Head of Policy, Housing and Regeneration. Director of Housing & Regeneration. Role Purpose:

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1 Post Title: Directorate: Reporting to: Direct Reports: Head of Policy, Housing and Regeneration Housing & Regeneration Director of Housing & Regeneration Policy Advisers Role Purpose: To lead a new policy and analysis team and be responsible for housing and regeneration policy matters for the Combined Authority (CA), working across local authorities in the West Midlands, Central Government, Local Enterprise Partnerships, academia and the private sector; To set the ambitious policy direction for the CA, including that which relates to key growth areas and to overarching development principles; To champion new ways of working, strategic collaboration and to bring innovation and a deliveryfocused approach to the development of planning, housing and regeneration policy in the region; To lead engagement with senior decision makers and influencers in the housing and regeneration sector, positioning the Combined Authority in key national debates, and establishing effective relationships and partnerships with policy makers and innovators in local authorities, the private sector, and other relevant bodies; to directly engage with academia, professional and other memberships organisations, and to ensure the CA is represented on relevant working groups, influential think-tanks and other policy-related groups; To be responsible for and to lead the production of the first non-statutory regional Spatial Investment and Delivery Plan for the West Midlands, forming one of the leading combined authority spatial plans in the country; and to work closely with the CA s Head of Land and Development and its wider Leadership Team to ensure that housing, infrastructure, jobs and other priorities are delivered in accordance with the Plan; To be responsible for developing a set of policies which capture and express the CA s approach to tackling access to housing in the region, where the objective is to drive up the scale, pace, quantum and quality of new housing delivery; and by addressing housing affordability and issues more generally, including support for new forms of tenure; To lead on supporting partner local authorities as necessary (e.g. with their duty to co-operate) in producing development plans by convening collaborative workshops; brokering policy and practical approaches across authorities; and providing information, planning expertise and facilitation; To lead through others the commissioning of research and analysis to demonstrate housing demand, affordability and delivery in the region; and to link housing supply, employment growth, skills development and wage growth with increased regional productivity; To be the lead for the CA s offer of support to local authorities in determining appropriate strategies for effective implementation of the NPPF and the associated transitional arrangements;

2 To lead on providing constructive challenge to the housing and regeneration sector in the region, through debate and by working collaboratively with the CA s Head of Land and Development to influence through practical example; To be responsible for ensuring that the CA s policy approach is cross-thematic, identifying interdependencies within and between multiple policy areas such as transport, skills, new housing and employment; and demonstrate the added value the CA brings by evidencing and expressing these critical linkages, and providing an appropriate policy response which supports effective delivery. Accountabilities (Deliverables): To lead and develop a new housing and regeneration policy team and capability within the CA; To lead a dialogue with identified Whitehall officials on emerging national housing and planning policy thinking so as to inform the CA s policy approaches and response to wider policy considerations; To identify, research, critically analyse and summarise for the Mayor, CA Portfolio Holder and CA senior leadership leading-edge thinking and evolving concepts in key policy areas including housing, regeneration and planning policy; To lead on the production of a cross-authority West Midlands Spatial Investment and Delivery Plan a non-statutory joint spatial plan, having regard to existing development strategies across the region and emerging issues, including each councils Local Plan review; the Strategic Economic Plan; the emerging Strategy and Skills Plan; the Housing Deal; and emerging national planning policy; To be responsible for ensuring that the Spatial Investment and Delivery Plan provides a benchmark for others to follow in terms of ambition, deliverability, creativity and cohesiveness; To lead on ensuring alignment of HCA, HS2, TfWM and other partners investment and business strategies to the new Spatial Investment and Delivery Plan in support of the delivery of priority sites; To lead on the provision of research, evidence and spatial analysis to support robust decision making, and deploy market analysis to identify new opportunities to bring innovation to the development of planning, housing and regeneration policy in the region. Specifically, to co-ordinate and produce evidence to support the production of the Spatial Investment and Delivery Plan, including liaison with each of the councils in relation to their Local Plan reviews; LEPs; the business community. To then advise on the related implications for private sector investment, commercial development, additional housing and strategic infrastructure requirements; To be responsible for organising and delivering high quality workshops with local authorities, Homes England and LEPs on site information and investment opportunities for key growth areas and the wider programme, and for generating a co-production approach to the Spatial Investment and Delivery Plan through 2018; To lead for the CA on the development of an updated cross-authority West Midlands Investment Prospectus, capturing the key development and investment site opportunities in the West Midlands and capturing progress since March 2018; working in partnership with the new West Midlands Growth Company and DIT to ensure the Prospectus gains major prominence at key events such 2

