Principal Manager (Compliance)

AESN Limited; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

AESN Limited is seeking a Landlord Safety & Compliance Lead to oversee statutory safety and regulatory compliance across all retained housing assets. You will head the Safety & Compliance Team, driving tenant safety, efficiency, and continuous improvement.

The role requires extensive experience in H&S compliance, degree-level qualifications or professional membership, and strong leadership in asset management or housing environments. Awaab's Law and Decent Homes standards knowledge is essential.

Qualifications

• Significant track record of senior leadership in housing/asset management or property compliance.
• Degree-level qualification and/or professional membership in CIOB, RICS, CIH or equivalent.
• Proven qualification or extensive operational experience in Health & Safety compliance (e.g., NEBOSH, IOSH).

Responsibilities

• Act as Council's Landlord Safety & Compliance Lead across retained housing assets.
• Lead and deliver full compliance across key safety areas: Fire, LOler, Emergency Lighting, Alarm & Detection, Gas, Damp & Mould, Electrical, Asbestos, Water/Legionella.
• Monitor HHSRS stock condition surveys and ensure compliance with Awaab's Law and the Decent Homes Standard.
• Lead, manage and develop the Safety & Compliance Team for tenant safety and continuous improvement.
• Oversee departmental budgets and drive value for money in compliance contracts and operations.
• Implement audit, QA and reporting frameworks to identify and remediate safety hazards or regulatory gaps.
• Collaborate with senior management across Maintenance & Contracts and Council leadership to align asset strategies.

Skills

Senior leadership

Asset management

Regulatory compliance

H&S compliance

Education

Degree in relevant field

Professional membership

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Landlord Safety & Compliance Lead: Act as the Council's lead officer responsible for statutory safety and regulatory compliance across all retained housing assets.
• Management: Lead, monitor, and deliver full compliance across key property safety areas:
  1. Fire Safety
  2. Lifts & Lifting Equipment (LOLER)
  3. Emergency Lighting
  4. Alarm & Detection Systems
  5. Gas Safety
  6. Damp & Mould Management
  7. Electrical Safety
  8. Asbestos Management
  9. Water Safety / Legionella
• Regulatory & Legal Standards: Monitor hazards arising from Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) stock condition surveys, ensuring strict compliance with Awaab's Law and the Decent Homes Standard.
• Team Leadership & Development: Lead, manage, and develop the Safety and Compliance Team, fostering a high-performance culture focused on tenant safety, continuous improvement, and operational efficiency.
• Budget & Resource Management: Oversee relevant departmental budgets, ensure cost efficiency, and drive value for money in compliance-related maintenance contracts and operational delivery.
• Risk Management & Quality Assurance: Implement robust audit, quality assurance, and reporting frameworks to proactively identify, track, and remediate safety hazards or regulatory gaps.
• Strategic Collaboration: Collaborate effectively with senior management across the Maintenance & Contracts team (one of six senior management posts) and broader Council leadership to align asset management strategies.

Person Specification (Requirements)

Experience & Qualifications

• Experience: Significant track record of senior leadership in a comparable housing, asset management, local authority, or property compliance environment.
• Education / Accreditation: Degree-level qualification and/or professional membership in a relevant field (e.g., CIOB, RICS, CIH, or equivalent professional body).
• Health & Safety: Proven qualification or extensive operational experience in Health & Safety compliance (e.g., NEBOSH, IOSH)