.