Senior Enabling Officer

Bristol City Council; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government organisation in Bristol is seeking a Senior Enabling Officer to enhance the delivery of affordable homes in the City. This role involves working closely with stakeholders and understanding the complexities of housing policies. The ideal candidate will have strong communication skills and experience in affordable housing delivery. The position offers flexible working arrangements and a comprehensive rewards package, aiming to drive positive housing solutions for the community.

Benefits

Flexible working

Membership of Local Government Pension Scheme

Generous annual leave allowance

Qualifications

• Experience in a Register Provider development role or currently fulfilling an Enabling role in a local authority.
• Knowledge of external issues impacting affordable housing delivery.
• Ability to work effectively with a range of partners.

Responsibilities

• Ensure affordable housing is developed according to the Council's Core Values.
• Understand the impact of policies on housing delivery.
• Work with Registered Providers to secure delivery outcomes.

Skills

Communication and negotiation skills

Understanding of affordable housing delivery

Experience in a Registered Provider development role

Job description

Full Time, 12 Months Fixed Term Contract (Maternity Cover)

An opportunity has arisen for a Senior Enabling Officer to join Bristol City Council's Housing Delivery Service, to drive the delivery of affordable homes in the City.

Bristol has significant housing challenges, with over 22,000 households on the Council's housing register and 1,700 households in temporary accommodation. It is also a city with great opportunities for housing and economic growth, featuring Europe’s largest regeneration scheme at Bristol Temple Quarter, while focusing on the delivery of small sites and specialist supported housing provision.

This role is integral to securing the delivery of affordable homes to meet and maximise the opportunities the city has to offer.

The Enabling Service supports a range of housing solutions to implement the

Responsibilities

• Play a key part in ensuring that affordable housing is developed and delivered in line with the Council’s Core Values and priorities.
• Have an understanding of the external issues that impact affordable housing delivery, from a local, regional and national policy perspective, and how they may affect delivery in the City.
• Demonstrate knowledge or insight about the delivery of affordable housing, funding sources and the importance of working with our Registered Provider and other Provider partners to secure delivery.
• Have good communication and negotiation skills and be able to work with other service areas across the Council and a range of organisations; be comfortable working with elected Members or other senior colleagues to ensure the best housing delivery outcomes for Bristol.
• Report to an Enabling Manager and work with Enabling Officers within the team, offering advice and support to them.
• Possess experience in a Register Provider development role or be currently fulfilling an Enabling role in a local authority.

Why Bristol City Council?

At Bristol City Council we go the extra mile for our people, offering a fast‑moving and supportive working environment that encourages skill use and development within a high‑profile organisation. For most roles, hybrid arrangements are available, enabling teams to balance service needs and personal choice between home and office. You will receive an excellent rewards package including flexible working, flexitime, membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme and a generous annual leave allowance. Working with us means contributing to a better future for Bristol.

How to Apply

To be shortlisted for interview you must demonstrate how you meet each of the essential criteria in the Person Specification within the Further Information Section of your application. When applications are high in number we may also shortlist against desirable criteria, so please demonstrate how you meet these in your application.

Employment Details

• For permanent Bristol City Council employees, this post will be a secondment.
• For employees on a fixed‑term contract, the secondment must not extend beyond the end of the fixed‑term period to ensure a substantive post to return to.
• If you are currently a casual worker or a member of an employment agency working with Bristol City Council, this post will be a fixed‑term contract.

Disability Confident

We are a Disability Confident employer, valuing the recruitment and retention of disabled people. Applicants who consider themselves disabled and meet the essential criteria are guaranteed an interview. We provide reasonable adjustments throughout the interview process and ongoing workplace support.

Interview Date

Interviews are scheduled for the week commencing 26th January 2026.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and we reserve the right to close this vacancy early. We therefore encourage you to apply as soon as possible.

EEO Statement

At Bristol City Council we value having a workforce as diverse as the city we serve. We welcome, develop and promote people from all sections of the community, and appointments will be made on merit.

Personal Information

The personal information section (including your name) you’ll complete as part of the application form will not be visible to hiring managers, but is used confidentially to ensure fairness to all applicants.