Head of Housing Operations
Location: South London
Contract: Interim (6 months, with potential extension)
Day Rate: £700 per day (Inside IR35)
Working Pattern: Hybrid – approx. 2 days on site per week
We are partnering with a South London local authority seeking an experienced Interim Head of Housing Operations to provide strategic leadership across Housing Management, Asset Management, Compliance and Resident Engagement. This is a pivotal senior role responsible for delivering safe homes, compliant services, and positive outcomes for residents during a period of significant transformation and regulatory focus.
You will lead senior managers, assure service performance, drive improvement and oversee housing operations in line with statutory duties, regulatory standards and corporate priorities.
About the Interim Head of Housing Operations role:
- Provide strategic leadership and clear accountability for all housing and neighbourhood operational services, ensuring safe, effective and resident‑focused delivery.
- Lead Housing Management, Asset Management, Compliance and Resident Engagement teams, ensuring alignment and integrated service delivery.
- Ensure all operations meet statutory and regulatory requirements, including the expectations of the Regulator of Social Housing and Housing Ombudsman.
- Set the strategic direction for service delivery, translating corporate and housing strategies into operational plans, KPIs and performance expectations.
- Act as the senior responsible officer for building safety and housing compliance, ensuring risks are identified, monitored and mitigated effectively.
- Oversee core housing functions including tenancy management, income, ASB, sustainment, repairs and maintenance, capital investment and resident engagement.
- Lead and strengthen governance arrangements across housing operations, ensuring effective escalation, assurance and decision‑making.
- Provide strategic oversight of safeguarding cases, ensuring responsibilities are embedded across teams and robust oversight is in place.
- Drive performance management across services, taking decisive action where performance falls short of expected standards.
- Lead financial oversight of housing operations including HRA, capital delivery and general fund properties, ensuring budget discipline, value for money and long‑term sustainability.
- Lead major service transformation, organisational development and workforce planning, ensuring services are resilient and future‑ready.
- Build strong, transparent relationships with residents, Members, regulators, partners and stakeholders to enhance trust and accountability.
- Drive service improvement, innovation and transformation using data, insight, complaints and resident feedback to inform change.
- Lead complex, time‑critical change programmes including service recovery, regulatory readiness and operational transformation, maintaining pace and staff engagement.
Your experience as an Interim Head of Housing Operations:
- Extensive senior leadership experience within housing operations, asset management, compliance and/or resident engagement.
- Strong track record of delivering results through Service Managers and multidisciplinary teams in a complex, political or regulated environment.
- Deep understanding of statutory housing requirements, regulatory standards, compliance frameworks and building safety obligations.
- Experience making high‑stakes operational and strategic decisions using financial, performance and risk data.
- Skilled in managing senior stakeholders, including elected Members, regulators, community groups and senior officers.
- Proven experience driving cultural change, service transformation and organisational development across multiple services.
- Ability to manage competing priorities in high‑pressure, high‑risk environments with sound judgement and strong accountability.
- Proven ability to establish clear performance standards, provide constructive challenge and ensure delivery at pace.
- Experience using insight, complaints, performance data and resident feedback to drive improvement and shape strategic direction.
Qualifications:
- Relevant degree and/or postgraduate qualification preferred.
- NEBOSH Diploma, CIH Level 5 or membership of CIH/RICS desirable.
- Exceptional candidates with substantial senior housing leadership experience will be considered without formal qualifications.
If you’re interested in discussing this opportunity in more detail or know someone who may be suitable please contact Melanie Machin or George Batson on 0117 313 7110 or apply today.
(We offer a senior referral scheme upon successful placement of your recommendation.)
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are committed to building a diverse, inclusive workforce. Recruitment decisions are based on skills and experience, and reasonable adjustments will be fully supported throughout the process.
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