Corporate Director of Housing

We are seeking an experienced senior housing leader to take responsibility for a significant and complex housing and property portfolio, leading landlord services, asset management, investment, compliance, repairs, resident services and associated operational delivery.

This is a high-profile leadership role requiring someone who understands the realities of running housing services at scale: keeping residents safe, improving service performance, managing major contracts, protecting asset value, delivering investment programmes and ensuring housing services are financially sustainable and genuinely resident focused.

You will provide strategic and operational leadership across a broad housing portfolio, with accountability for the performance, improvement and integration of services delivered directly and through commissioned providers.

The role

As Corporate Director – Housing and Property Services, you will lead the Council’s approach to housing management, residential and commercial property, asset investment, compliance, repairs and maintenance, leasehold and home ownership services, tenancy management and resident experience.

You will be responsible for developing and delivering a clear housing and asset strategy that improves outcomes for residents, supports the long-term condition and value of the Council’s portfolio, and ensures services are efficient, compliant and financially robust.

A major priority will be ensuring the landlord function is professional, commercially focused and responsive. You will lead on income maximisation, rent and service charge performance, tenancy and lease management, home ownership services and the effective management of properties throughout their lifecycle.

You will also oversee major contracted and operational services connected to the wider resident and neighbourhood experience, ensuring they are effectively commissioned, performance managed and aligned to the Council’s housing priorities.

Key responsibilities

You will:

• Provide strategic leadership across housing management, landlord services, property, asset management, compliance, repairs and resident services.
• Lead the development and delivery of a clear housing and property business plan, ensuring services are financially sustainable, high performing and aligned to resident needs.
• Take overall responsibility for the effective management, maintenance and protection of a significant housing and property portfolio.
• Drive a robust asset management approach, using accurate stock condition information to shape lifecycle investment, capital planning and future service decisions.
• Lead the development and delivery of major housing investment and capital programmes, ensuring works are delivered safely, on time, within budget and to the required quality standards.
• Ensure strong arrangements are in place for building safety, compliance, health and safety and quality assurance across directly delivered and commissioned services.
• Lead a professional landlord function covering lettings, tenancy and lease management, enforcement, rent and service charge performance, home ownership and resident support.
• Maximise income, reduce avoidable loss and ensure that housing assets are managed efficiently and commercially.
• Oversee procurement, commissioning and contract management arrangements for significant operational services, including repairs and maintenance and related resident-facing services.
• Improve resident experience by ensuring housing services are accessible, responsive, accountable and focused on delivering the right outcomes.
• Lead transformational change, service improvement and new ways of working across a large and complex operational workforce.
• Provide authoritative advice to senior leaders and elected Members on housing, property, investment, compliance and resident service matters.
• Build effective partnerships with residents, contractors, external agencies and key stakeholders.

About you

You will be a credible and accomplished senior leader with substantial experience of managing complex housing, property or asset management services within a large organisation.

You will understand the demands of being a landlord at scale, including asset investment, compliance, repairs, contract performance, income management, resident engagement and service improvement.

You will be able to demonstrate:

• Significant executive-level experience within housing, property, asset management or a closely related resident services environment.
• A strong track record of developing and delivering housing, property and asset management strategies across a diverse portfolio.
• Experience of leading landlord services and improving outcomes for tenants, leaseholders and residents.
• Strong experience of housing investment planning, asset management, stock condition intelligence and capital programme delivery.
• A thorough understanding of compliance, building safety, health and safety and landlord responsibilities.
• Experience of commissioning and managing major operational contracts and service providers.
• Evidence of delivering transformational improvement, stronger performance and better value for money across complex services.
• Experience of managing substantial budgets, resources and large multidisciplinary teams.
• The ability to operate successfully in a political environment and build credibility with elected Members, senior officers, residents and external partners.
• Excellent leadership, communication, commercial and stakeholder management skills.
• A clear commitment to equality, inclusion and resident-focused service delivery.

A relevant professional qualification, such as RICS or RIBA, is required, alongside degree-level education or equivalent experience.

Why apply?

This is an opportunity to shape and improve critical housing and property services within a major London setting.

You will have the scope to influence housing strategy, improve landlord performance, strengthen compliance and resident trust, oversee major investment decisions and lead services that directly affect the quality, safety and security of people’s homes.

For an experienced housing and property leader, this is a substantial opportunity to make a visible and lasting impact.