Development Finance Relationship Director
National role | Home-based
An established, well-capitalised UK Challenger Bank is seeking an experienced Development Finance Relationship Director to support continued growth across its property development lending portfolio, with a particular focus on Social Housing, Supported Living and Residential Development.
This is a senior, nationally focused role, offering autonomy, profile and the opportunity to lead on complex, high-value development transactions within a bank that has genuine appetite to lend.
The Role
You will be responsible for originating, structuring and delivering property development and real estate-backed facilities, typically ranging from £1m to £10m+, working with experienced developers, housing providers and specialist operators across England.
Key responsibilities include:
* Origination of new property development finance opportunities, with a strong emphasis on Social Housing and Supported Living schemes
* Leading the structuring and execution of complex development transactions, including:
* Ground-up development
* Multi-phase schemes
* Refinances and acquisitions
* Bespoke and structured facilities
* Acting as the senior relationship lead for complex and high-value borrowers
* Building and managing a high-quality national lending pipeline aligned to credit appetite
* Producing and presenting robust credit proposals, including development appraisals and financial models
* Working closely with Credit, Risk, Legal and Portfolio teams to progress deals efficiently from approval to drawdown
* Overseeing development monitoring, including cashflows, cost-to-complete, build progress and covenant compliance
* Supporting portfolio management activities, renewals and restructures where required
* Representing the bank externally with intermediaries, professional advisers and at industry events
About You
You will be an experienced development finance professional with a strong track record in property development lending.
Essential experience:
* Significant experience (typically 8+ years) in property development finance, structured real estate lending or specialist property finance
* Proven track record of originating and completing property development loans, ideally in the £1m–£10m range
* Strong understanding of:
* Development risk
* Valuations
* Financial modelling and sensitivity analysis
* Security structures and legal documentation
* Experience lending into Social Housing, Supported Living, Residential Care or specialist residential development
* Ability to lead complex, multi-party transactions from origination through to completion
* Strong credit skills with the confidence to present cases to senior stakeholders and credit committees
Desirable:
* Existing national developer or intermediary networks
* Experience of syndicated or larger structured transactions
Personal Attributes
* Commercially astute and results-focused
* Highly organised, self-motivated and comfortable working autonomously
* Strong communicator, able to engage confidently with senior borrowers and professional advisers
* Detail-driven with a pragmatic, solutions-focused approach
* Comfortable operating in a national, home-based role with regular travel
Location & Travel
* Home-based, national role
* Regular UK travel required, with occasional overnight stays