STEVENAGE BOROUGH COUNCIL JOB DESCRIPTION Post Title : Post No : Head of Housing Property Services HS56109 Grade : HoS Grade 1 Strategic Director : Service Delivery Unit : Marcel Coiffait Housing Property Services Service Dimensions : - Staffing 110+ post headcount - Budget TBC Responsible to : Responsible for : Assistant Director Housing Housing Management Services including: Asset Management, Major Capital Works, Repairs and Maintenance and Community Maintenance. * Based on the job duties, responsibilities, dimensions, knowledge & behaviours. CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITIES Corporate management In partnership with the other members of the Strategic Management Team, to deliver within the framework of the Council s Financial Strategy, the Council s policy objectives as set out in the Council Plan, the Community Strategy & Housing Strategy or their equivalents. Customer focussed services In consultation with customers, elected members and drawing on good practice elsewhere, deliver services (direct and support) that meet customers needs within budget. Working with service managers and the Head of ICT and Customer Service develop the services so that they meet the Government s Customer Service Excellence Standard.
Ensure that services provide effective support to the Customer Service Centre including responding promptly to calls, providing up to date information about the services and advising of specific events that affect customers. Communications/ reputation management Ensure that the Corporate Communications team is advised of issues that could result in good or bad publicity for the Council as early as possible and work with the team to manage such publicity. Take responsibility for ensuring that the services are represented effectively on the Council s website and intranet. Ensure that reports to the Council, the Council s Executive and other member bodies are of the highest quality in terms of presentation, content and plain English and that they support effective decision-making. Act as an ambassador for the Council at local, regional and national events. Leadership Take a leadership role within Housing Property services setting a good example in terms of conduct, communicating a clear vision for the services, motivating and performance managing staff, making and communicating timely decisions about the services, and dealing with Human Resource issues at an early stage. Equalities and Diversity Ensure that all staff are aware of, and act within, Council policies on equalities and diversity, financial probity, customer care. Decision-making Support effective decision-making within the Council by providing accurate advice on matters relating to the services to elected members, the chief executive, strategic directors, heads of service and other officers as required. Financial management Contribute to the review of the Council s financial strategy and budget-making process by providing timely and accurate information as required by the Assistant Director Finance.
Manage housing property services within revenue and capital budgets and provide accurate quarterly financial forecasts as required by the Assistant Director Finance. Comply with the Council s financial regulations. Contribute to audits undertaken by the Council s internal audit service and implement the agreed changes. Service planning Deliver the specific objectives relating to the services included in the Council Plan. Develop, agree with the strategic director annually and deliver the service plan for housing property services. Partnership working Develop productive relationships with private and voluntary sector partners who contribute to the delivery of the service s objectives. Contribute to the work of the local strategic partnership as required. Take an active role in partnership with officers of the Council on the delivery of cross-cutting and strategic programmes as set out in the Council Plan. Business Development Keep up to date with best practice, regulation and other changes that relate to the services managed. Advise Strategic Management Board and elected members, as appropriate, on how the changes should be implemented. Seek continuous improvement in services, regularly reviewing policies, processes, procedures and making best use of information and communications technology. Risk Management Identify and manage risks and issues that pose a threat to the delivery of the services objectives.
Health and Safety Ensure that services comply with all health and safety requirements as revised from time to time. Ensure that health and safety risks are identified through regular audits and that appropriate risk management plans are in place and implemented. Other duties Take part in the response to emergencies as required by the chief executive, his representative or representatives from the emergency services. Any other duties that may be requested by the chief executive, strategic directors or assistant directors. Service Related Duties Housing Property Services In addition to the above, too specifically: - Advise the Council on policies for the management of its housing in relation to; stock investment and asset management, Decent Homes Standard works, repairs and maintenance, communal services, gas servicing, aids and adaptations. - Develop strategies and objectives for Housing Property Services as an integral and complementary part of the wider suite of housing specific and council wide strategies, in compliance with relevant government policy and regulations. - Provide professional support for the Council s Executive Committee, the Housing Portfolio holder, the Housing Policy Development and Scrutiny Committee and any subsequent Housing Management Board as may be established. - Manage and co-ordinate the Council s operational services for the following areas: stock investment and asset management, Decent Homes works, repairs and maintenance, communal services, gas servicing, aids and adaptations. - Ensure effective tenant and leaseholder engagement is in place in the development of service improvements and changes to service delivery. - Develop, lead and motivate Housing Property Services staff to provide efficient high quality services to tenants and leaseholders which reflect
good practice, represent value for money and show continuous improvement. - Effectively manage new appointments, performance and development of staff within Housing Property Services, identifying training needs and solutions and addressing issues of capability and discipline in accordance with the council s HR policies. - Support the Council s financial strategy through the provision of cost effective services, ensuring that budgets for relevant service areas are properly controlled and financial security is maintained. - Develop and maintain an effective and sustainable Asset Management Strategy for the council s housing stock. - Develop and refine, together with the Assistant Director Finance, Assistant Director Housing and SMB, the Council s 30 year business plan under self-financing to enable the delivery of sustainable council housing in Stevenage. - Work effectively with procurement staff and the Assistant Director Finance to ensure major works contracts are let efficiently and in line with procurement rules and regulations. - Manage the Council s Cavendish Road Depot and any other operational premises for which the Housing Property Services has responsibility. - Liaise and develop relationships with adjoining Authorities and other Public Bodies and Organisations. - Develop excellent working relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders and voluntary sector groups and partners, promoting the Council s services in line with customers and the Council s expectations. - Undertake the duties prescribed within the Emergency Plan Marcel Coiffait December 2011
STEVENAGE BOROUGH COUNCIL PERSON SPECIFICATION Post Title : Post No : Head of Housing Property Services New post Grade : HoS Grade 1 Strategic Director : Service Delivery Unit : Responsible to : Responsible for : Marcel Coiffait Housing Property Services Assistant Director Housing Housing Property Services including: Asset Management, Major Capital Works, Repairs and Maintenance and Community Maintenance. * Based on the job duties, responsibilities, dimensions, knowledge & behaviours. Factors Essential Desirable Qualifications Degree or equivalent relevant experience. Relevant professional qualification e.g. RICS, RIBA or CIoB Relevant management qualification, MBA or equivalent. Membership of Chartered Institute of Housing Background and Experience Experience in managing a range of housing services or equivalent at a senior management level. Evidence of formulating, leading and implementing changes in service provision. Experience in budgetary Experience of managing housing property services in a local authority context. Experience of leading and managing culture change
control and financial management. Experience of housing asset management and planning at a strategic and operational level. Experience of leading and embedding performance management across a range of services. Knowledge, Skills and Attributes Evidence of the ability to work effectively at the political interface. Evidence of the ability to lead on the production of policy and strategy. Knowledge of current national and regional housing policy. Evidence of the ability to effectively procure and manage large capital contracts. Evidence of the ability to work with a high degree of initiative and independence. Evidence of the ability to give advice on a range of services using specialist knowledge, skills or experience to a range of audiences. Evidence of the ability to influence and win the support of others within the Council. Evidence of the ability to apply innovative thinking to solve complex problems and to present well reasoned, convincing, cases on complex matters.
Evidence of the ability to set service related aims and objectives and the performance management of subordinates. Evidence of the ability to communicate effectively, including report writing and presentational skills. Awareness of key issues facing Local Government currently both in general terms and in housing management specifically. Personal Attributes Personal drive and commitment. Strong sense of customer focus. Political awareness and sensitivity. High integrity with an open, honest and objective management style Ability to sustain good working relationships Ability to provide inspirational and enthusiastic leadership Marcel Coiffait, December 2011.