Job info	Job info details
Job title	Affordable & Strategic Housing Manager
Strategic team/Directorate	Pride in Place
Service	Strategic Housing & Delivery
Business unit	Planning, Housing & Climate Emergency
Responsible to (day to day issues)	Head of Strategic Housing & Delivery
Accountable to (line manager)	Head of Strategic Housing & Delivery
Salary grade	K
JE ref	PLA029

1. Key purpose of job

• To lead the Council’s Enabling, Strategic and Affordable Housing functions and be responsible for all matters relating to social housing delivery in Torbay.
• Support, shape, and influence the political direction of the Council through strong leadership of the Housing Service’s work with Planning and Scrutiny Committees, as well as Cabinet and Full Council in respect of social housing. Become the ‘go to’ officer for technical matters around supply, compliance, best practice, and the Housing Strategy. 
• Use technical knowledge of the sector to lead the development of policies relating to housing delivery and ensure that the Council’s approach to securing homes through the planning system maximises opportunities for delivery.
• Lead an interventionist approach within the local housing market, with a goal to dramatically increase the levels of affordable housing provided in Torbay using a range of policy and financial levers to maximise output. Use connections with the Planning Service to identify stalled sites, and help drive forward the delivery numbers we need to make Torbay a sustainable place that local people can afford to live in.
• Support existing Registered Provider Partners to identify opportunities and use all available resources to encourage new partners to enter the local market and deliver sustained growth.
• Deliver strategic and investment priorities for the Council, including developing innovative delivery solutions and financing, tenures, and policy that contribute to growth.
• Support the new Devon and Torbay Combined County Authority, taking a leading role as we move to a joined-up approach to growth and economic prosperity. 

2. Anticipated outcomes of post

• Robust policies and procedures designed to secure the maximum amount of affordable housing for the benefit of the people of Torbay.
• Moving to a culture of proactive enabling of affordable housing in The Bay, reflecting that we are ‘open for business’.
• A pipeline of sites that are delivering (and will deliver) sustained housing growth over the next 5-10 years, leading to a step-change in delivery rates of social housing in Torbay.
• A new Registered Provider partnership that capitalises on opportunities to bring forward sites and maximises the use of external subsidy to drive the regeneration of Torbay and the provision of homes for local people.
• A suite of robust data to monitor delivery performance as well as our future delivery trajectory, with an emphasis of understanding how the economy and housing sector is working, areas of demand, and options to further stimulate growth. 

3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post

• A lead officer in advising Directors, Members, and officers in respect of all matters relating to affordable housing supply (both nationally and locally).
• Provision of expert advice, guidance, training, and support to help maximise opportunities for growth and work towards increasing the level of support for affordable housing delivery.
• Leading the collection and investment of capital receipts and off-site contributions in respect of affordable housing. Identify and implement opportunities for cost-recovery and income generation for the team to support wider growth ambitions.
• Working proactively with Homes England, Torbay Strategic Housing Board and Torbay Development Housing Partnership to maximise affordable housing delivery through use of internal subsidy and securing external investment from the public and private sector.
• The Council’s lead officer and chief advisor in respect of development viability relating to planning applications received by the Local Planning Authority and provide expert assistance and support to colleagues from other Services to secure the best overall package of investment that a scheme can reasonably provide.
• To identify potential housing sites (including from our own land bank and via One Public Estate), commission site appraisals, secure planning briefs and consents and advise colleagues on suitable opportunities for delivery within relevant Council programmes or relevant disposal opportunities.
• Provide expert advice and technical knowledge in the development of key policies and procedures, including the Local Plan, SPD, and technical advice/guidance notes.
• Support the development of Service Plans, Frameworks, and investment/capital programmes to maximise opportunities for sustainable growth.
• Play a fundamental role in securing and maintaining a Five-Year Housing Land Supply, through a pipeline of opportunities, that puts Torbay on a trajectory towards having comparable delivery rates with comparable Local Authority areas, with similarly sized populations and geographic constraints.
• Deputise for the Head of Strategic Housing & Delivery when necessary.
• Lead and manage the Council’s Affordable Housing Team and take strategic lead role in delivery of cross-team projects with other services where required.
• Ensure the service is performing at consistently high standards, both individually and collectively, to achieve the Council’s objectives. Establish quality control processes for planning and viability works and advise/represent the Council on complex legal or strategic matters, including at appeal or Public Enquiry where required.
• Ensure effective processes, systems, practices, and performance indicators are delivered to drive improvement in performance management and uphold the ethics of the Council, ensuring probity at all times.
• Work with Registered Providers, landowners/developers, community groups, Town Councils, and the wider public sector to maximise opportunities for sustained delivery.
• As an Employee of Torbay Council all roles are expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. The Designated Senior Lead for Safeguarding is the Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services.

4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post

• The role holder will have responsibility for making sound, Value for Money recommendations in respect of all affordable housing capital programmes and financial allocations.
• The role holder will have responsibility for working with Homes England to identify opportunities for centralised (and devolved) grant pots, in respect of housing supply.
• The officer will be responsible for the identification and management of off-site contributions, with a programme of circa £1m. They will also be responsible for identifying projects to be funded from Right to Buy Clawback funds and other grant income.
• The role holder will have operational responsibility for managing multiple revenue budgets associated with schemes they are leading on, with typical project budgets in the region of £25,000 - £50,000 each. 

5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post

• Direct line management of up to 3 staff at Principal or Senior Officer level. 
• Direct & indirect management of up to 5 staff in total, ranging from Principal Officer level, through to administrative posts.

