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<p>At deverellsmith, we understand that the backbone of any successful real estate business is its people.</p>
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<h2>Senior People Manager (12-Month FTC - Maternity Cover)</h2><h3>About the Company</h3><p>We are a leading provider of high-quality, single-family rental homes across the UK, specialising in delivering thoughtfully designed homes in desirable neighbourhoods alongside an exceptional resident experience.</p><p>Backed by globally recognised real estate investment partners, we are committed to enriching lives through renting. Our culture is collaborative, proactive, and people-focused - creating an environment where both residents and employees can thrive.</p><h3>The Opportunity</h3><p>We are seeking an experienced and commercially minded Senior People Manager to join the business on a 12-month fixed-term contract covering maternity leave.</p><p>Reporting directly to the CEO, this role will provide both strategic oversight and hands-on delivery across all areas of the People &amp; Culture function during an exciting period of growth. You will play a key role in ensuring continuity across HR operations, maintaining strong people processes, supporting managers, and fostering a positive and high-performing culture.</p><p>This position would suit a confident HR professional who can quickly build credibility across the business, manage complex employee matters, and deliver pragmatic, solutions-focused people support.</p><p>The role is primarily based in Reading, with occasional travel to London as required.</p><hr /><h2>Key Responsibilities</h2><h3>Employee Relations &amp; Employment Law</h3><ul><li>Act as the lead advisor on complex employee relations matters, including disciplinaries, grievances, absence management, and performance issues.</li><li>Provide expert guidance to managers and senior leaders on UK employment law, HR best practice, and company policy.</li><li>Support and lead sensitive HR cases, ensuring fair, consistent, and compliant outcomes.</li><li>Mitigate risk by delivering commercially balanced and pragmatic HR advice.</li></ul><h3>HR Operations, Payroll &amp; Benefits</h3><ul><li>Oversee employee benefits administration, ensuring accuracy and effective communication.</li><li>Manage payroll processes in partnership with internal stakeholders and external providers.</li><li>Ensure employee data and records are maintained accurately and confidentially in line with GDPR requirements.</li><li>Continuously review and improve HR processes and operational efficiencies.</li></ul><h3>Performance Management &amp; Talent Development</h3><ul><li>Manage performance review cycles and ensure regular 1-1s are effectively tracked through HiBob.</li><li>Coach and support managers to drive employee performance, engagement, and development.</li><li>Lead and manage performance-related processes and cases where required.</li></ul><h3>Recruitment &amp; Onboarding</h3><ul><li>Lead the full recruitment lifecycle, including workforce planning, interviewing, offer management, and onboarding.</li><li>Ensure a seamless and engaging new starter experience.</li><li>Continuously enhance onboarding and induction processes to support employee retention and engagement.</li></ul><h3>HR Administration &amp; Reporting</h3><ul><li>Oversee all HR administration activities including contracts, employee changes, and leaver processes.</li><li>Produce and analyse HR metrics across recruitment, retention, absence, performance, and employee relations.</li><li>Provide meaningful insights and recommendations to senior leadership.</li></ul><h3>Leadership, Culture &amp; Office Management</h3><ul><li>Line manage and support the development of the People Administrator and Culture Manager.</li><li>Partner with the wider team to deliver engagement, wellbeing, and culture initiatives.</li><li>Oversee office management to maintain a safe, effective, and well-run workplace environment.</li><li>Act as a trusted advisor and positive influence across the business.</li></ul><hr /><h2>Skills &amp; Experience</h2><p>We are looking for someone with:</p><ul><li>Proven experience in a Senior HR Manager or similar leadership role within the UK.</li><li>Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.</li><li>Experience across employee relations, payroll oversight, benefits administration, and performance management.</li><li>A successful track record managing end-to-end recruitment and onboarding processes.</li><li>Strong commercial awareness with the ability to balance business and people priorities.</li><li>Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with confidence influencing at senior level.</li><li>The ability to work autonomously, prioritise effectively, and manage multiple responsibilities.</li><li>Experience using HR systems, ideally HiBob.</li><li>High levels of discretion and professionalism when handling confidential information.</li><li>Strong Microsoft Office skills.</li></ul><h3>Reporting Line</h3><p>This role reports directly to the CEO.</p>

