Future Ambition Bath with North East Somerset - Housing Delivery Mission Board Chair

We are seeking an Independent Chair of the Housing Mission Delivery Board, a sub-board to Future Ambition Bath with North East Somerset. This is a voluntary partnership that brings together our ‘anchor organisations’ - the Royal United Hospitals, Bath; Curo; the University of Bath; Bath Spa University; and Bath & North East Somerset Council - as well as business and other networks. Organisations are also involved across the wider partnership through a series of sub-groups reflecting the pillars of our Economic Strategy.

Our partnership began in 2020, coming together to co-design and lead our ‘One Shared Vision’ Ambitious together for a fair, green, creative and connected city region. Since then we have jointly agreed a ground-breaking new Economic Strategy for our area, with higher wages, boosted productivity, greener businesses and more affordable housing choices at its heart. In addition, our Future Ambition Civic Agreement sets out our ambitious approach to collaboration to address the key challenges and opportunities for our area. The Housing Mission Delivery Board established in 2024, bringing together key people from our housing system to establish a common vision. By 2050 all housing needs in B&NES will be met, with high quality, sustainable living choices available to all. Three successful Housing Summit events have now been convened, bringing the local housing sector together to focus on specific aspects of our local housing system.

HMDB has successfully created strategic direction, elevated national visibility of our specific housing challenges and brought the sector together. However, to achieve a lasting impact we need to transfer to action and deliver change within our housing system. To have real impact in shaping our places and ensuring our area has voice and influence at regional and national level, the HMDB needs a Chair who can help us transfer to action, bring additional inspiration, challenge and leadership to drive solutions forward. Above all, we are seeking someone who will bring imagination, passion and energy to the role and help our partners deliver a real difference to people’s lives in our area.

The role provides a unique opportunity to work in a creative and collaborative environment with key partners and organisations committed to improving the lives of people in the area. We are seeking someone who can inspire, energise, stimulate and challenge our partnership so that it meets its full potential. The Chair will:

• Promote a positive and creative environment for partner involvement
• Ensure all involved in the partnership are valued
• Seek to involve new participants in the partnership’s work
• Embrace and promote the contribution of SMEs and not-for-profits
• Help the partnership transition to delivery
• Represent the partnership externally, as agreed
• Help further develop the delivery arrangements for the partnership
• Help the partnership maintain its strategic focus around the One Shared vision and Economic Strategy
• Help foster a culture of transparency, accountability, and inclusion
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including community groups, businesses and regional and national bodies, championing the partnership’s work
• Provide constructive challenge and feedback and work with partners to unlock solutions

The Chair will agree agendas for and chair the meetings of the HMDB, which meets quarterly. You will be supported by the partner organisations to carry out your role. Curo will provide secretariat support for meetings.

We are seeking someone with:

• A passion for improving housing outcomes for local communities
• Demonstrable experience in the local housing sector
• A strong understanding of economic and community development, local governance, and stakeholder engagement
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships, inspire and motivate
• A strong and demonstrable commitment to championing equality and diversity and promoting inclusion
• Strong ethical standards and integrity
• An understanding of our area and its needs, gained through working or living here

We expect that the time commitment for this role will be approximately 1-2 days’ per month. This is a voluntary role for a minimum 1 year term.

We are looking to appoint for a term of up to 3 years commencing in November 2026.

If you would like to know more or discuss the role, please email Recruitment@bathnes.gov.uk. Please send Expressions of Interest in a covering letter of no more than 1000 words, setting out your suitability for the role, including examples of where your experience would meet the requirements set out above, with your CV, to the above email address. Following submission, it is planned that presentation will be made to a panel who will confirm the appointment on behalf of the Partnership. The closing date is 11th October 2026.