The Company
From day one, Thakeham has been driven by a clear vision: to transform the way people think about new-built developments. Over 20 years later, that ethos is still very much alive, reflected in our numerous awards and reputation in the sector. Today, Thakeham employs close to 250 people and has a forecasted revenue of £199 million in 2024/25. An infrastructure‑led community creator and strategic land promoter, Thakeham is committed to partnerships, innovation and creating amazing places to live and work. We are industry‑leading in sustainability and biodiversity. We were one of the first to introduce Zero Bills homes in partnership with Octopus Energy.
We pride ourselves on our ‘Infrastructure first’ approach, ensuring communities release the benefits of new development at the outset, rather than later in the process. We deliver social, affordable and retirement housing for a wide range of housing associations and local authorities.
People are Thakeham’s most important asset, and this is reflected in the way we operate. We are proud to be listed in the Top 100 Best Large Companies to Work For 2024. Our people enjoy excellent rewards and working conditions in an exciting and growing business. We offer exciting career opportunities, and are keen to develop, guide and support our employees, regardless of what stage they are in their careers.
We value diversity and encourage people to bring their full authentic selves to work. A Gold Armed Forces Covenant signatory and supporter of armed force’s charity Building Heroes, Thakeham operates a Talent for Development outreach campaign for military veterans and college leavers.
Work and fun should not be mutually exclusive and Thakeham offers a range of social events such as quiz nights, BBQs and all staff parties. We run informal lunch and learns and take on charity challenges such as the Housebuilder Challenge. We encourage people to volunteer in their communities, offering two paid days per year to do so. Where roles allow, our summer hours policy in June, July and August allows people to enjoy longer weekends with their loved ones. A flexible approach to working is available all year round.
At Thakeham we build communities, together.
The Department
The Engineering department oversees all civil infrastructure aspects of development including ground, road, drainage, and utilities in addition to associated matters such as air quality, noise, lighting and rail. Across all developments, the department advises and reports on these disciplines through promotion, planning, detailed design, and construction. Engineering manages and controls the procurement of land and infrastructure surveys and inspections and the subsequent design, approval and verification of infrastructure through trusted external advisors.
The Job Role
The Engineering Director will support and advise on engineering matters at a senior level within the business relating to viability, design, delivery, and innovation across the whole project lifecycle. They will have ownership for process, policy and procedure within engineering whilst driving quality and efficiency improvement projects within the department. They will be working with multiple teams and departments across the business to ensure that the projects are delivered with high quality, on time and within the set budgets.
Responsibilities
* Lead and manage the engineering team on a day‑to‑day basis
* Oversee and report on key design stages within the engineering process, tracking quality, programme and budget
* Work closely with the Strategic Land team to provide engineering input throughout the pre‑development cycle including abnormal infrastructure on larger schemes
* Advises business on the risk/opportunity and costs/programme on potential development sites
* Provide weekly/monthly reporting into board and management team meetings
* Own and manage relationships with consultants
* Coach and develop members of the engineering team and promote internal staff development
* Create a business plan for the department and manage and report against the department budget
* Ensure the values and behaviours of the company and leadership are communicated and understood at all levels
* Creates and maintains a team culture that values, recognising and encouraging high performance, supporting innovation and challenge to the status quo
Required Skills
* Experience of working in both predevelopment and delivery stages of housing delivery
* Demonstrable property knowledge and experience within a housing development or construction organisation and thorough knowledge of the development and delivery process
* Excellent leadership and management skills and experience of leading teams
* Self‑motivated, driven and solutions focussed
* Experience of initiation action and coordinating changes to support company goals with excellent attention to detail
* Displays high level commercial negotiation skills, handling situations where there is considerable latitude in influencing marginal revenues
* Handles ambiguous and/or conflicting information where there is a lack of precedent, showing insight, understanding and effective judgement
* Strong communication and organisational skills
* Adapts own management style according to the demands of the situation and needs of the individuals
* Encourages other team members to develop their skills with helpful advice and/or on the job training
* Flexible, proactive team player with the ability to work to tight deadlines
* Excellent IT Skills (Microsoft Office), Coins experience preferred
Benefits
* Salary sacrifice car scheme
* Annual holiday allowance 26 days (plus bank holidays)
* Life assurance
* Private medical insurance
* Health screening
* Flexible working hours in a modern office environment / Working from Home Policy
* Excellent development and progression opportunities for the right candidate
* Company Social events
* Plus a whole range of other employee benefits that we can tell you all about, our employees are rewarded for their performance, attitude and results.
Key Details
* Seniority level: Director
* Employment type: Full‑time
* Job function: Engineering and Information Technology
Thakeham is committed to providing equal opportunities in employment and treating people fairly. We will treat all job applicants and employees equally regardless of age, race, religious belief, colour, ethnic or national origin, sex, marital status, sexual orientation or disability. We welcome applicants from all sectors of society and we are committed to promoting an inclusive environment for all.
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