Deputy Temporary Accommodation & Procurement Manager

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

40 days annual leave

Flexible working

Generous pension plan

Job summary

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are seeking an experienced Deputy Temporary Accommodation & Procurement Manager to lead a team of Procurement & Lettings Solutions Officers. You will secure private rented sector and temporary accommodation, build strong landlord relationships, and ensure standards meet statutory requirements.

You will interpret homelessness legislation, oversee property inspections and drive procurement initiatives to improve outcomes while reducing temporary accommodation

Qualifications

• Significant experience in homelessness, temporary accommodation, private sector housing or accommodation procurement.
• Strong knowledge of homelessness legislation, suitability requirements and PRS Offers under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996.
• Good understanding of landlord and tenant legislation, welfare reform and housing case law.
• Experience inspecting properties and assessing housing standards.
• Knowledge of HHSRS is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of Procurement & Lettings Solutions Officers, driving performance and continuous improvement.
• Secure and increase supply of private rented sector and temporary accommodation across Richmond and Wandsworth.
• Build effective relationships with landlords, agents and providers to expand housing opportunities.
• Lead negotiations on accommodation rates, incentives and procurement opportunities.
• Ensure properties meet required standards and conduct regular inspections.
• Provide expert advice on homelessness legislation, suitability, procurement and landlord/tenant considerations.
• Deliver innovative procurement solutions to reduce reliance on temporary accommodation and improve outcomes.
• Analyse performance data, budgets and market intelligence to support service improvement.
• Collaborate across homelessness, prevention, allocations and temporary accommodation teams.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Relationship management

Data analysis

Team management

Property inspections

Job description

Are you an experienced housing professional with a strong understanding of both the private rented sector and homelessness legislation? This is an opportunity to lead one of London's most ambitious accommodation procurement services, helping Richmond and Wandsworth secure safe, suitable and affordable accommodation for households facing homelessness. As Deputy Temporary Accommodation & Procurement Manager, you will manage a team of Procurement & Lettings Solutions Officers responsible for securing private rented sector accommodation, sourcing long-term temporary accommodation and building strong relationships with landlords, agents and accommodation providers. This is a role for someone who can combine commercial awareness with a strong understanding of statutory housing duties. You will be confident negotiating with landlords, assessing property suitability, interpreting complex legislation and leading a high-performing team in a fast-paced environment. You will play a key role in helping both boroughs reduce temporary accommodation pressures, increase housing options for residents and deliver innovative procurement solutions that achieve better outcomes for households and better value for the public purse. About the Role

• Lead and develop a team. Managing a team of Procurement & Lettings Solutions Officers, you'll drive performance, build capability and foster a culture of continuous improvement.
• Secure and increase the supply of accommodation. A key focus of the role is growing the availability of private rented sector and temporary accommodation across Richmond and Wandsworth.
• Build effective relationships. Strong partnerships with landlords, agents, developers and accommodation providers will be essential to expanding housing opportunities.
• Lead negotiations. You'll negotiate accommodation rates, incentives and procurement opportunities, securing the best outcomes for both residents and the service.
• Ensure properties meet required standards. Responsibility for maintaining high standards of suitability, safety and value for money sits at the heart of this role.
• Carry out property inspections. Regular inspections and quality assurance activity will help ensure accommodation meets service expectations and statutory requirements.
• Provide expert advice. Colleagues and partners will look to you for guidance on homelessness legislation, suitability requirements, accommodation procurement, and landlord and tenant law.
• Deliver innovative accommodation solutions. Working creatively to identify and develop new housing options, you'll help reduce reliance on temporary accommodation and improve resident outcomes.
• Analyse performance information. Using data, budgets and market intelligence, you'll support service improvement and informed decision-making.
• Work collaboratively across services. Close working relationships with homelessness, prevention, allocations and temporary accommodation teams will be key to maximising housing outcomes for residents.
  We're looking for someone who combines strong housing knowledge with proven leadership experience. You will have:
• Significant experience within homelessness, temporary accommodation, private sector housing or accommodation procurement.
• A strong working knowledge of homelessness legislation, including suitability requirements and Private Rented Sector Offers under Part VII of the Housing Act 1996.
• Good understanding of landlord and tenant legislation, welfare reform and relevant housing case law.
• Experience carrying out property inspections and assessing housing standards.
• Knowledge of the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), with an HHSRS qualification or equivalent experience highly desirable.
• A proven track record of managing and motivating a target-driven team.
• Strong commercial awareness, negotiation and relationship management skills, particularly with landlords and accommodation providers.
• Experience developing procurement initiatives and increasing accommodation supply.
  Richmond & Wandsworth Better Service Partnership are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services.
• We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment and selection process, please let us know. We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Some posts may be exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to these posts will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). We offer a wide range of benefits designed to attract, develop, and reward our employees such as 40 days annual leave (including Bank Holidays), flexible working and a generous pension plan. Richmond and Wandsworth Councils