Private Sector Housing Development Manager

Stoke-on-Trent City Council; Hempstalls; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Stoke-on-Trent City Council is seeking a high-profile manager to lead the private sector housing team, guiding initiatives to bring empty homes back into use and support new housing acquisitions.

You will manage a dedicated team, work with housing service colleagues, community safety and police, and drive programmes across Council powers, land assets and gypsy/traveller sites to deliver tangible improvements for local communities.

Qualifications

• Experience leading teams to deliver challenging outcomes.
• Awareness of empty homes issues and powers to bring them back into use.
• Skilled negotiator capable of fostering partnerships and joint investments.
• Able to develop creative solutions to challenges in empty homes agenda.
• Motivated self-starter able to lead, inspire and drive change.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team to bring long-term empty homes back into use using interventions and powers.
• Oversee acquisition of residential properties to support empty homes initiatives and wider housing programmes.
• Manage housing clearance projects, compulsory purchase processes and disposal of land/assets.
• Lead enforcement to address neglected land, ensuring compliance and public health.
• Ensure services delivered legally and in line with Council priorities, improving housing outcomes.

Skills

Leading teams

Empty homes policy

Negotiation

Creative problem solving

Motivated leadership

Job description

Directorate: Housing, Regeneration and Operations

Section: Housing Solutions and Private Sector Housing

Location: Civic Centre

Grade: Level 13

Hours: 37 hours per week

This advert is open to both internal and external applicants.

About us

We are a city of strengths, with a proud heritage and bright future. Working for Stoke-on Trent City Council is more than just a job, it's about making, protecting and improving the services for the local population, reducing inequalities and improving independence for the people who live and work in the city. And that's where you come in. We are always looking for people of the highest calibre with skills, knowledge and experience to help us deliver our compelling vision.

Stoke-on-Trent City Council's diverse and talented workforce is its greatest asset and most valuable resource. The skills, knowledge and experience of our c.4,600 employees are essential to delivering our ambitions and vision for our organisation and Stoke-on-Trent. We want to be an employer that people are proud to work for, and where our staff are supported, developed and rewarded in an inclusive way that helps them to excel and to deliver the high-quality services that our residents need.

Further information on the Council and our directorates

The Role

Empty homes represent a significant wasted resource at a time of genuine housing pressures including rising numbers of homeless households and record numbers on council housing waiting lists.

This high-profile management role in the Council's private sector housing team offers the opportunity for the right person to make a significant impact on the lives of people affected by this and at the same time deliver a real improvement to local communities blighted by empty homes. Managing a team of dedicated officers and working closely with colleagues across the housing service, community safety and police you will lead on initiatives to bring empty homes back into use and support the acquisition of new homes using the full range of the Council's powers. You will also lead on programmes to manage the Council's portfolio of land acquired through previous housing programmes and its gypsy and traveller's site.

This post would suit someone with previous management experience in a similar role or someone looking to take the next steps in their management career.

For more information on the role, please contact the Recruiting Manager Tom Jones, [e-mail]

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team responsible for bringing long-term empty homes back into ukase, using a range of housing intervention and enforcement powers
• Oversee the acquisition of residential properties to support empty homes initiatives and wider strategic housing programmes including temporary accommodation and refugee resettlement schemes
• Manage housing clearance projects, compulsory purchase processes and the disposal of Council owned land and property assets
• Lead enforcement activity to address neglected land and premises, ensuring compliance and tackling issues that pose risks to public health, create nuisances or attract pests
• Ensure services are delivered effectively, legally and in line with Council priorities, contributing to improved housing outcomes and community wellbeing

About You

• Previous experience of leading teams to deliver challenging outcomes
• An awareness of the issues relating to empty homes and the powers to bring them back into use
• Be a skilled negotiator who is able to foster good working partnerships, creating interest in joint working and to generate investment
• Able to generate creative and innovative solutions to resolve challenges applicable to the empty home's agenda
• Motivated, self-starter, able to lead and inspire teams and deliver change

What we offer

• A competitive salary based on your skills, experience and talent
• Hybrid and flexible working options
• An excellent local authority benefits pension scheme
• Professional development through learning opportunities, regular training sessions and apprenticeship and management schemes

Further information on our Rewards and Benefits can be found here

Pre-Employment Checks

Any offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of required pre-employment checks. These may include:

• Right to Work in the UK
• Proof of address
• Satisfactory references
• Occupational Health Clearance
• Evidence of professional qualifications or registrations
• DBS check at the appropriate level (if applicable for the role)

The Council will not accept any speculative CVs from employment agencies.

No agency terms and conditions accompanying any such CVs will be accepted by the Council.

Any unsolicited information sent by an employment agency will be treated as the property of the Council.

Please note that if an employee who is currently at risk of redundancy within the organisation applies for this vacancy their application will receive priority. If this happens you will be advised accordingly.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Stoke-on-Trent City Council, we believe our strength comes from the diversity of our community, and we want our workforce to reflect that. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and experiences. We understand that some people, especially those from underrepresented or marginalised backgrounds, may hesitate to apply if they don’t meet all the listed requirements. If this role interests you and you think you could be a good fit, we encourage you to apply. We are proud of what makes each of us unique and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels included, can be themselves, and can succeed together.