Interim Senior Lead – Housing Property Compliance
Location: Somerset / HybridContract: InterimDirectorate: Housing / HRA Property Services
Overview
We are seeking an experienced Interim Senior Lead – Housing Property Compliance to lead and manage all aspects of property safety compliance across Somerset Council’s housing portfolio.
This is a senior leadership role responsible for ensuring the Council’s retained housing stock remains compliant with statutory, regulatory, and best practice requirements across a diverse portfolio of over 6,000 residential properties.
The successful candidate will provide technical leadership across all property compliance disciplines including fire safety, asbestos, legionella/water safety, gas safety, electrical safety, lifts, radon and wider building safety compliance.
Key Responsibilities
Compliance & Operational Leadership
- Lead the delivery of all housing property safety compliance activities across the housing portfolio.
- Ensure compliance with current legislation, regulatory requirements, approved codes of practice and government guidance.
- Act as the Council’s technical lead on property compliance and statutory safety matters.
- Identify, manage and resolve areas of non-compliance and implement corrective actions.
- Ensure accurate compliance records, monitoring systems and reporting frameworks are maintained.
Property Safety & Technical Compliance
Lead and oversee compliance programmes relating to:
- Fire Safety
- Asbestos Management
- Water Hygiene / Legionella
- Gas Safety
- Electrical Safety
- Lifts & Mechanical Systems
- Radon & Property Safety Risks
- Building Safety and emerging regulatory requirements
Specifically support delivery of fire safety compliance initiatives, including implementation of learning and recommendations arising from national reviews and the Grenfell Tower Inquiry.
Leadership & Team Management
- Provide leadership and management to specialist compliance teams.
- Support performance management, development, mentoring and coaching.
- Promote a culture of continuous improvement, accountability and high performance.
- Deliver compliance awareness and technical guidance to wider operational teams.
Contract, Audit & Governance
- Lead procurement and management of property compliance contracts.
- Manage contractors delivering inspections, surveys, removals, remedial works and compliance programmes.
- Lead internal and external audits and ensure recommendations are implemented effectively.
- Produce and maintain policies, procedures and compliance frameworks across all service areas.
Strategic Delivery
- Contribute to strategic risk management, service planning and continuous improvement programmes.
- Support transformation initiatives, service modernisation and performance improvement.
- Prepare reports, performance updates and technical advice for senior leadership, elected members and stakeholders.
- Deputise for the Head of HRA Property on compliance matters where required.
Financial Management
- Manage compliance budgets and delivery programmes.
- Monitor expenditure and ensure works are delivered safely, effectively and within budget constraints.
Person Specification
Essential Experience
- Significant experience managing property compliance within a social housing, local authority or housing association environment.
- Strong experience leading statutory compliance programmes across housing assets.
- Proven expertise in fire safety, including management of fire risk assessment processes and residential fire safety improvements.
- Experience managing high-risk compliance disciplines including asbestos, water safety, gas, electrical and building safety.
- Experience leading teams, contractors and complex compliance programmes.
- Strong understanding of housing legislation, health & safety requirements and regulatory compliance.
Essential Qualifications / Knowledge
- Relevant professional qualifications or equivalent experience.
- P405 Asbestos Management
- P901 Water Hygiene / Legionella
- NEBOSH General Certificate or equivalent practical experience.
- Working knowledge of Health & Safety legislation.
- Knowledge of Building Regulations and property safety compliance frameworks.
Desirable
- Membership of professional bodies (IOSH / BOHS).
- PRINCE2 or equivalent project management qualification.
- CIH qualification.
- Degree qualification in construction, property or related discipline.
- Local government or wider public sector housing experience.
Key Skills
- Strong leadership and stakeholder management capability.
- Excellent communication and report writing skills.
- Ability to influence senior stakeholders, members, regulators and contractors.
- Strong analytical, performance management and problem-solving capability.
- Experience managing budgets, programmes and operational risk.
Role Dimensions
- Responsibility for housing compliance across 6,000+ council-owned properties.
- Direct leadership of specialist compliance teams covering multiple statutory disciplines.
- Budget responsibility of approximately £2.5m.
- Regular travel and property inspections across Somerset.
- Participation in emergency response arrangements and occasional out-of-hours requirements.
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