Area Manager (Housing) Full Time NEW

Salary: PO6 £51,356 – £54,495

Hours: 37

Contract: Permanent

Location: To be determined

As an Area/Service Manager you’ll thrive on providing proactive leadership to staff teams to ensure that high quality tenancy management and sustainment services are provided to Council Housing residents, deliver strong performance and ensure that regulatory requirements are met, supporting Housing Leeds’s ambition to be the best local authority housing provider in the UK.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions

About You

As an Area/Service Manager, you will bring to the role:

• Relevant experience of working at a senior level within housing operations.
• High levels of motivation, leading teams to be their best.
• Skills and experience of driving continuous performance improvements.
• A strong customer focus, putting customers at the heart of everything you do.
• Skills and experience in managing proactive strategic relationships and influencing change.

About The Role

The role leads the delivery of housing services for a geographical area or citywide strategic housing function, leading a number of staff teams to ensure that tenancy management and sustainment services including rent collection, lettings, tenancy and estate management, tenant support and resident engagement are delivered to an exceptional standard.

As our next Area/Service Manager you’ll also be responsible for managing strategic relationships with other council services, e.g. environmental teams, Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team and key external partners, e.g. social care teams, health, police, third sector to ensure that the wider needs of residents and communities are met.

What We Offer You

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays.
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions.
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements.
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities.
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further.

How To Apply

Apply for this job online by completing the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Maddy Edwards by phone on0113 3781910 or by email madeleine.kenning@leeds.gov.uk

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people. 

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa  route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you’ll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose

To deliver an effective and efficient customer focussed Housing Management Service, ensuring maximum performance in accordance with the targets, standards and policies of the Council.

Responsibilities

• To lead on the delivery of the overall housing service in a geographical area & / or lead on the co-ordination and delivery of income management, tenant empowerment, customer engagement, housing policy, allocations and lettings services.
• To lead on the delivery of partnership working on behalf of housing services citywide.
• To lead, manage and develop staff to deliver council key priorities and continuously improve the offer to customers.
• To develop positive working relationships with key stakeholders including: customers, elected members and other partner organisations.
• To develop a people-orientated solutions-focussed approach to dealing with customers, quickly and professionally.
• To manage and monitor significant budgets, risks and associated audit activities.
• To develop and deliver service improvement plans.
• To actively develop performance management frameworks to ensure key performance indicators are achieved and outcomes inform service improvement & review
• To develop, review and improve policies and strategies in line with current legislation and best practice.
• To develop and maximise opportunities to improve local service delivery using collaborative arrangements with appropriate stakeholders and partners.
• To display a high degree of self-motivation, commitment and time management.
• A commitment to initiate and drive culture change to deliver focussed and continuously improving services.
• To ensure customers play a central part in service planning, monitoring and feedback, with deliverable and tangible outcomes.
• To support the achievement of equality and diversity in both employment and service delivery including the promotion of equality of opportunity.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.
• Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and appropriate CPD programmes.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
• Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the values, standards, and equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
• The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
• The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Personal Specification

Method of assessment will be through one or more of the following application form, test, interview, and certificate.

Essential Requirements

It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements.

Skills Required

• Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
• Ability to drive performance and growth whilst maximising on opportunities for innovation
• To be able to drive a culture through the team that is focussed both on customers and quality
• Ability to analyse and interpret varied and complex information or situations and produce solutions or strategies to difficult problems.
• Ability to communicate with managers confidently, persuasively and authoritatively.
• Excellent influencing, interpersonal and communication skills with credibility across a wide across a wide range of audiences
• Ability to act as an outstanding role model for the organisation and support the continuing delivery of services, whilst retaining a commitment to serving the needs locally.
• A strong commitment to quality and aspiration to deliver excellence
• Ability to work flexibly and demonstrate a commitment to developing a consistent approach across the division.
• Challenges negative behaviour and systems in a proactive manner in order to bring about corrective action.
• Personal integrity and honesty, commitment to fairness and
• equality and sensitivity to diverse stakeholders and partners
• An ability to develop relationships that command respect, trust and confidence.
• Ability to manage competing priorities whilst delivering on a range of projects and adapting to changing circumstances and priorities.
• Project management skills and the ability to manage a number of projects simultaneously
• Excellent research skills and the ability to offer pragmatic solutions.
• To be able to effectively chair meetings
• Excellent literacy, numeracy and analytical skills
• The ability to use Microsoft based applications (Word, Excel and PowerPoint) to an intermediate level.

Knowledge Required

• Demonstrable proven track record of managing successful operations and delivering results in a customer focussed environment
• Experience of developing and implementing a comprehensive operational medium to long term strategy
• Strong business and financial acumen with analytical skills
• Experience of leading and managing successful change
• Relevant experience of working at a senior level within a related housing management post
• Experience of working with and negotiating with trade unions
• Demonstrable experience of managing and raising the bar on operational excellence and performance outcomes
• Experience of working within a political environment
• A good commercial knowledge and an understanding of effective partnership working
• Experience of leading and developing highly effective teams
• Experience of implementing operational risk management principles
• Budget preparation and management in accordance with Financial Regulations
• Experience of networking at all levels
• Experience of building and maintaining effective working relationships with senior managers and other key stakeholders across a range of service areas
• Leading complex negotiations to a satisfactory outcome
• A sound understanding of social housing and government
• policy including current issues affecting the sector.
• Experience of delivering prescribed outcomes to given timescales and budgets.
• Experience of managing competing priorities whilst delivering on a range of projects and adapting to changing circumstances and priorities

Experience Required

• A recognised Management Certificate or equivalent experience.
• Detailed knowledge of Housing market and legislation and an understanding of key drivers
• Working knowledge of Data Protection Legislation

Behavioural And Other Characteristics Required

• Committed to continuous improvement.
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge, skills, and continuous professional development
• Understand and embrace our values, behaviours and codes of conduct.

Desirable Requirements

It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates.

Knowledge Required

• Report writing and presentation to Director level

Experience Required

• An Appropriate degree Level qualification or eqivalent experience.