Director of Assets & Property in Ashington, Northumberland

Bernicia is all about helping people in need of housing. We believe a good home makes lots of other things possible, so we provide great homes and services that do just that. We’ve built Bernicia to be a business that people want to be a part of. We’re one of the North East’s largest and most successful housing providers; building, renting, selling and managing homes as well as providing services to over 60,000 customers. Everything about Bernicia is people focused, that’s why we’ve held the Investors in People Gold Award since 2010.

We operate within a set of simple, but effective values, which blend perfectly to create our unique ‘Bernicia Way’ culture. This ensures we are customer focused, through working together, respecting each other, being accountable for our actions and demonstrating integrity and leadership.

We are now seeking an exceptional Director of Assets, a critical role of strategic importance in achieving our ambitions, and you will be key in ensuring the successful delivery of our core purpose of investing in homes, services, people and partnerships to make a positive impact on the communities of the North East.

In this influential role you will lead the asset management and client property functions in the development and implementation of Bernicia’s Asset Management Strategy and the annual review of the 30-year business plan. A key focus will be enabling the Corporate Strategy via the delivery of the core Asset Management Strategy, utilising evidence‑based decisions, strong financial planning, and excellent customer engagement.

You will drive the investment of circa £121m over 5 years across our 14,000 homes and 151 estates, ensuring the delivery of continuous improvement and best in sector delivery.

Accountabilities:

• Lead on the development of strategies, policies and procedures relating to asset management.
• Ensure compliance with these and all statutory and regulatory requirements, good practice and the regulators standards as a minimum.
• Ensure that up to date, thorough and accurate stock condition information is used to lead the development of Bernicia’s 5 year capital re-investment programme in order to underpin the asset management strategy and 30 year business plan.
• Develop, monitor and manage the asset management team’s annual and operational plans including the function’s budgets, service improvement plans, key indicators of performance, related major initiatives and key milestones.
• Lead the development of Bernicia’s stock appraisal & sustainability modelling and processes, driving opportunities to actively maximise Bernicia’s use of its physical assets via re-investment, regeneration and disposals.
• Provide expert advice and support to the executive team, boards, committees and management teams on matters relating to asset management.
• Represent Bernicia on key strategic partnerships, establish good and effective relationships and partnership arrangements with key stakeholders to complement and enhance the planning of technical services.

About you:

• Chartered Status or Degree or significant demonstrable and relevant experience at a similar level.
• A strong and proven track record of leading client construction technical and asset management services, including procurement, project management, contract administration, and management/control of large budgets.
• Motivational leadership skills, experience of leading professionals (in relevant disciplines) and successfully delivering the required outcomes in a performance driven culture.
• Demonstrable experience of developing a customer facing property team embedding customer engagement/involvement, commercialism and continuous improvement at its core.
• Detailed knowledge and understanding of the current and emerging key regulatory requirements within the housing sector, including a comprehensive knowledge of current and future challenges.
• Significant senior level management experience and ability to influence senior-level management and key stakeholders.
• Ability to establish and sustain trust and confidence with stakeholders, partners, communities, tenants and the general public, and to promote and represent positively and professionally Bernicia at all levels.

The Benefits:

• 36 days annual leave (including bank holidays).
• Opportunity to work from home up to 2 days a week, where applicable to your post.
• Make big savings on day-to-day expenses with discounts on shopping, groceries, holidays and days out.
• Health cash plan.
• Generous pension scheme.

Please note you will be required to drive for business, you will therefore be required to hold a current and valid driving licence. The Asset & Property team operates across our Ashington, Durham and Berwick offices. The primary office base for the role is Ashington, and this is where the majority of corporate meetings take place. There is also opportunity to spend time with the teams in the other office locations.

The closing date is Tuesday 28th April and interviews will occur the week commencing 5th May. For more information regarding this role, please contact our retained consultancy Castle Peak Group.

You can also view our recruitment website with the full candidate pack. The Group is fully committed to the promotion of equal opportunities and we particularly welcome applicants from groups who are currently under represented at Bernicia.