Head of Land Development
Possible
Sponsorship likelihood
This employer issued few or no visas recently
Not disclosed
Salary
Not disclosed by employer
£50,400
Going rate
Skilled Worker going rate
This role likely qualifies for a Skilled Worker visa
SOC 2121 (88% match) is an eligible occupation, with a going rate of £50,400, and SOVEREIGN AI OPERATIONS LIMITED is a licensed sponsor. That is our reading of the rules. Whether they issue a Certificate of Sponsorship is still their call.
This could also be SOC 2455 (Construction project managers and related professionals). We read the code off the advert, so it is our best guess, not the employer's.
New graduate or PhD holder? Pick one of the lower rates.
What each route needs for this job
| Occupation code | New entrant 70% of going rate | STEM PhD 80% of going rate | Relevant PhD 90% of going rate | Standard rate 100% of going rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2121 Civil engineers Most likely code | £35,200 | £40,300 | £45,300 | £50,400 |
2455 Construction project managers and related professionals Also possible | £33,400 | £35,400 | £39,900 | £44,300 |
We use the lowest threshold across the plausible codes. Likelihood is Possible at most when the pay clears only a lower rate, or only under a less likely code. How the Home Office picks the code
About the role
About RHAELM
RHAELM is the sovereign AI cloud built to accelerate secure AI deployment at scale, combining power and infrastructure pipelines with global capability and local, in-country operations. Headquartered in London, with deployments across Europe and APAC, we deliver ring-fenced compute, networking, and storage infrastructure alongside a sovereign platform and flexible Bare Metal, Kubernetes, and AI-as-a-Service models. Focused on regulated and mission-critical sectors including Government, Defence, Healthcare, and Financial Services, we give organisations sovereign control over their AI infrastructure, platform, and data.
This Role
As Head of Land Development, you will decide how RHAELM turns secured land into sites that are ready to build. Reporting to the SVP Development & Origination at our London head office, you will lead the group’s technical strategy for land and ground: geotechnics, contamination and remediation, site surveys, layout and enabling works. Our portfolio sits close to generation or with a connection in place, often on brownfield and industrial land.
You will take each site from early ground assessment through enabling works to handover to the execution team or contractor, working alongside Origination, Planning, Commercial and Power, and coordinating with in-country teams. You will own the group’s land development standards, so every site is de-risked to the same level. Domestic and international travel will be required, occasionally and at times frequently.
Key Responsibilities
Support Origination’s site screening with early ground assessment and technical due diligence
Own the geotechnical strategy for each site, including subsurface and seismic risk where applicable
Assess land contamination and set remediation strategies for brownfield and industrial sites
Lead the scoping, preparation and oversight of third-party surveys, including topographical, UXO, archaeology, flood and drainage, and ecology baseline work with Planning
Lead site capacity and layout test-fits against RHAELM’s group build standard
Set the civil engineering and enabling works strategy, covering earthworks, access, drainage and utility diversions, and deliver enabling works to programme and budget
Estimate abnormal site costs and build ground risk into business cases and budgets
Manage interfaces with land and energy partners, including shared infrastructure, access, safety zones and decommissioning schedules
Appoint and manage geotechnical, environmental and civil consultants and early-works contractors
Set group technical and health and safety standards for site investigation and early works
Hand over each site to the build team or contractor with ground risk understood and documented
Build a right-sized team at head office, support recruitment of in-country personnel, and report site readiness and risk to the SVP
Experience
15+ years in land development, geotechnical or civil engineering on major infrastructure, energy, industrial or data centre projects, including at least 5 years in a senior leadership role
A track record leading brownfield site development, including contamination and remediation, through to construction handover
Experience scoping and overseeing site investigations and specialist consultants across several sites at once
Experience delivering enabling works and managing early-works contractors
Experience of sites adjacent to operating industrial or power generation facilities
Multi-market experience, ideally including seismic regions in Asia-Pacific
Skills
Reading ground investigation findings and turning them into clear development decisions
Estimating and challenging abnormal costs and programme risk
Strong consultant and contractor management, holding third parties to scope, quality and cost
Setting technical standards that work across countries with different regulatory regimes
Explaining ground risk clearly to non-technical leaders
Visible safety leadership in site investigation and early works
Qualifications
Degree in civil or geotechnical engineering, engineering geology or a related discipline
Chartered status (e.g. CEng, CGeol or equivalent)
Working knowledge of CDM 2015 or equivalent early-works health and safety regimes
Postgraduate qualification in geotechnical or environmental engineering (desirable)
This description is the source posting as it read when we added it. We are not affiliated with SOVEREIGN AI OPERATIONS LIMITED, so check their own site for the current details.
Where this offer sits in the market
Civil engineers (SOC 2121) · UK · ONS ASHE 2025 · basic pay · ~65k in sample- Middle half £38,896–64,792
- Median £48,828
- Going rate £50,400
- Threshold £41,700
- New entrant £35,200–45,300
Similar sponsored roles
See all UK visa jobsNo close matches live right now.
Browse more sponsored jobs at SOVEREIGN AI OPERATIONS LIMITEDAbout sponsorship for this role
Does this job guarantee visa sponsorship?
Not necessarily. SOVEREIGN AI OPERATIONS LIMITED holds a sponsor licence, but sponsorship for a specific hire is always the employer's decision. Be upfront in your application that you'll require it.
What salary is needed for this role to be eligible?
The offer must clear both the general threshold and the SOC 2121 going rate of £50,400. New-entrant and shortage discounts can lower it.