Senior People Manager 

<div><div><div>Job Title: Customer Contact Lead </div><div>Working Hours: Monday-Friday 9-5:30pm - 1 Day WFH</div><div>Salary: Competitive + Bonus + Benefits </div><div> </div><div>Are you passionate about leading high‑performing teams and delivering standout customer experiences? As our Customer Contact Team Manager, you'll lead the team at the very start of our resident journey-overseeing and developing our Lettings Coordinators to deliver a seamless, high‑quality end‑to‑end enquiries experience from first contact through to booking viewings. You'll be confident stepping in to handle enquiries yourself when needed, using real‑time performance data to balance workloads and keep KPIs on track, and coaching your team in a fast‑paced, sales‑driven environment to maximise conversion and support the successful letting of our homes across the UK.</div></div></div><div><div><ul><li>Proven experience in phone-based or contact centre sales environment.</li><li>3+ years' experience leading sales teams.</li><li>Strong background in sales with a track record of hitting/exceeding targets.</li><li>Preferred but not essential background in property, BTR or estate agency.</li><li>Energetic, hands-on leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment.</li><li>Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.</li><li>Data driven with the ability to analyse performance and spot improvements.</li><li>Tech-savvy and comfortable using CRM systems, reporting tools and new technology to manage performance and improve customer experience.</li><li>A dynamic and driven personality, with a strong zeal for the industry.</li></ul></div></div><div><div>Customer Service Leadership<ul><li>Champion a culture of exceptional customer service in a timely manner.</li><li>Lead by example in handling complex or sensitive resident interactions.</li><li>Ensure that all customer and resident's interactions with the business reflects Leaf's standards and values.  </li><li>Leadership and Team Performance</li><li>Manage, support and mentor a team of Lettings Coordinators responsible for the end-to-end new enquiries process. </li><li>Set clear KPIs and performance expectations, maintaining real-time oversight of activity, workloads and results to keep team on track. </li><li>Drive accountability through structured performance management, including monthly 1-1s, mid-year and annual reviews. </li><li>Build a high-performance team culture focused on results, development, engagement and recognition. </li></ul> <br />Coaching and Development<ul><li>Design and implement a coaching framework to improve enquiry handling, qualification, conversion, call quality and objection handling.</li><li>Ensure consistent coaching standards are applied across the team, using real‑time data and quality insights to target development effectively.</li><li>Deliver structured training programmes for onboarding and ongoing development.</li></ul><br />Commercial Ownership<ul><li>Own viewing booking targets and enquiry to viewing conversion rate.</li><li>Drive performance across inbound and outbound channels.</li><li>Partner with Lettings Consultants to maximise viewing to application conversion rate.</li><li>Ensure both volume and quality of opportunities meet agreed benchmarks.</li></ul><br />Data Analysis &amp; Service Improvement<ul><li>Use data and insights to monitor service delivery and identify areas for improvement.</li><li>Analyse trends in leads and report rental pricing feedback.</li><li>Implement improvements to processes, tools and ways of working to increase efficiency, compliance and resident satisfaction.</li><li>Be a leader across the business for AI usage in resident interaction and enquiry management.</li></ul></div></div>

