Head of Housing Investment Programmes

East Midlands Combined County Authority; Chesterfield; On-site; GBP 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

East Midlands Combined County Authority is seeking a senior Head of Housing Investment Programmes to lead the Brownfield Housing Fund and future capital housing investments. You will provide strategic leadership, manage a £92m+ portfolio, and translate regional housing strategy into deliverable programmes.

The role requires extensive experience in capital budgets, housing development, and governance within a public or private sector setting. A degree and professional qualifications are essential.

Qualifications

• Significant experience managing large capital budgets and investment programmes.
• Substantial experience of housing development, in the public or private sector.
• In-depth knowledge of development appraisals: viability, funding, risk and value for money.
• Proven ability to translate strategy into delivery with measurable outcomes.
• Strong partnership and relationship management across public, private and third sectors.
• Experience operating within governance and politically sensitive environments.
• Knowledge of public-sector grant funding, Green Book appraisal principles and subsidy control.
• Experience managing commercial risk, contracts and delivery partners.
• Ability to provide clear, authoritative advice to senior officers, elected members and partners.
• Experience leading and developing teams and building organisational capability.
• Desirable: experience with Mayoral Combined Authorities, Homes England or Government-funded housing programmes.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and overall accountability as SRO for the Brownfield Housing Fund and oversee delivery across all phases.
• Manage and oversee a £92m+ capital investment programme, balancing pace, deliverability, risk, additionality and value for money.
• Translate EMCCA's housing and investment strategy into clear delivery plans, priorities and investment decisions.
• Lead the development and management of the future housing investment pipeline, ensuring deliverable and strategically aligned schemes.
• Apply development appraisals knowledge to assess viability, investment requirements, deliverability, value for money and risk.
• Lead governance, assurance and decision-making with robust business cases and Green Book-compliant assessments.
• Provide strategic advice to the Mayor, EMCCA Board, Housing and Land Committee and Corporate Leadership Team on investment and performance.
• Oversee the commercial and contractual lifecycle of schemes, managing financial and delivery risk across a high-value portfolio.
• Build strong relationships with local authorities, housing associations, providers and developers to secure commitment and drive delivery.
• Maintain oversight of programme performance, expenditure and outcomes, intervening early where delivery is at risk.
• Lead and develop the housing investment programmes team and manage internal/external resources and advisers.
• Maximise opportunities to leverage Homes England and other Government funding.
• Ensure investment supports EMCCA's Mayoral and Corporate Plans and regional objectives.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Capital budgets

Housing development

Development appraisals

Governance & assurance

Stakeholder management

Public sector funding

Team leadership

Contract management

Advisory skills

Education

Relevant degree

Professional qualification (property/planning/finance)

Job description

Grade: G19 | Directorate: Housing and Regeneration

Reports to: Director – Housing and Regeneration

Direct reports: 2

Politically restricted: Yes

This role may also be considered as a secondment opportunity, subject to agreement from your current employer.

About the role

The East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) is seeking an experienced and strategic Head of Housing Investment Programmes to lead the delivery of its £92m+ Brownfield Housing Fund and future capital housing investment programmes.

This is an exciting opportunity to join EMCCA at a pivotal time for housing and affordable housing across the East Midlands. You will play a central role in unlocking housing development on brownfield land, directing significant capital investment and turning regional housing strategy into tangible delivery.

As Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) for the Brownfield Housing Fund, you will have overall accountability for the programme's pace, performance, compliance, value for money and risk management. You will provide strategic leadership across a complex portfolio, ensuring investment is deployed effectively and delivers against demanding milestones, funding conditions and Government requirements.

Key responsibilities

You will:

• Provide strategic leadership and overall accountability as SRO for the Brownfield Housing Fund, overseeing delivery across all phases.
• Manage and oversee a £92m+ capital investment programme, balancing pace, deliverability, risk, additionality and value for money.
• Translate EMCCA's housing and investment strategy into clear delivery plans, priorities and investment decisions.
• Lead the development and management of the future housing investment pipeline, ensuring schemes are deliverable, strategically aligned and capable of meeting programme requirements.
• Apply in-depth knowledge of development appraisals to assess scheme viability, investment requirements, deliverability, value for money and risk.
• Lead effective governance, assurance and decision-making arrangements, ensuring investment decisions are supported by robust business cases, Green Book-compliant assessments and appropriate controls.
• Provide strategic advice to the Mayor, EMCCA Board, Housing and Land Committee and Corporate Leadership Team on investment, performance, risk and delivery.
• Oversee the commercial and contractual lifecycle of schemes, managing financial, commercial and delivery risk across a portfolio of high-value investments.
• Build strong and productive relationships with local authorities, housing associations, registered providers, private developers and other delivery partners, securing commitment and driving delivery.
• Maintain strategic oversight of programme performance, expenditure and outcomes, intervening early where delivery is at risk and leading remediation where required.
• Lead and develop the housing investment programmes team and ensure effective management of internal and external resources and specialist advisers.
• Maximise opportunities to leverage complementary funding, including Homes England and other Government programmes.
• Ensure investment supports EMCCA's Mayoral and Corporate Plan, Local Growth Plan, housing and land priorities and wider regional objectives.

About you

We are looking for a senior housing and investment professional with a strong track record of leading complex capital programmes and delivering housing development.

You will have:

• Significant experience of managing large capital budgets and investment programmes, with the ability to balance financial, commercial and delivery considerations.
• Substantial experience of housing development, gained in either the public or private sector.
• In-depth knowledge of development appraisals, including the ability to assess viability, risk, funding requirements and value for money.
• Proven experience of translating strategy into delivery, turning strategic priorities into practical investment programmes and measurable outcomes.
• Strong partnership and relationship management skills, with experience working across the public, private and third sectors, particularly with local authorities and housing associations.
• Experience of operating confidently within complex governance and politically sensitive environments.
• Strong knowledge of public-sector grant funding, assurance, Green Book appraisal principles and subsidy control.
• Significant experience managing commercial risk, contracts and delivery partners.
• The ability to provide clear, authoritative advice and constructive challenge to senior officers, elected members and partners.
• Experience of leading and developing teams and building organisational capability.

Experience of working with Mayoral Combined Authorities, Homes England or Government-funded housing programmes would be desirable, as would a strong background in brownfield regeneration, land-led investment or place-based housing delivery.

A relevant degree or equivalent experience, a professional qualification in a relevant discipline such as property, planning, finance, law or programme management, and evidence of continuing professional development are essential.

About EMCCA

EMCCA is committed to creating a more prosperous, sustainable and fairer East Midlands, helping people, businesses and places across the region to create and seize opportunities.

Housing and regeneration are central to this ambition. With significant capital investment available to unlock brownfield development and support the delivery of much-needed homes, this is an exciting time to join EMCCA and play a leading role in shaping the future of housing across the region.

Our values of Lifting our region, Working together, Making an impact and Being human underpin how we work and the leadership we expect from our people.

This is an opportunity to lead a major regional housing investment programme, work with influential public and private sector partners, and turn strategic ambition into real housing delivery and lasting regional impact.

Closing Date: 02/10/2026

Proposed Interview Date: w/c 26th October