Service Manager - Homelessness and Housing Options

Newcastle City Council; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Newcastle City Council is seeking a Service Manager – Homelessness & Housing Options to provide strategic and operational leadership for the council's homelessness and housing options services. You will oversee statutory duties, drive performance, manage budgets, and develop innovative solutions to prevent homelessness and secure suitable accommodation.

Reporting to the Assistant Director, you will lead high‑performing teams, foster partnerships with health, social care and voluntary sectors,

Qualifications

• Substantial experience of managing homelessness and housing services.
• Excellent understanding of relevant legislation and policy.
• Proven ability to lead teams through change while maintaining customer focus.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for Homelessness & Housing Options services.
• Oversee statutory homelessness duties, financial advice, and debt support.
• Manage budget, workforce planning and deployment of resources to ensure value for money.

Job description

Background

Newcastle is committed to being a fair city where everyone has access to safe, secure and suitable housing. Like many cities across the country, we are facing increasing demand for homelessness services, rising housing need and growing complexity in the challenges experienced by residents seeking support.

Preventing homelessness and helping people access and sustain suitable accommodation are among the Council's highest priorities. Through our Housing and Communities Directorate, we are delivering ambitious plans to strengthen homelessness prevention, improve housing options services and provide better outcomes for individuals and families facing housing insecurity.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a service that is making a real difference to the lives of some of Newcastle's most vulnerable residents. We are looking for an experienced and compassionate leader who shares our commitment to early intervention, partnership working and delivering excellent customer-focused services.

Reporting to the Assistant Director of Housing and Communities, you will play a key role in shaping and delivering our Homelessness and Housing Options Service. This includes our homeless prevention team, financial inclusion and debt recovery and social housing allocations and banding. Working alongside a wide range of partners across housing, health, social care and the voluntary sector, you will lead a service to ensure that residents receive the right support at the right time, preventing homelessness wherever possible and enabling people to achieve sustainable housing outcomes.

As part of the Housing Services Senior Management Team, you will contribute to the strategic direction of services that support our ambition to be a proud, fair and inclusive city. This is a career-defining opportunity for a motivated leader who is passionate about improving lives, leading high-performing teams and driving service excellence for the residents of Newcastle.

Job Role

Service Manager – Homelessness & Housing Options

We are seeking an exceptional leader to provide strategic and operational leadership for the Council's Homelessness & Housing Options Service.

The successful applicant will lead the delivery of statutory homelessness and housing options services, including financial and debt advice, ensuring compliance with legislative requirements while driving innovation and continuous improvement. You will oversee a high-performing service that supports individuals and families facing housing difficulties, ensuring residents receive timely, effective and compassionate support.

You will have responsibility for service performance, budget management, workforce planning and the effective deployment of resources, ensuring value for money whilst maintaining excellent outcomes for residents. Working collaboratively with internal services, housing providers, voluntary organisations and regional partners, you will help develop and deliver solutions that prevent homelessness and improve access to suitable accommodation.

As a key member of the Housing Services Senior Management Team, you will lead change programmes, use data and insight to inform decision-making, and create a positive and inclusive culture where staff can thrive and perform at their best.

The ideal candidate will have substantial experience of managing homelessness and housing services, an excellent understanding of relevant legislation and policy, and a proven ability to lead teams through change while maintaining a strong focus on customer outcomes.

Selection Process

The closing date for applications is Monday 21st September.

It is anticipated that shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend interviews taking place w/c 28th September.