Managing Director of Direct Labour Organisation

We’re seeking an experienced and visionary Managing Director for our Direct Labour Organisation (DLO) to lead Peabody’s in-house repairs, maintenance and estate services. This is a critical, high-impact leadership role responsible for driving sustainable growth, modernising service delivery, and ensuring excellent, safe and cost-effective outcomes for our residents.

Reporting directly into senior leadership, you will shape the strategic direction of the DLO — transforming service models, embedding digital optimisation, strengthening operational performance, and building a cohesive, collaborative and customer-focused workforce. You’ll lead a large, multi-disciplinary operational team and deliver services that set new standards for quality, resident experience and value for money.

This is a unique opportunity to redefine what an in-house service can achieve for one of London’s largest and most established housing associations.

What You’ll Do

• Setting the strategic vision for the DLO, ensuring alignment with wider property, asset and organisational strategies.
• Delivering high-quality, efficient services across responsive repairs, voids, caretaking, estate services, cleaning and grounds maintenance.
• Driving workforce modernisation, digital transformation and service optimisation.
• Ensuring full compliance with gas, electrical, fire, legionella and wider building safety regulations.
• Providing robust assurance and transparent reporting to Boards and Committees.
• Leading financial performance, budget control, commercial improvement and value-for-money outcomes.
• Championing a resident-first culture that strengthens trust, satisfaction, communication and follow-through.
• Leading, motivating and developing a large, diverse and geographically dispersed operational workforce.

What You’ll Need

• A proven track record of leading large-scale repairs, maintenance or contracting services.
• Experience delivering high-performing, customer-focused operational services at significant scale.
• Strong financial and commercial management skills, with experience overseeing substantial budgets.
• Ability to interpret and act upon operational, financial and performance data to drive improvement.
• Experience leading teams through periods of scrutiny, pressure or organisational change.
• Strong stakeholder and partnership management skills, including regulatory engagement.
• A values-led, inclusive leadership style that motivates teams and builds a positive, high-performance culture.

Why Join Us?

At Peabody, our values guide everything we do — Be Kind, Do the Right Thing, Love New Ideas, Celebrate Diversity, Keep Our Promises, and Pull Together.

You’ll be joining a team committed to delivering safe homes, great services and strong communities, with the autonomy to shape one of our most important operational functions.

What We Offer

• 30 days’ annual holiday, plus bank holidays
• Two additional paid volunteering days each year
• Flexible benefits scheme, including family-friendly benefits and access to a discount portal
• 4x salary life assurance
• Up to 10% pension contribution

Please Read Before Applying

Interview Dates: Interviews will take from 12th February 2026 (in person, Westminster Bridge Road)

If you have any questions about this role, please contact Talent Specialist Victoria Wilson at victoria.wilson1@peabody.org.uk.

We may close this advert early depending on the number of high-quality applications received.

If this sounds like the right opportunity for you — and you’re ready to lead a modern, high-performing, resident-focused DLO — we’d love to hear from you. Please apply with an anonymised CV and short statement outlining your suitability.