Director of Homelessness and Housing Options

Director of Homelessness and Housing Options

London Borough of Tower Hamlets

Salary: £107k - £126k

The Role

This is an exceptional opportunity to lead the prevention and reduction of homelessness in one of London's most vibrant and diverse boroughs.

Reporting to the Corporate Director for Housing and Regeneration you will lead the implementation of Tower Hamlets' newly adopted Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, supported by a dedicated and passionate team. Your role will encompass:

• Overseeing key services such as homelessness assessments, lettings and allocations, rough sleeping initiatives, and the procurement of temporary accommodation and private rented sector properties.
• Managing significant budgets and programmes, ensuring financial efficiency while driving cultural and operational change.
• Leading the team responsible for allocating social housing, including properties from registered social landlords and the council's own housing stock.
• Reviewing and refining the borough's allocations policy to optimize housing resources.

Tower Hamlets

Tower Hamlets is a vibrant and diverse borough - a city within a city. From the Lower Lea Valley to Canary Wharf, Spitalfields, and Poplar, it offers the best of London in one place.

As one of the UK's most high-profile and dynamic areas, the borough is brimming with ambition, with a clear focus on delivering great placemaking and new homes for its residents.

Moreover, Tower Hamlets Housing Services is undergoing an exciting transformation.:

• The insourcing of ALMO Tower Hamlets Homes in November 2023 marked a new era, with significant investment in services and passionate teams.
• A strong track record of investing in homelessness prevention and providing quality accommodation underpins our drive to deliver for our communities.
• With 22,000 council homes, including the historic Boundary Estate in Shoreditch, we are passionate about tackling overcrowding and delivering high-quality housing.

With a commitment to sustainable growth and inclusive regeneration, Tower Hamlets is at the forefront of delivering high-quality housing and innovative place-making strategies. This is an exciting time to join us as we continue to shape the future of our communities.

Candidates

We are seeking an innovative and dynamic housing professional to join us in achieving our vision of putting residents and service users at the heart of everything we do. Key qualities and skills that will be required for success include:

• Leadership: Proven ability to balance strategic direction with operational management while fostering an open and trusting culture.
• Innovation and Commercial Acumen: Experience in procurement, contract management, and driving creative solutions to housing challenges.
• Collaboration and Communication: Exceptional partnership and relationship management skills to work effectively across the council and with external organizations.
• Financial Expertise: Strong financial management and budgeting skills to oversee complex programmes and deliver value for money.
• Legislative Knowledge: In-depth understanding of the Homelessness Reduction and Housing Act, with expertise in managing temporary accommodation and private sector lettings.
• Cultural and political Sensitivity: Commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunities, coupled with the strong belief in the value of local democracy and community sensitivities.

We value leaders who embody our TOWER values: Together, Open, Willing, Excellent, and Respectful.

Next Steps

Tower Hamlets offers an environment where your expertise will shape the future of one of London's most ambitious boroughs. You will join a team passionate about creating positive change for residents, delivering sustainable growth, and leaving a lasting legacy.

For more information, please visit:

To arrange a confidential discussion, please contact:

• Bruna Varante: /
• Kelly Ridley: /

Closing Date: Midnight, Thursday 30th January 2025