Head of Housing and Family Benefits

North East Combined Authority; Tees Valley; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 67,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave: 25 days (rises to 30)

Flexible working patterns

Parental and adoption leave

Defined Benefit pension scheme with 28

Cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme

Staff networks and inclusion groups

Job summary

North East Combined Authority is seeking a Head of Housing and Family Benefits to lead the Treasury's strategy on housing and child-related welfare. The role covers Housing Benefit, Child Benefit and related policies, with accountability for policy development and ministerial briefings.

The post is based in Darlington, with a fixed-term 11‑month loan arrangement and flexible working patterns. The successful candidate will supervise a small team and shape strategy addressing rising cost-of-living

Responsibilities

• Lead Treasury policy on Housing Benefit, Child Benefit, HCBC and the Crisis & Resilience Fund.
• Advise ministers on major policy proposals at Budgets and Spending Reviews.
• Control spending across housing and family-related benefits and scrutinise proposals.

Job description

Head of Housing and Family Benefits

• Salary: National: £59,690 - £66,500. (If the successful candidate is a current Civil Servant joining on level transfer, HM Treasury will honour their current substantive salary if higher.)
• Contract Type: Fixed Term of 11 months/loan
• Working Pattern: This post is available on a full time, part time or job share basis, and flexible working hours can be accommodated.
• Location: Darlington (Feethams House)

We are recruiting for a Head of Housing and Family Benefits based in our Darlington Office. This is an opportunity to lead Treasury strategy across some of the government's highest-profile welfare programmes.

About the Team

The Welfare Spending and Reform (WSR) team sits at the centre of some of the government's highest-profile policy and spending decisions. We are responsible for the Treasury's overall welfare spending strategy, helping to ensure expenditure is sustainable while supporting wider government priorities.

As the spending team for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), we oversee an area that accounts for nearly a quarter of all government expenditure. The team leads on major policy and spending issues across working-age benefits, including Universal Credit, Child Benefit, Housing Benefit and disability benefits. Our work spans some of the most important challenges facing government today, from responding to cost-of-living pressures to supporting efforts to reduce child poverty and homelessness.

About the Job

You will lead a branch that looks at the range of ways the welfare system supports households with the cost of housing and raising children.

Key Accountabilities include:

• Lead Treasury policy on Housing Benefit, Child Benefit, the High Income Child Benefit Charge and the Crisis & Resilience Fund.
• Advise ministers on major policy proposals at Budgets and Spending Reviews, balancing fiscal, delivery and policy considerations.
• Control spending across housing and family-related benefits, managing risks and scrutinising proposals from departments.
• Develop expert knowledge of housing and family benefits, becoming the Treasury's lead adviser on these issues.
• Build strong working relationships across government to influence policy and support ministerial priorities.
• Lead and develop a branch of two staff and play a key role in the wider leadership of the team.

About You

We're looking for someone who has the ability to balance detailed technical considerations with strategic objectives, with strong leadership skills and a commitment to developing others. You will also have the ability to build effective and influential relationships, understanding the need for balancing priorities and objectives.

Some of the Benefits our people love!

• 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus 8 public holidays and the King's birthday (unless you have a legacy arrangement as an existing Civil Servant). Additionally, we operate flexitime systems, allowing employees to take up to an additional 2 days off each month
• Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours)
• Generous parental and adoption leave packages
• Access to a generous Defined Benefit pension scheme with employer contributions of 28%
• Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme and season ticket advances
• A range of active staff networks, based around interests (e.g. analysts, music society, sports and social club) and diversity