Head of Growth (SAHP)

Job summary

Application closing date: 14/05/2026

We expect to hold interviews from week commencing 25/05/2026

A bit about the role...

There couldn’t be a better time to work in Affordable Housing at Homes England following the biggest settlement announced as part of recent Spending Review of a 10 year £39bn Social and Affordable Homes Programme. You will be part of the team working closely with government and partners across the sector to deliver the new programme as well as deliver against existing commitments. We are looking for individuals excited and motivated by the opportunity to shape future delivery and ways of working, as Homes England moves to a more regional and place-based operating model

We are looking for exceptional leaders to hit the ground running leading new affordable housing business development, overseeing pipeline and delivery nationally. Working closely with our Regional Teams to provide accurate data and efficient processes for coherent national oversight of the SAHP. Designing and standing up new initiatives that add value to the delivery of affordable housing. Working on a national basis with the wider affordable team to increase the delivery of quality sustainable homes, tackle affordability and make a real difference in the lives of people and communities.

Job description

You will need to build highly effective relationships, externally with a diverse range of partners included the Mayoral Combined Authorities, established and new entrants from across the housing sector and hold the relationships with Housing bodies and lead of thematic issues. Internally your relationships with the regionally focussed teams will be key to the successful delivery of the SAHP. You will need to have an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the delivery models for affordable housing, including innovative approaches to funding to meet local priorities. With excellent strategic and leadership skills you will translate strategy into targeted delivery that responses to the needs of places.

You will join a highly skilled and motivated team focused on supporting the sector to increase delivery, maximising opportunities for investment and meet local ambitions. You will lead a newly formed team and have the opportunity to shape delivery. As part of the wider leadership team within Affordable Housing and you will also be required to work flexibly taking leadership of key thematic areas of work or new initiatives through a matrix management approach.

Person specification

A bit about you…

You should excel at leadership, partnership working and collaboration, be an excellent communicator, and have an extensive network of industry leads across the sector with an understanding of funding models and delivery of affordable housing. It is essential that you can work collaboratively and develop effective relationships both internally and externally, work within a political environment and adapt your style to maximise contributions from a diverse range of partners.

You will need to demonstrate extensive knowledge of the affordable housing sector, understanding of development and viability appraisals as well as regional and local housing markets.

These are national roles that can be based in any of our offices. Homes England offers a flexible hybrid approach to office attendance. These national roles will engage across all of our regions and you must be prepared to travel as required.

Benefits

Homes England is an executive non-departmental public body with its own terms and conditions, benefits and pension scheme. We are a government agency working in partnership with the private sector and want to employ and retain great people. In return we offer a range of excellent benefits, some of the key benefits include:

Holiday - Homes England offers all staff 33 days annual leave per year in addition to 8 statutory bank holidays.

Working Flexibly - At Homes England we have a strong culture of flexible working and encourage all employees to have a healthy work/life balance. We offer a wide range of potential working patterns, including part time, job share and compressed hours.

Health and Wellbeing - We offer health screening with Nuffield Proactive Health Clinics, a free Employee Assistance Programme which offers confidential support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week as well as access to Occupational Health.

Professional Development - At Homes England we are committed to your continued professional and personal development with learning as one of our core values. We pay for one job-related professional membership subscription per year for our employees.

We also offer an excellent range of family friendly benefits, for example, maternity, paternity, shared parental leave.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Things you need to know

How to apply?

To apply please follow the links to our careers page.

Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Selection process details

For more information on the role, please see the attached Job Description.

Successful applicants will be advised of the outcome of their application and interviews held as soon as practical after the closing date. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in this role and Homes England.

Please note – Homes England has a responsibility to ensure compliance with HMG Baseline Personnel Security Standard to address the potential problems of identity fraud, illegal working and deception generally. To ensure compliance we will carry out a pre-employment Personal Identity and Vetting Report through Experian to meet the standard and you will therefore be asked to provide certain information in order that the verification check can be carried out if you are successful in your application.

Homes England are an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer that values and respects the people who work for us. Our aim is to be an employer of choice, enabling everyone to reach their full potential.

Homes England is committed to protecting the privacy and security of your personal data. For further information please refer to our Privacy Notice which can be viewed here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/homes-england/about/personal-information-charter

Nationality requirements

Open to UK, Commonwealth and European Economic Area (EEA) and certain non EEA nationals. Further information on whether you are able to apply is available here.

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a guaranteed disability confident interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Recruitment Team
• Email : recruitmentinfo@homesengland.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : Recruitmentinfo@homesengland.gov.uk