Deputy Manager - Gypsy Service

Job Title: Deputy Manager - Gypsy Service
Starting Salary: £42,839 opportunity to progress to £47,818 p.a per annum (pro rata for part time)
Hours: 37.0
Location: Stevenage
Contract Type: Permanent
Directorate: Resources

About the team

The Gypsy and Traveller Service is a high-profile, community-focused team within Hertfordshire County Council. The service manages 11 sites and works closely with tenants, contractors, and public stakeholders. As part of a newly formed leadership team, you will work alongside two other Deputy Managers and report directly to the Head of Service. Together, you will shape the strategic direction and operational delivery of the service.

About the role

We are seeking a proactive and experienced Deputy Manager (Compliance and Project Management) to join our Gypsy and Traveller Service. This newly created leadership role is pivotal in ensuring the health, safety, and statutory compliance of 11 residential sites managed by the council as a private landlord.

• To effectively manage health, safety and compliance of eleven sites provided by Hertfordshire Gypsy and Traveller services, as a private landlord.
• To provide an office based first point of contact for all health, safety, compliance matters with Tenants, contractors, partners, including the public.
• To manage all statutory compliance such as gas and electric to the required legal standard.
• To investigate all incidents, accidents and near misses that happen on site to tenants, staff, contractors and visitors. Ensure improvements are made and any changes fed back to the Head of Service.
• To ensure all staff are trained at the correct level for their position.
• To oversee any new projects on the sites, such as the installation of new water/electric meters, solar panels or planning to upgrade the facilities provided to the residents. Outcomes to be in line with the Council’s sustainability and environmental policies.

About you

Essential:

• NEBOSH qualification (or equivalent in health and safety).
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a compliance or health and safety role.
• Proven experience in managing statutory compliance (e.g., gas, electric, fire safety).
• Strong project management skills, including delivery of small to medium-scale infrastructure projects.
• Experience in investigating incidents, accidents, and near misses.
• Ability to deliver and monitor staff training and development
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience in supervising or leading teams.
• Strong organisational and planning abilities.

Desirable:

• Experience working with Gypsy and Traveller communities or similar community-based services.
• Knowledge of COSHH, RAMS, and permit-to-work systems.
• Experience in managing contracts, invoices, and external suppliers.
• Familiarity with local authority procedures and private landlord responsibilities.
• Conflict resolution and dispute management experience.
• Political awareness and ability to manage service reputation.

You will lead on staff and on-site Health and Safety and will be required to respond to daily issues related to services and utilities that are the responsibility of a private landlord. This includes services specific to Gypsy and Traveller tenants, and they will also act as a first contact giving advice and information. The postholder will liaise with the leadership team on issues related to health and safety where situations or incidents impact on the ability to operate effectively and/ or the safety of tenants, visitors, and staff.

This job role is within the Community Services, level COM11 job profile. Please locate this via:

Job profiles - Community services

To hear more about this opportunity please contact Bridget.Gill1@hertfordshire.gov.uk for an informal discussion about the role.

We welcome applications from candidates who currently reside in the UK with established proof of right to work documentation. We are not able to offer sponsorship at this time for this role.

Interview Date: to be confirmed

Benefits of working for us

How to apply

As part of your application, please upload your most recent CV. Ensure your CV is up to date with your employment history (including any employment gaps), and including any training/qualifications. We encourage you to include examples of where you have demonstrated the requirements/criteria in the advert / job profile to allow the panel to fully recognise your skills and abilities. You will have the opportunity to include a short covering paragraph within your application to give us a little more information about your skills, knowledge, and experiences.

Additional information

Disability Confident
We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and guarantee an interview to anyone disclosing a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the post.

English Fluency
The ability to converse at ease with members of the public and provide advice in accurate spoken English is essential for the post (for those whose language is a signed language the provision of a sign language interpreter who speaks English to the necessary standard of fluency will be required). Further information about the legal requirement can be found here.