3 as MIPM, with this contributing towards securing significant private investment in residential and commercial opportunities across the region; To lead the development of a Mayoral Design Charter to drive a marked increase in the quality of new housing and employment development across the region and address wider place-making objectives, liaising closely with the CA s Head of Land and Development, Head of Health and Wellbeing and in collaboration with local authorities and other key partners such as the Design Council: To design and implement consistent approaches to enable WMCA to set targets, define KPIs and monitor performance; To develop a clear set of targets, outputs and outcomes for the CA s policy workstream, containing key milestones and deliverables. Responsibilities (Duties): Work closely with the Director of Housing and Regeneration on developing a strong new working relationship with central government on housing and regeneration policy matters; Lead an extensive programme of engagement with key influencers and so establish and maintain effective relationships across partners, central government, its agencies, the business sector, housing associations, developers and other leaders within the property and construction industry; Lead through others, fostering a highly collaborative approach to the consideration, development and endorsement of housing and regeneration policy; and involving significant stakeholder management and close working with LEPs, local councils, Whitehall and the private sector; Ensure that relevant infrastructure, housing and employment requirements for West Midlands are addressed in the formation of the new Spatial Investment and Delivery Plan (SIDP) and to ensure additionality and deliverability issues are fully assessed. This will include seeking and securing contributions from officials throughout the local authorities and LEPs to the SIDP. Liaise with local authorities and other stakeholders across the wider region and neighbouring areas to ensure cross-boundary issues are understood, and where relevant addressed, through the SIDP. Contribute towards the production of submissions to capture additional investment by providing evidence of strategic fit and compliance with local and national policy objectives, and prepare submissions for other fiscal events and budgets as necessary; Lead on comprehensive high quality policy advice and briefings to Mayor and his senior team on housing, regeneration and investment matters and other issues; Produce papers and provide support to the Portfolio Holder and Director, and to key decisionmaking boards namely Land and Housing Delivery Steering Group, Land and Housing Leaders Board and WMCA Board; In liaison with the CA s Head of Land and Development, develop an approach to market research and spatial analysis to identify opportunities for the CA to foster innovation and create new partnerships so as to drive the delivery of new homes and jobs; 3

4 Manage certain key consultancy contracts connected with the CA s programmes and activities; Provide senior leadership within the CA s Housing and Regeneration programme and contribute towards the formulation of strategy, business plans and the development of corporate objectives; Represent the CA at West Midlands and national forums and advocate and demonstrate by example the CA s positive role in housing and regeneration; Lead and develop a successful and effective team, recognising talent and encouraging and supporting personal development; Foster a team culture which embeds and positively promotes equality and diversity within and is promoted through the work of the team. Qualifications: Educated to degree level and a Chartered Town Planner with professional membership of the RTPI. A further housing or property related qualification is desirable but not essential; Must be an innovator and collaborator, with a strong professional background in planning policy formulation and implementation, with extensive experience of working at senior level. Competencies: Theme Thinking & innovation Performance & delivering Working together Personal impact Competency Seeking knowledge Creating Ideas Flexible thinking Making it happen Improving performance Exceeding customer expectations Communicating Team working Influencing Developing people Inspiring confidence Understanding people Skills/Knowledge/Experience Essential: Problem solving and creativity at a strategic scale are absolutely essential skills for this role we are seeking an innovative thinker who has the ability to lead from the front in creating a new type of planning policy document and developing the new housing and regeneration role of the CA; Tenacious and resilient, experienced in identifying the critical activities, relationships pathways necessary to drive tasks through to a conclusion; and A delivery-focused approach to the creation of a spatial plan understanding and communicating the principle that the plan is a means to an end, not an end in itself; 4

5 Ability to deliver at pace in a pressurised political environment to challenging deadlines and to work on own initiative and rise to the challenge presented of working in a new Combined Authority; Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to quickly synthesise and critically appraise detailed evidence reports and intelligence; Strong presentation skills especially the ability to present complex planning, housing and regeneration issues to different audiences in a simple and clear manner; Substantial experience and knowledge of strategic planning and policy formulation around housing and regeneration; Judgement of when to support and when to challenge others and confidence to support and challenge senior officials across public and private sectors in different political and policy environments as well as a strong political awareness; Ability to provide sound strategic policy advice to senior officials and politicians and be able to justify and explain that advice in a pressurised situation; Exemplary oral and written communication skills; Experience of managing contracts for key evidence in support of planning and housing policy (e.g. housing need assessments, detailed evidence of key sites); Demonstrable experience of working in partnership with others to achieve an end goal, both local councils and private sectors; Programme Management experience of managing a key policy document from concept through to adoption, including relevant consultation and evidence development; Seeing the bigger picture and embracing innovation and change; Experience of operating in a complex political environment; must demonstrate political awareness and judgement; Negotiation, influencing and collaboration skills to deliver change and influence key stakeholders; Strong understanding of the national, regional and local policy landscape; An inclusive and empowering leadership and management style. Desirable: Experience of implementing major residential and commercial developments; Experience of advising and supporting senior politicians across all parties on housing and regeneration matters. Other: Experience of working as the interface between Whitehall and local government in key policy areas would be an advantage. 5