Director of Property Services

Sanctuary; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 135,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days annual leave (rising to 30)

Pension scheme with employer contrib.

Life Assurance

Employee Advice Service

Cycle to Work scheme

Wellbeing support

Staff Networks

Job summary

Sanctuary is seeking an experienced Director of Property Services to set strategic direction for repairs, maintenance, compliance and reinvestment. You will lead services across Sanctuary Group, driving customer outcomes, value for money and safety.

Reporting to the Chief Customer Officer, you will influence at the highest level, champion the customer voice, and inspire high‑performing teams while ensuring regulatory standards are met.

Qualifications

• A degree, management qualification or relevant professional qualification.
• Full, current driving licence and willingness to travel regularly.
• Substantial leadership in property maintenance, surveying, asset reinvestment or contracting.
• Experience translating strategy into improved customer and service outcomes.
• Strong commercial acumen with budget and financial control experience.
• Proven ability to lead large, dispersed teams and engage stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Direct reinvestment programmes to improve value, safety and customer experience.
• Lead national compliance services and robust contractual frameworks.
• Oversee stock condition data and a five‑year asset investment programme.
• Provide strategic oversight of third-party contracts with focus on safety and outcomes.
• Procure and manage property maintenance, assets and reinvestment contracts.
• Maintain budgets and provide clear reporting to senior leadership and boards.
• Build relationships with internal teams, customers, authorities and partners.
• Provide visible leadership across a large dispersed service and drive an inclusive culture.
• Represent Sanctuary at national, regional and local levels; influence policy and practice.

Skills

Leadership

Strategy development

Budgeting & financial control

Stakeholder engagement

Regulatory compliance

Contract management

People management

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Driving licence

Education

Degree or professional qualification

Tools

Microsoft Office

PowerPoint

Excel

Job description

Circa £150,000 per year plus car buy out

35 hours per week

Sanctury is seeking an experienced leader to join our business and make a lasting difference for our customers. The successful candidate will set the strategic direction for repairs and maintenance, compliance and reinvestment operations. They will lead services that keep homes safe and well maintained, while delivering quality and value for money.

Reporting to the Chief Customer Officer, the role will lead large, complex and geographically dispersed services across Sanctuary Group, with the scope to influence at the highest level. Championing the customer voice and using customer insight to drive improvement, this role will inspire high-performing teams and ensure Sanctuary continues to meet its regulatory responsibilities and consumer standards. This is an opportunity for an accomplished leader to deliver meaningful change at scale.

The role of Director of Property Services will include:

• Directing operational reinvestment programmes, ensuring investment decisions deliver value for money and improve the quality, safety and experience of customers' homes
• Leading national compliance services and maintaining robust contractual frameworks that meet all relevant regulatory and legal requirements, keeping customers safe
• Leading the collection and maintenance of accurate stock condition information and overseeing a rolling five-year programme of asset requirements, ensuring investment is informed by both asset intelligence and customer needs
• Providing strategic oversight of third-party contracts, with a clear focus on safety, quality, performance, commercial value and customer outcomes
• Influencing the procurement, development and management of property maintenance, asset and reinvestment contracts
• Maintaining effective control of operational budgets and providing clear reporting to senior leadership, executive teams, boards and other key stakeholders
• Building strong relationships with internal teams, customers, local authorities, elected representatives, contractors and sector partners
• Providing visible and effective leadership across a large, geographically dispersed service, creating a safe, inclusive and performance-focused culture, where colleagues understand their role delivering great customer outcomes
• Representing Sanctuary at national, regional and local levels, contributing to the development of asset maintenance, compliance and safety policy and best practice

Essential skills and experiences:

• A degree, management qualification or relevant professional qualification, preferably in a business-related subject, or equivalent knowledge, technical competence and experience
• A full, current driving licence and the flexibility to travel regularly
• Substantial leadership experience within property maintenance, surveying, asset management, reinvestment or contracting
• Proven experience of developing and implementing strategy within a large and complex organisation, with evidence of translating strategy into improved customer and service outcomes
• Demonstrable commercial acumen, including the ability to deliver strong results, service improvement and value for money
• Extensive experience of budget preparation and financial control
• Strong leadership and people-management capability, with experience of developing high-performing teams
• Excellent influencing, negotiation, communication and presentation skills, including the confidence to engage effectively with customers and stakeholders, as well as at senior and executive levels
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex information and implement effective solutions
• Intermediate Microsoft, and basic PowerPoint and Excel

Why work for us?

We provide homes and care for more than 250,000 people in England and Scotland. Our customers are at the heart of all we do. With around 14,000 colleagues, we foster a diverse and inclusive culture, and nurture and reward talent.

As part of our commitment to making Sanctuary a great place to work, where your wellbeing is of genuine importance, we have developed an attractive employment package. The package recognises your contribution, supports your physical, mental and financial health and gives you the flexibility to tailor your employee benefits by offering:

• 25 days annual leave (rising to a maximum of 30 days) plus public holidays
• A pension scheme with employer contributions from Sanctuary
• Life Assurance
• Employee Advice Service including counselling
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Voluntary health plans
• Wellbeing support and tools
• Staff Networks, with a shared interest in inclusion, and who provide invaluable support to colleagues