Deputy Managing Director

Job Title: Deputy Managing Director

Location: Northampton, NN4

Looking for a career where your ambition meets real opportunity? Join Persimmon Homes as a Deputy Managing Director and step into a role where your success is celebrated, your growth supported, and your work truly matters.

Why Persimmon Homes?

At Persimmon, we don’t just build homes — we build careers. When you join us as a Deputy Managing Director, you’ll benefit from:

• Competitive salary
• Company Car or Car Allowance
• Bonus
• Healthcare
• 5* housebuilder - Be part of a company that consistently delivers quality homes and outstanding customer satisfaction
• Life Cover & Contributory Pension
• Employee Benefits Platform – giving you access to high-street discounts, wellbeing support, and more
• Committed to diversity, inclusion, and empowering your development

What is the role?
The position of Deputy Managing Director (DMD) reports into the Regional Managing Director and is critical in assisting them in the running of the business. The DMD will work closely and collaboratively with all the functional directors/heads of department in the leadership team. In addition to providing support for the RMD this role also provides a transitional and developmental step in between leading a function and taking on the full responsibilities of a Managing Director.

Primary Responsibilities

• Work with the regional leadership team so they deliver what is required of their respective functions day to day.
• Demonstrate a positive, inclusive leadership style and culture based on the Persimmon Values and Behaviours.
• Chair meetings where appropriate in the RMD’s absence and update them on key outcomes.
• Provide oversight for the RMD of delivery by the functional teams against agreed plans and deadlines.
• Lead and take responsibility for the attainment of specific projects and KPI’s as agreed with the RMD, closely monitoring performance against these and liaising with the RMD and relevant directors to address areas of concern.
• Participate in the valuations process as required by the RMD.
• Report as appropriate to the RMD, Regional Chair and the Divisional Board, including deputising for the RMD at Regional Board Meetings if required.
• Work with the directors to ensure that risks are being identified, monitored, and managed and that commercial viability is constantly reviewed.
• Communicate with impact and clarity, build and maintain positive relationships and networks with key stakeholders, both internal & external.
• Deal with external customers and stakeholders where appropriate, with a view to maintaining positive relationships and achieving beneficial outcomes for all parties.

The core KPI’s which are used to measure a region’s success are:

• H & S Compliance and Matrix Score
• Gross Margin & Profit before tax
• Cash Generation
• Land bank and Outlet growth in line with 5-year Plan
• Legal completions
• Construction Quality – RIs and CQRs
• Customer satisfaction scores
• Employee engagement

Problem Solving

As part of the development aspect of this role the DMD is expected to:

• Help the RMD identify and consider how best to resolve strategic or significant issues as they arise in the region.
• Have an in-depth awareness of local business drivers/competition and issues facing the industry.
• Understand of the impact of the local/national economic, legislative, and political environment on business success.
• The main problem-solving areas will be as listed below, and the DMD will take guidance from the RMD on how they can help address these:
• Acquiring the right land at the right price.
• Managing resources effectively and hitting agreed deadlines and budgets.
• Driving progress from land acquisition to on-site delivery, outlet openings and sales.
• Maximising profitability while delivering excellent quality.
• Customer and reputation management

Internal Collaboration & External Context

Collaboration is fundamental to the effective functioning of the DMD role. Key stakeholders include:

• Local Authorities, including Planning Departments
• Local Politicians / MP’s
• Customers
• Community groups
• Suppliers and subcontractors
• Senior colleagues and Group functions
• The Regional team

The DMD will need to visit sites on a regular basis, talking to employees and customers to gain a realistic picture behind the numbers.

Skillset and Approach

To be successful in this role a DMD requires the following skills and personal qualities:

• A high level of organisation.
• The ability to think ahead and plan.
• A leadership style which unites the directors/heads of the different functions in collaboratively achieving targets within agreed timeframes.
• The ability to identify of risks and develop strategies to mitigate against them.
• Ability to work in the detail while also thinking strategically.
• Prompt recognition of problems and development of strategies to solve them.
• Resilience and Calmness under pressure.
• Motivational leadership and the ability to inspire trust and confidence among others.
• The ability to stand back and reflect, considering all the options and obtaining all relevant information so that when decisions are made, they are informed ones.
• Ownership of decisions and the consequences of these
• The ability to ask incisive questions and encourage others to offer their opinions and knowledge.
• Identifying the potential in others and investing in their development.
• A willingness to learn from mistakes and to seek out better ways of doing things and new knowledge to enhance performance.
• Effective communication skills, including the ability to ‘walk the floor’ and to create an environment where others feel free to challenge and voice their opinions.