Customer Contact Lead 

<h1>Finance Manager / Financial Controller - London</h1><p><strong>£75,000 - £85,000 per annum (pro rata)  |  Fixed-Term Contract  |  Central London</strong></p><p><strong>12-Month Fixed-Term Contract  |  Possible Extension  |  Hybrid Working</strong></p><p> </p><h2>About the Business</h2><p>A privately owned, vertically integrated residential business operating across the full investment, development and asset management lifecycle within London's rented living sector. The business acquires sites, drives planning and development through to delivery, and retains and operates the completed assets, maintaining full control from land through to tenancy.</p><p>With a growing portfolio of build-to-rent and multi-family schemes across London, the business is backed by institutional capital and is entering an accelerated phase of growth. The finance function sits at the heart of the business, supporting investment decisions, development appraisals, asset performance and operational delivery.</p><h2>The Contract</h2><p>This is a 12-month fixed-term contract with the possibility of extension, subject to business needs and performance. The role has been created to support a period of significant portfolio growth and pipeline delivery, and offers a genuine opportunity to work across the full value chain - from pre-acquisition financial modelling through to operational asset reporting. There is real potential for the position to evolve beyond the initial contract term.</p><h2>The Role</h2><p>Reporting to the Group Finance Director, the Finance Manager / Financial Controller will take ownership of financial management across the business's operational portfolio and active development pipeline. You will work closely with the investment, development and asset management teams, providing financial insight and control at every stage of the asset lifecycle.</p><h2>Key Responsibilities</h2><h3>Investment &amp; Development Finance</h3><ul><li>Support investment appraisals and underwriting for new acquisitions, including land, forward funds and standing assets</li><li>Prepare and maintain development cost monitors, tracking spend against appraisal across the active pipeline</li><li>Assist with the preparation of completion statements and financial close documentation for acquisitions and disposals</li><li>Work with the development team on cash flow forecasting across the construction programme</li><li>Review and assess financial performance of assets under consideration, including tenancy schedules and yield analysis</li></ul><h3>Asset &amp; Portfolio Reporting</h3><ul><li>Oversee financial reporting across the operational residential portfolio, including monthly management accounts, P&amp;L statements and variance analysis</li><li>Manage cashflow forecasting, budgeting and financial planning at both asset and group level</li><li>Produce investor-grade reporting packs for institutional stakeholders and the board</li><li>Ensure accurate financial set-up when transitioning assets from development into operations</li></ul><h3>VAT &amp; Compliance</h3><ul><li>Prepare and submit VAT returns, ensuring correct treatment across development, investment and operational activities</li><li>Manage VAT recovery on development costs and apply appropriate partial exemption methodology where required</li><li>Liaise with external auditors, tax advisers and legal counsel as required</li></ul><h3>Tenant Billing &amp; Operational Finance</h3><ul><li>Oversee service charge budgets, reconciliations and cost recovery across the operational portfolio</li><li>Ensure accurate and timely billing of all residential tenants, including rent collection and arrears monitoring</li><li>Partner with the asset management team on lease events, rent reviews and tenancy changes</li><li>Support the wider operations team on supplier payments, payroll and property management costs</li></ul><h3>Team &amp; Systems</h3><ul><li>Line-manage two finance team members across accounts payable and receivable</li><li>Drive continuous improvement of financial processes, controls and reporting systems</li><li>Maintain data integrity across accounting software and asset management platforms</li><li>Support the Group Finance Director with ad hoc analysis and business-wide financial projects</li></ul><h2>The Candidate</h2><ul><li>Qualified accountant - ACA, ACCA or CIMA</li><li>Proven experience in a finance management role within real estate, residential development, build-to-rent or a vertically integrated property business</li><li>Exposure to development finance, cost monitoring or investment appraisal is highly desirable</li><li>Strong Excel skills and confidence working with accounting and asset management software (Xero or similar)</li><li>Experience with VAT returns, including property-specific VAT treatment</li><li>Strong cashflow management experience across both operational and development assets</li><li>Excellent attention to detail with the ability to work across multiple workstreams simultaneously</li><li>Strong communicator, comfortable presenting financial insight to non-finance stakeholders</li><li>Comfortable working in a fast-moving, entrepreneurial and growth-oriented environment</li><li>Available to commit to a 12-month fixed-term contract with potential for extension</li></ul><h2>What's on Offer</h2><ul><li>Salary: £75,000 - £85,000 per annum (pro rata)</li><li>12-month fixed-term contract with the possibility of extension</li><li>Hybrid working: 4 days in the office, 1 day from home</li><li>25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (pro rata)</li><li>Pension contribution</li><li>Exposure across the full investment, development and asset management lifecycle</li></ul><p>Genuine opportunity to extend beyond the initial contract term</p>

