Head of Strategic Housing

Location:

Castle Point Council Offices, Kiln Road

Salary:

£59,796 - £66,029 per annum (SCP 47 - 51)

Working Hours:

37 hours per week

Contract Type:

Permanent

Contract Duration:

Permanent

Number of Positions:

One

DBS Check:

None

Head of Strategic Housing

Salary: £59,796 - £66,029
Location: Kiln Road, Benfleet, and a blend of working remotely
Contract: Permanent, Full Time

Closing date: 26th July 2026

Shape the Future of Housing in Our Borough

We are seeking an experienced, ambitious, strategic and collaborative housing professional to join our housing leadership team as Head of Strategic Housing.

This is a key role within the Council, responsible for leading the delivery of our housing strategy and development team ensuring residents have access to safe, affordable and suitable homes. You will oversee housing growth and development initiatives, work closely with Registered Providers and developers to enable new affordable housing delivery. The remit also covers Housing Options, and the successful candidate will lead services that support some of our most vulnerable residents through homelessness prevention, referrals into Temporary Accommodation and the full range of housing option services including lettings and housing registration.

This is an exciting opportunity to make a positive difference to local communities while influencing housing policy, investment and service delivery across the borough.

About our values

Trust – our customers, members and colleagues have confidence that we will do what we say.

Respect – we create trusted and enduring relationships with our customers, colleagues and communities.

Improving and Learning – we are continuously learning and innovating as we strive to improve our services to need the needs of our customers.

Customer Focus – we are service-delivery focussed and put the customer at the centre of what we do.

About the Role

Reporting to the Interim Director of Housing, you will provide leadership across a broad housing portfolio, including:

• Developing and delivering the Council’s Housing Strategy and related policies.
• Leading partnerships with Registered Providers, developers, Homes England and other stakeholders to maximise affordable housing delivery.
• Driving housing growth and regeneration opportunities through effective negotiation and partnership working
• Overseeing Housing Options services, ensuring high-quality advice and assistance for residents in housing need.
• Leading the Council’s homelessness prevention and relief functions, ensuring compliance with statutory duties and a strong prevention-focused approach.
• Managing the Housing Register and allocations service, ensuring fair and transparent access to social housing.
• Providing strategic advice to Members and senior officers on housing-related matters.
• Leading and developing high-performing teams while driving innovation, service improvement and excellent outcomes for customers.
• Ensuring the Council responds effectively to national housing policy changes and emerging local housing needs.

About You

You will be a member of the CIOH by way of full qualification status and be an experienced housing professional with strong leadership credentials and a proven track record of delivering high-quality services, driven by results within a local authority, Registered Provider or comparable housing environment.

You will bring:

• Professionalism, empathy and kindness to all those you engage with.
• Significant experience in strategic housing, housing development, housing needs and homelessness services.
• Strong knowledge of housing legislation, homelessness law, allocations and housing policy.
• Experience of working with Registered Providers, developers and other housing partners to deliver affordable housing.
• A successful track record of leading and motivating multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong analytical, financial and strategic planning capabilities.
• A commitment to customer-focused service delivery and improving outcomes for residents.

Why Join Us?

We offer:

• The opportunity to lead and influence housing services at a strategic level.
• A supportive and collaborative leadership environment.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
• Generous annual leave entitlement.
• Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Ongoing professional development opportunities.
• And we’ll even pay you!

Apply Now

If you are passionate about tackling housing need, preventing homelessness, and delivering new affordable homes for our communities, we would love to hear from you.

Join us and help shape a borough where everyone has access to a safe, affordable place to call home