Director of Housing

London Borough of Barking and Dagenham

Barking

  • Location Barking
  • Sector Local Government
  • Client London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
  • Job Type Permanent
  • Salary/Remuneration £107,998 - £129,639
  • Reference GSe117414
  • Closing Date Sunday 5th January 2025 (11pm)

One Borough, One Community, No one left behind

Barking & Dagenham is an ambitious borough. Growth is our middle name backed up by delivery. The three markets of London, two film studios, and a modern university are just some of the things we have delivered in recent years. But it’s not all bricks and mortar. We also focus on addressing inequalities and improving lives. People matter, and that’s why at the heart of our vision are the communities we serve and delivering on their aspirations.

Director of Housing | £107,998 - £129,639

In this role, you will lead and transform our housing services to meet the diverse needs of our community. Your leadership will be instrumental in ensuring effective homelessness prevention, robust housing management, and a superior customer experience. You will oversee all aspects of housing management, lifecycle support, leaseholder services, rent and service charge collection, income management, and fostering resident engagement and community inclusion. You will put the needs of our residents and leaseholders at the forefront of all decision-making, ensuring that services are not only efficient but also compassionate and community centred.

You will navigate a complex regulatory environment, ensuring strict compliance with all statutory, regulatory, and professional standards, particularly those set by the Regulator of Social Housing (RSH). Your focus will be on driving continuous improvement, enhancing service delivery, and cultivating a culture that prioritises community well-being and proactive risk management.

As the Director of Housing, you will oversee the development and implementation of housing strategies and policies that meet local, regional, and national requirements. You will ensure effective housing management, maintenance, and safety of the Council’s housing stock, with a focus on community well-being. Your role will also involve overseeing the delivery of comprehensive services aimed at preventing homelessness and managing housing allocations, temporary accommodation, and support services for asylum seekers and refugees, ensuring community inclusion and support for vulnerable groups.

Developing and implementing robust frameworks for involving residents and leaseholders will be a key part of your responsibilities. You will ensure effective communication and collaboration, fostering a participatory approach to service delivery that encourages community involvement and enhances resident satisfaction. Financial management and sustainability will also be crucial, as you will oversee significant departmental budgets, ensuring effective financial management and adherence to the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan. You will implement strategies to maximise financial performance, including cost management, revenue generation, and investment in long-term sustainability projects such as energy efficiency and carbon reduction in housing stock.

About You

We are looking for an experienced leader within housing management who has worked within a large, complex environment. You will have a proven track record of leadership in housing management, homelessness prevention, resident engagement, and community inclusion. You will understand the legislative changes in our sector and both the challenges and opportunities that brings for an organisation like ours. With a drive and ambition to do things differently, you will be someone who embraces change to drive service improvement, using quantitative and qualitative indicators to measure performance and devise future strategies. You will be a natural collaborator, system leader, and outstanding communicator, able to build upon our well-established partnerships, ensuring there is collective focus and accountability on delivering positive change and action.

Your qualifications should include a degree in a relevant discipline such as Housing, Social Policy, or Public Administration, or substantial equivalent experience. Chartered Institute of Housing (CIH) status or a relevant professional qualification is also essential. You should have extensive leadership experience, a strong financial and commercial acumen, and a demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategic plans and drive innovation in service delivery. In-depth knowledge of housing legislation, regulations, and compliance standards, including health and safety requirements, is crucial. Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with experience working effectively with elected members, senior officers, and external partners to promote resident engagement and community inclusion, are also required.

Ultimately, we are looking for you to embrace change, seize opportunities, and disrupt what is normal, to deliver positive outcomes for those living and working within the borough, ensuring no one is left behind.

To find out more please click on Apply. For a confidential discussion about your suitability, please contact Frazer Thouard (07384 810 743), Kembi Coakelin (07778364191), or Alex Hayes (07586715843) from our recruitment partners, GatenbySanderson.

Closing Date: Thursday 5 January

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Contacts

Frazer Thouard: 07384 810 743
Alex Hayes: 07586 715 843

Continue to full details and apply

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