Finance Manager/Financial Controller

<h2>Personal Assistant &amp; Office Manager</h2><p><strong>Full-Time | Office-Based (North London) | £45,000-£50,000 </strong></p><p>This is not your typical PA / Office Manager role.</p><p>Our client are a <strong>small but highly ambitious property and development business</strong> With a growing portfolio and over 30 live projects at any one time, they operate at a level far beyond their size. Their projects, brand and culture are impressive.</p><p>We're looking for someone exceptional <strong>energy</strong><strong>, detail-driven, and genuinely passionate about real estate, design, and the built environment </strong>to become a central part of the business.</p><hr /><h2>The Opportunity</h2><p>This role is for <strong>Executive Assistant &amp; Office Management however you will also support with </strong><strong>Project &amp; Development Coordination</strong></p><p>You'll work closely with senior leadership and be deeply embedded in the day to day running of the business, supporting everything from operations and administration through to live development projects.</p><p>This is a role for someone who wants to <strong>get involved, take ownership, and grow with the business</strong>.</p><hr /><h2>About What We Do</h2><p>Our client specialise in <strong>land acquisition, investment, and development </strong>taking sites, building best in class professional teams (architects, planners, consultants), and delivering well considered, design led schemes across residential and commercial sectors.</p><p>Each project is highly collaborative, typically involving <strong>20-30 stakeholders</strong>, and requires careful coordination, strong relationships, and thoughtful planning.</p><hr /><h2>Key Responsibilities</h2><h3>Executive &amp; Office Management (Core Focus)</h3><ul><li>Provide high level, day to day support to Directors</li><li>Manage diaries, meetings, and communications across the business</li><li>Oversee the smooth running of the office ensuring everything is organised, efficient, and professional</li><li>Act as the first point of contact for visitors, stakeholders, and tenants</li><li>Manage office operations including suppliers, IT coordination, renewals, and general upkeep</li></ul><h3>Project &amp; Development Support</h3><ul><li>Assist in coordinating live development projects from early stage acquisition through to planning</li><li>Help appoint and manage external professional teams (architects, planners, consultants, agents)</li><li>Organise and attend meetings, track actions, and ensure momentum across multiple workstreams</li><li>Support planning applications and project documentation</li><li>Build and maintain strong relationships with key external partners</li></ul><h3>Brand, Marketing &amp; Business Involvement</h3><ul><li>Support website updates and content creation (LinkedIn, email campaigns, etc.)</li><li>Help coordinate events and networking opportunities</li><li>Take pride in and contribute to the company's <strong>design-led brand and reputation</strong></li></ul><h3>Finance &amp; Commercial Support</h3><ul><li>Assist with basic bookkeeping, expense tracking, and invoice processing</li><li>Support payment runs and financial administration</li><li>Contribute to project-level financial tracking where required</li></ul><hr /><h2>About You</h2><p>We are looking for someone who is:</p><ul><li><strong>Energetic, enthusiastic, and commercially aware</strong></li><li>Passionate about <strong>property, architecture, design, and development</strong></li><li>Highly organised with exceptional attention to detail</li><li>Confident managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment</li><li>A strong communicator, comfortable dealing with senior stakeholders and external partners</li><li>Proactive and hands-on, with a "no task too small" mindset</li><li>Interested in being part of a business not just supporting one</li></ul><hr /><h2>Ideal Background</h2><ul><li>At least 3 years' experience in a similar PA, Office Manager, or coordination role</li><li>Exposure to <strong>property, development, architecture, or related sectors</strong> is highly desirable</li><li>Experience working with consultants, agents, or professional teams (e.g. planning, architecture, property advisory) is a strong advantage</li><li>Strong Microsoft Office skills (especially Excel); familiarity with accounting tools is beneficial</li></ul><hr /><h2>The Environment</h2><ul><li>Office-based role (Monday-Friday- flexible work approach)</li><li>A collaborative, high-performing team with a strong focus on <strong>quality, design, and execution</strong></li></ul><hr /><h2>Why This Role?</h2><ul><li>Real exposure to <strong>live development projects and decision-making</strong></li><li>Opportunity to work alongside top-tier external partners (architects, agents, consultants)</li><li>A chance to <strong>take ownership and grow within a business that values initiative and ambition</strong></li><li>Be part of a team that genuinely cares about what it creates-<strong>not just volume, but quality and impact</strong></li></ul><p><strong>Reach out  for more information</strong></p>

