Director of Estates Renewal

Job introduction

Are you ready to lead one of the most ambitious master planning programmes in the country?

Do you have the energy, vision, and heart to shape the future of homes across Brighton and Hove, seeing opportunity in complexity?

Are you a bold leader with experience of place shaping that tackles inequalities, drives economic generation and has positive social impact?

If so, we’d like to hear from you.

Brighton & Hove is a bold, diverse and iconic coastal city rich in culture, community and ambition. But we also face deep-rooted inequalities and complex housing challenges that demand courageous, inclusive leadership.

As our new Director of Estates Renewal, you’ll lead one of the most significant regeneration programmes in the city’s history. You’ll drive the transformation of our Large Panel System (LPS) blocks and surrounding estates, ensuring every step is shaped by the voices of residents and rooted in social justice.

Key Dates:

Tenant & Stakeholder Panel: 4 December 2025

Final Panel Interview: 5 December 2025

For an informal discussion about this opportunity, please contact Genette Laws, Corporate Director, Homes & Adult Social Care: Genette.laws@brighton-hove.gov.uk

About the role

We’re seeking a visionary and compassionate leader with a proven track record in estates renewal and regeneration. You’ll be confident navigating complex political environments, managing multi-million-pound budgets, and leading cross-functional teams. But above all, you’ll be passionate about creating places where people feel safe, heard and proud to live.

You will:

• have a strong record of leading large-scale estate renewal or regeneration programmes, ideally within a local authority or politically complex environment.
• have strategic and financial acumen, with experience managing multi-million-pound budgets and securing external funding.
• have a collaborative, people-centered leadership style that builds trust, empowers teams and ensures resident-informed decision-making.
• have a deep understanding of housing policy, planning regulations and inclusive engagement practices—especially with minoritised communities.
• be responsible for the strategic redevelopment of the city’s LPS blocks and surrounding estates—ensuring that every decision delivers inclusive, place-based transformation.
• oversee the delivery of complex housing renewal projects, working closely with elected members, residents and multidisciplinary teams to reduce health and socio-economic inequalities.
• manage budgets and development options to coordinate engagement and support for tenants and leaseholders, your work will directly impact on the lives of thousands across the city.

We’re a learning organisation with a united leadership team, committed to innovation, collaboration and impact. Despite financial pressures, we’re investing in transformation and building a council fit for the future one that’s connected, creative and confident.

You’ll join our extended Corporate Leadership Team, reporting directly to the Corporate Director of Homes & Adult Social Care, and play a key role in shaping the future of housing and place-making across Brighton & Hove.

This role is politically restricted. For further information on what this means for employees in post, please click on the document attachment below.

Please read our Apply for a job at the council pages carefully. They give you all the guidance you need to complete your application as well as information on what will happen after you’ve submitted your application and at interview.

As part of your application, you will need to upload your CV and answers to some shortlisting questions. Your answers to the shortlisting questions are the most important part of your application as it will be used in the shortlisting process to assess whether you meet the essential requirements for the role that are set out in the person specification and to decide whether you should be offered an interview. Before you start your application, please read our guidance here (CV guidance (brighton-hove.gov.uk) and (Shortlisting guidance (brighton-hove.gov.uk) as this gives important advice which will increase your chance of success in the shortlisting process. Please also refer to the council’s Our ways of working - learning framework to help shape your responses.

Additional information

Your starting salary will be pro rata if the above position is less than 37 hours or term-time only.

Relocation support may be available if qualifying criteria are met.

We are a workplace that supports flexibility and employee wellbeing in the way we work whilst providing the best service for our customers. Team and service working arrangements are designed to support both employee work life balance and team collaboration. These would be part of your individual working arrangements alongside any personal preference agreed with your manager in advance of joining. Your contractual location will be the designated council office for your team and travel to and from your contractual location would be at your own expense.

For more information about our values and the benefits of working at the council, visit Why work for us

Enhanced vetting for senior recruitment

As part of our pre-employment checks, please be aware that our audit team will carry out a public profile search on all candidates who progress to the shortlist. Our final offers are subject to enhanced vetting, which also includes a review of the previous 5 years employment history. If there are any findings of potential concern, these will be discussed before any job offer is made.

Company information

Encouraging a diverse workforce

Our city is known and loved for its diversity. Not only is the mixture of people, culture and skills vital to the economic and social development of the city, it's what makes Brighton & Hove such a great place to live, work and visit. We are committed to developing and retaining a workforce that is representative of the diverse communities we serve so we welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds. In order to achieve our aims of proportionate representation, we particularly encourage applicants from a BME or White Other background as well as those who identify as disabled, female or trans.

Find out more about our commitment to being a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone can achieve their potential by reading about our fair and inclusive actions, our anti-racism strategy and the work we are doing to encourage a diverse workforce (brighton-hove.gov.uk).

Please note that this post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, and is subject to a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) Check.