6. Working environment and conditions of the post

• The role holder will typically work from home or in Torbay Council’s offices for most of the working week.
• However, there will be a need to travel to meetings in partners’ offices or premises, and other external events and venues elsewhere in Devon, throughout the South West, as well as nationwide from time to time.
• The role will involve visiting construction projects that are on site, or have been completed, as well as undertaking site visits of potential development opportunities both alone and with others. 

7. Physical demands of the post

• None. 

8. Specific resources used by the post

• None. 

9. Key contacts and relationships

• External: 
  • Registered Provider Development Managers, Development Directors, Senior Housing Management staff, Chief Executives. 
  • Senior Homes England and DLUHC personnel. 
  • Members of Parliament. 
  • Planning Agents, expert witnesses, and key advisors. 
  • Developers (staff and senior management). 
  • Landowners. 
  • Regional/national housing specialists from other Local Authorities. 
  • External contractors/suppliers providing expert advice and guidance. 
• Internal: 
  • Directors, Heads of Service, other staff. 
  • Cabinet Members. 
  • Group Leaders. 
  • Other Members. 

10. Other duties

• To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job. 

Other Information

• All staff must commit to Equal Opportunities and Anti-Discriminatory Practice.
• Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
• The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. And are aware that the Chief Executive and the Director for Children's Services are the Safeguarding Leads for the Council. 
• The post is eligible for hybrid working.
• You will be asked to complete a Criminal Records Self Declaration Form. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post.  You will only be asked to disclose ‘unspent’ convictions.
• The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy, and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements.  Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement. 
• The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
• The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
• The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
• If this post is a customer facing role and meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2017 (part 7) the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.
• If you are required to access a government system such as HMRC, DWP or The Public services network (PSN) as part of your role with the Council you will be required to complete a basic disclose with your line manager before you can access these systems. Your manager will be required to complete a verification form that confirms your identity, nationality and immigration status, employment history and unspent convictions (third party).
• If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.

Person Specification

Note for Candidate

All Candidates

The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement. In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.

Candidates who consider that they have a disability

Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.

If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.

Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.

If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.

Job info	Job info details
Job Title	Affordable & Strategic Housing Manager
Strategic team/Directorate	Pride in Place
Service	Strategic Housing & Delivery
Business unit	Planning, Housing & Climate Emergency

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness

• Ability to successfully navigate complex political and legal environments, seeking to identify the most effective way to achieve objectives whilst minimising opportunities for confrontation.
• An ability to negotiate with a range of stakeholders to seek ‘the best deal’ for the Authority, and the people of Torbay. Such negotiation should be non-adversarial and identify areas of common ground; where conflict is unavoidable, an ability to robustly outline and defend the Council’s position will be essential.  At all times, adhering to the Council’s core values, acting with respect, dignity, and integrity.
• Development and presentation of robust, transparent, and technical reports on strategic, operational, and commercially sensitive matters.
• Highly numerate, with strong analytical skills and ability to ‘problem solve’ multiple complex issues.
• Fluent in Microsoft Office/Office 365 products. 
• Behaviour-based competencies:
  • Customer focus – experience of ability to work successfully with a range of stakeholders to reach consensus on decisions particularly in relation to major and/or controversial issues and applications.
  • Leadership and Management – demonstrable evidence of strategic and/or operational management including (for example) experience of successfully leading teams of staff or project officers, together with evidence of a proven ability to successfully organise, management and motivate staff/officers to deliver specific objectives and targets.
  • Partnership working – evidence or developing and working successfully in partnership with external organisations, including the private sector to secure the delivery of quality development and shared/common objectives.
  • Financial skills – evidence of financial skills, ability, and experience in managing capital and revenue budgets. 
• As this post meets the requirements of the Immigration Act 2016 (part 7), the ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post.

Desirable skills and effectiveness

• Record of operating successfully at a senior level in a relevant, functional area, incorporating proven performance and change management experience.
• Experience supporting the delivery of social housing as part of urban regeneration schemes.
• Experience working with Community-Led housing groups and projects. 

Knowledge

Essential knowledge

• Technical knowledge of social housing delivery, management, and operation, with demonstrable evidence operating at a senior level in a relevant organisation/field.
• Technical knowledge of the planning system and key legislation, policies, and guidance.
• Ability to understand and interpret technical planning and legal documents. 

Desirable knowledge

• Technical knowledge and understanding of development and economic viability appraisals and tools to improve scheme viability.
• Core project and risk management techniques to ensure successful delivery of projects and programmes.
• Understanding of a Local Authority’s role in relation to social housing, opportunities to influence and strive for growth, and how complex political organisations operate and function.
• Knowledge of construction, valuation and development practices, policy development, best practice techniques, legislation, and customer engagement. 
• Best practice in relation to successful stakeholder engagement. 

Experience and achievements

Essential experience and achievements

• Development and implementation of working policies and practices, to deliver efficient services for customers.
• Record of applying policy and strategy into tangible programme outcomes.
• Providing high quality advice and recommendations to managers.
• Track record of successfully working with external bodies to achieve organisational aims and objectives. 

Desirable experience and achievements

• Providing Elected Members with objective, professional advice, and technical guidance. 
• Track record of successfully implementing/sustaining a performance management culture, supported by effective management systems and information. 

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential qualifications/professional memberships

• Educated to degree level, or equivalent professional experience at an appropriate level.
• Relevant professional qualification and membership of a relevant professional body (or eligibility to join), such as CIH, RTPI, RICS (or equivalent). 

Desirable qualifications/professional memberships

• A recognised leadership & management qualification to NVQ L5 (or equivalent). 

Other requirements

Other requirements of the job role

• Demonstrates a commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people.
• Ability to travel efficiently around The Bay/South West/UK in order to carry out duties.
• Ability to accommodate unsociable hours from time to time.
• Flexibility to work both remotely and within an office as appropriate.