PA/Office Manager

<p><strong>Senior Site Manager / Engineer</strong></p><p><strong>Large-Scale RC Frame Development | South East London</strong></p><p><strong>Temp-to-Perm | £350 per day / £80,000 + Package</strong></p><p>We are currently recruiting on behalf of a leading main contractor for an experienced Senior Site Manager to join a major RC frame development in South East London.</p><p>This is a key leadership role overseeing all external works on a large-scale residential scheme. The successful candidate will manage a small site team of 2-3 direct reports and play a crucial role in driving programme, quality, safety, and subcontractor performance through to project completion.</p><p><strong>The Role</strong></p><ul><li>Lead and coordinate all external works packages across a large RC frame development.</li><li>Manage site engineers, supervisors, and subcontractors on a daily basis.</li><li>Ensure works are delivered safely, to programme, and to the highest quality standards.</li><li>Work closely with the Project Manager and wider construction team to maintain project milestones.</li><li>Oversee logistics, sequencing, and interface management across multiple external workstreams.</li><li>Maintain strong client, consultant, and subcontractor relationships.</li></ul><p><strong>Requirements</strong></p><ul><li>Proven experience as a Senior Site Manager on large-scale residential or mixed-use developments.</li><li>Strong engineering background - candidates must have come from an engineering route and be comfortable managing technical aspects of construction delivery.</li><li>Extensive RC frame project experience is essential.</li><li>Demonstrable experience managing external works packages from structure through to completion.</li><li>Excellent leadership and communication skills.</li><li>Valid SMSTS, CSCS and First Aid certifications.</li></ul><p><strong>What's on Offer?</strong></p><ul><li>Immediate start available.</li><li>Temp-to-perm opportunity.</li><li>£350 per day contract rate.</li><li>Permanent salary of £80,000 plus attractive benefits package.</li><li>Long-term opportunity with a well-established contractor delivering flagship London projects.</li></ul><p> </p>

Senior Site Manager

<p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal"><strong>About the role</strong></p><p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal">This is an exciting opportunity to support the mobilisation of an initial portfolio of BTR communities launching in 2026/27. Working as a Roving Resident Services Associate, you will support on-site leasing teams during lease-up, playing a key role in driving leasing performance while delivering exceptional resident experiences across multiple locations.</p><p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal"><strong>Key responsibilities</strong></p><ul ><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Provide leasing support across multiple communities, assisting on-site teams to fulfil leasing goals</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Support the execution of leasing strategies across a growing BTR portfolio</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Collaborate with on-site teams to drive operational and leasing performance</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Conduct property tours with prospective residents across a number of London locations</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Assist with leasing negotiation and administration</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Build and maintain strong relationships with prospective and existing residents, responding to enquiries promptly</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Act as a flexible resource, supporting where demand is highest to maintain leasing momentum</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Deliver a seamless, brand-aligned experience across all communities</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Work collaboratively with centralised leasing and marketing teams on listings and promotional collateral</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Monitor competitor activity and report findings to support competitive positioning</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Contribute to team meetings on leasing strategy and market trends</li></ul><p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal">This role covers sites across North and South London and the South East. Flexible travel between locations is required.</p><p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal"><strong>What you'll bring</strong></p><ul ><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">A love of variety, adaptability, and problem-solving across different environments</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">A sales-driven mindset with a strong focus on customer service and collaboration</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Relentlessly customer-focused with an ability to build trust and loyalty at every interaction</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">A natural communicator, confident and adaptable across all types of people and situations</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Organised and proactive, comfortable managing multiple priorities in a busy environment</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Team-oriented, with the ability to take ownership and accountability when needed</li></ul><p class="font-claude-response-body break-words whitespace-normal"><strong>What's on offer</strong></p><ul ><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">25 days annual leave, increasing with service</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Private Medical Insurance</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Online discount platform</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Volunteer day</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Private pension plan</li><li class="font-claude-response-body whitespace-normal break-words pl-2">Group life assurance</li></ul>

Leasing Associate

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