Overview
Do you want to lead the strategic direction of housing in Gateshead, shaping policies, services and investment that impact thousands of residents every day? These roles form part of a wider organisational redesign to ensure the Council is structured to deliver high-quality, efficient and sustainable services for the people of Gateshead. This supports our commitment to modernising how we operate, strengthening accountability and putting residents at the heart of everything we do, ensuring everyone in our borough can thrive.
At Gateshead Council, we pride ourselves on our ambitious and forward‑thinking approach to housing and community wellbeing. We believe our employees are the driving force behind our Thrive agenda, and as a senior leader you will be instrumental in shaping the future vision of housing across the borough. You will join a leadership team that values collaboration, innovation and integrity. You’ll have the freedom to influence policy, drive service transformation, and lead a wide range of housing services that directly improve the lives of our residents.
Supporting Services
Our Housing Service is responsible for delivering safe, secure and high‑quality homes for around 18,000 tenants, as well as providing vital housing solutions for people experiencing crisis or homelessness. From strategic housing planning and development to allocations, estate management, homelessness services, housing support, resident engagement, building safety assurance and the viability of the Housing Revenue Account, this service shapes how residents experience their homes and their communities. As Service Director for Housing, you will lead strategic and operational housing functions, ensuring regulatory compliance, financial sustainability, excellent customer experience and robust housing outcomes across all services.
What You Will Do
- Lead the development, delivery and continuous review of the Council’s Housing Strategy and supporting strategies, including homelessness, allocations and housing development.
- Provide overall leadership and assurance for statutory housing responsibilities, including homelessness prevention, assessment, temporary accommodation and housing support services.
- Provide strategic oversight of housing allocations, waiting list management, nominations and end‑to‑end voids performance and strategy.
- Lead tenancy, leaseholder and estate management services, including supported and older persons’ housing across the HRA.
- Provide corporate leadership and assurance for housing‑related anti‑social behaviour services, ensuring alignment with safeguarding and community safety priorities.
- Provide strategic direction for caretaking and handyperson services, ensuring they support tenancy sustainment and neighbourhood standards.
- Lead refugee and asylum housing services, working with partners and government bodies to deliver compliant and effective support.
- Lead rent and service charge policy, income collection and debt recovery, maximising income and supporting HRA viability.
- Provide strategic oversight of housing customer contact services, ensuring a single, effective front door and excellent customer experience.
- Provide assurance on building safety and regulatory compliance and act as the Principal Accountable Person for housing safety.
- Lead the Council’s housing development and investment programme, securing funding and delivering new homes and regeneration outcomes.
- Ensure a viable and sustainable Housing Revenue Account, including oversight of the 30‑year HRA Business Plan and Asset Management Plan.
- Lead performance management, data insight and systems development to support evidence‑based decision‑making and continuous improvement.
- Ensure strong tenant and partner engagement, with clear evidence of the tenant voice influencing decisions, policies and service delivery.
- Contribute to the strategic leadership of the wider Group and deputise for the Strategic Director where required.
- Provide senior professional advice and representation to elected Members, partners, regulators and government bodies, and support emergency response arrangements as required.
What You Will Bring
- Extensive knowledge of housing strategy, legislation, regulatory standards and Housing Revenue Account management.
- Significant senior leadership experience managing large, complex housing services and workforces.
- Proven ability to lead and integrate housing functions, including homelessness, allocations, tenancy management, development, anti‑social behaviour and building safety.
- Strong financial leadership, including HRA planning, efficiency delivery and securing external funding.
- Extensive experience of procurement, commissioning, contract management and service delivery at scale.
- Strong stakeholder and partnership working skills, including working with elected Members, regulators and government bodies.
- An approved Level 5 housing management qualification (or willingness to achieve within agreed timescales) and a degree‑level qualification or equivalent experience, with a commitment to ongoing professional development.
What’s In It For You
- Competitive salary: fair and transparent pay that reflects your skills and experience.
- Outstanding pension scheme: invest in your future with a local government pension.
- Generous annual leave: 28 days, rising to 32 days after 5 years (two of which can be fixed by the Council), plus the option to buy up to 10 extra days.
- Hybrid and flexible working: support for a healthy work‑life balance.
- Learning and development: a wide range of training, development and progression opportunities.
- Health and wellbeing support: discounted gym memberships and mental health resources.
- Cycle to work scheme: tax‑efficient cycle programme to save money and stay active.
- Electric and hybrid car scheme: salary sacrifice car scheme in partnership with NHS Fleet Solutions after 12 months of service.
- Exclusive discounts and salary sacrifice options: through the employee benefits platform, discounts on shopping, travel and services plus salary sacrifice options on white goods, electronics and more, after 6 months of service.
Our Commitment to You
We are an equal opportunities employer and aim to have a culture and a workplace where our people feel a sense of belonging, are respected and empowered to do their best work. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
How to Apply
You can apply online using the ‘apply now’ button. Within the form, you’ll be asked for details about you, your career history, skills, experiences and qualifications. We advise you to be as detailed and specific as possible, paying particular attention to any relevant experience or qualifications.
As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. However, in high‑volume recruitment situations, we may need to prioritise those who best meet the essential criteria.
The Council reserves the right to close this vacancy early, adjust the shortlisting criteria or change the pass mark for interview selection to ensure a fair and manageable recruitment process. We encourage early applications.
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