Housing Service Director

Connect2Luton are excited to recruit a Housing Service Director on behalf of Luton Borough Council.

Main purpose of position:

Provide strategic direction and effective leadership for an exemplary delivery of the Council's housing ambitions including the focus on tackling homelessness. Lead the Council's Housing management, repairs and cyclical maintenance and concierge and supported housing services to enable residents to lead healthier, happier lives. Statutory responsibility for the Health and Safety of the Council's Housing Stock. Lead, manage and deliver the Council's aspirations for new affordable homes. Ensure the improvement of the private rented sector including regulatory enforcement.

Lead, manage, deliver and develop the Directorate's services and resources in a manner consistent with the Council's aims and policies and the professional standards falling within the scope of the Division. Lead the Directorate's management team and the overall aims, objectives, statutory obligations and targets.

Manage the full range of the following portfolio strategies and goals in line with Luton 2020 - 2040 vision.

As a Service Director,you will be responsible to:

·Act as the Council's lead advisor on the development, provision and management of housing in Luton covering the Council's owned social housing, private sector housing and reducing homelessness.

·Statutory responsibility for ensuring social housing services and ensuring regulatory and legal compliance including Health and Safety including any new legislation arising from Grenfell.

·Responsible for determining, assessing and administering housing needs and driving the improvement in the temporary accommodation position to discharge the Council's Statutory Homelessness Duty.

·Responsible for the development and delivery of the Council's Housing Strategy and associated strategies.

·Responsible for effectively managing the Housing Revenue Account within the parameters of the 30 year HRA Business Plan and Annual Full Council approved budgets.

·Lead the Council's approach to improving the quality of the private rented sector.

·Engage sub-regionally and nationally to ensure that Luton's wider housing needs and ambitions are met.

·Deliver the Council's housing delivery aspirations for new homes working through the HRA, with RSL's and through Foxhall Homes Ltd

·Responsible for identifying innovative methods to transform the Directorate to deliver best in class performance for both HRA and General Fund housing services.

·Responsible for effectively involving tenants and leaseholders including the Tenant Advisory Board and Service Area Panels in delivering high quality customer-focussed services

·Responsible for a strategic approach to and the delivery of healthy housing including disabled facility grants contributing to the Council's Population Wellbeing Strategy.

·Leading the Council's BTS division including developing its trading offer.

·Ensuring that the Housing Division contributes to the Council's 2040 Climate Change agenda.

Skills and Experience:

• Must be able to evidence of transformation change of temporary housing accommodation
• Successful track record and background of consistent achievement as a senior manager including strategic management of transformation programmes, operational performance and financial budgets
• Demonstrable experience of effective working with a broad range of partners and stakeholders from the community, government and businesses
• Able to demonstrate excellent knowledge of and empathy with the legislation impacting upon Housing Services
• Understanding of current relevant legislation and statutory requirements for Housing Services and all associated service delivery portfolio
• Be able to multitask at fast pace
• Manage staff
• Housing and tenant engagement
• Must have experience of local authority housing stock management or work for housing association that manages housing stock for local authority
• Must be able to evidence change for better
• Member of the Chartered Institute of Housing or equivalent professional experience

About Us

Luton Borough Council have partnered with Kent County Council to create Connect2Luton, a recruitment managed service for all contingent temporary agency, contract, and interim roles at the Council.

Our heritage and being local government owned which means we have a wealth of knowledge and expertise within the public sector, with many of our employees having previously worked for the Council or have supplied previously into the Council, for several years.

We are an equal opportunities employment agency and business that positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.

Connect2Luton, part of Luton Borough Council & Kent Commercial Services LLP, is an equal opportunities Employment Agency & Business and positively encourages applications from all suitably qualified and eligible candidates.