Head of Allocation and Accommodation

London Borough of Sutton; Sutton; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in the United Kingdom seeks a leader to manage housing allocations and temporary accommodation services. The successful candidate will oversee teams, ensuring compliance with housing law while driving innovation for service delivery. Ideal for those with expertise in allocations, budget management, and a strong commitment to community impact, this role is pivotal in transforming housing services. Join a committed team and make a difference in the lives of families facing housing challenges.

Benefits

32 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Enhanced family leave benefits

Flexible working options

Local Government Pension Scheme

Learning and development opportunities

Discounts at local establishments

Qualifications

• Deep expertise in allocations of accommodation and income collection.
• Track record of leading service transformation in housing.
• Confidence in managing complex budgets and cross-system collaborations.

Responsibilities

• Lead housing allocations and temporary accommodation services.
• Manage multi-disciplinary teams and oversee statutory duties.
• Drive innovation in procurement and service delivery.

Skills

Expertise in homelessness law

Leadership in service transformation

Collaborative problem-solving

Budget management

Political astuteness

Job description

About the Role

This is a role with real scale, complexity and opportunity. You will lead housing allocations and temporary accommodation services at a time of acute demand, with over 1,000 households in TA and significant nightly‑paid usage. You’ll manage statutory duties under the Housing Act and Homelessness Reduction Act, oversee multi‑disciplinary teams and budgets, and drive innovation in procurement and service delivery.

You’ll play a pivotal role in reducing the number of households in temporary accommodation, strengthening compliance and performance, and leading the Housing Allocation Scheme. You’ll work across the Council with Sutton Housing Partnership, Regulatory Services, Adults’ Social Care, Children’s Services, and the voluntary & faith sectors and community, to create sustainable move‑on pathways and improve outcomes for families. This is a chance to lead transformation in one of the most pressured areas of housing.

We are proud of the progress we’ve made, but we know there is more to do. Internal audits have highlighted areas for improvement, and we are committed to learning and delivering best practice. This role is central to that journey. We need a leader who can combine operational grip with strategic vision, and who can inspire a team that is ready for change.

About you

You’ll bring tahun deep expertise in allocations of accommodation, income collection, TA and homelessness law, and a track record of leading service transformation. You’ll be collaborative, data‑driven and confident managing complex budgets. You’ll also be politically astute and comfortable working across systems and partners. Above all, you’ll be a visible leader who delivers results and builds trust.

We’re ambitious for our residents and for our services. We have a clear mandate for change, strong partnerships and leadership that backs斗地主. If you share that ambi…you, we’d love to hear from you.

About Us

Sutton is a borough defined by ambition, community and change.

We are proud of our strong local identity, vibrant neighbourhoods and commitment to delivering services that make a real difference. Sutton is one of London’s greenest and safest boroughs, with excellent schools, thriving businesses and a strong sense of community. It is a place where people want to live, work and invest, and where we are determined to ensure everyone has access to a safe, secure and affordable home.

Housing is central to that mission and we are now looking for four senior leaders to help us还有 stabilise, modernise and transform. We have come through a major transition and are embedding the Sutton culture across teams who have previously worked under a different operating model. Our priorities are clear: providing safe, secure and affordable homes; reducing the use of temporary accommodation; strengthening systems and compliance; and working in partnership with Sutton Housing Partnership and other stakeholders to put residents first. If you want to lead change with purpose and pace, this is your moment.

Our Offer To You

As an organisation that values and nurtures talent, we’re committed to helping you fulfil your potential and will offer you a supportive, friendly and collaborative environment to grow and develop your career and skills. We’re constantly striving to improve our ways of working so putting your ideas across however big or small; will be fully encouraged and supported by your colleagues and our dynamic and experienced management team.

Employees have access to a wide range of benefits to personagens staff to achieve a work‑life balance, some of which include:

• A generous annual leave entitlement of 32 days plus bank holidays (pro‑rata if part‑time working hours apply)
• Enhanced Maternity, paternity, shared parental, adoption and dependents leave
• Two volunteering days per year
• Flexible Working – Smarter Working Scheme (dependent on the role)
• Adjustable and agile working arrangements using Google Chromebooks
• Learning and development portal offering a range of courses
• Discounts on a range of local shops, restaurants, gyms and leisure centres millum
• Interest free season ticket loans
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Bicycle loan facilities and cycle to work scheme
• Electric vehicle car leasing scheme
• Confidential health & wellbeing and counselling support