At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the council’s housing strategy and oversee housing growth initiatives.
- Company: Castle Point Borough Council, committed to community and innovation.
- Benefits: Flexible working, generous leave, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Join a supportive team focused on trust, respect, and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in housing services and support vulnerable residents.
- Qualifications: Strong leadership in strategic housing and proven service delivery experience.
The predicted salary is between 59796 - 66029 £ per year.
Head of Strategic Housing
Salary: £59,796 - £66,029 Location: Kiln Road, Benfleet; some remote work Contract: Permanent, Full Time Closing date: 26th July 2026
Overview
Essex County Council is advertising the role of Head of Strategic Housing on behalf of Castle Point Borough Council.
This key leadership position is responsible for delivering the council’s housing strategy, overseeing housing growth and development initiatives, and leading services that support vulnerable residents through homelessness prevention and housing options.
Responsibilities
- Develop and deliver the Council’s Housing Strategy and related policies.
- Lead partnerships with Registered Providers, developers, Homes England and other stakeholders to maximise affordable housing delivery.
- Drive housing growth and regeneration opportunities through effective negotiation and partnership working.
- Oversee Housing Options services, ensuring high‑quality advice and assistance for residents in housing need.
- Lead the council’s homelessness prevention and relief functions, ensuring compliance with statutory duties and a strong prevention‑focused approach.
- Manage the Housing Register and allocations service, ensuring fair and transparent access to social housing.
- Provide strategic advice to Members and senior officers on housing‑related matters.
- Lead and develop high‑performing teams while driving innovation, service improvement and excellent outcomes for customers.
- Ensure the Council responds effectively to national housing policy changes and emerging local housing needs.
Qualifications
You will be a member of the CIOH, full qualification status, with strong leadership credentials and a proven track record of delivering high‑quality services within a local authority, Registered Provider or comparable housing environment.
- 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.
- 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 continuously learn and innovate to improve our services to meet the needs of our customers.
- Customer Focus – we are service‑delivery focussed and put the customer at the centre of what we do.
Benefits
- 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!
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Head of Strategic Housing – Castle Point Borough Council in South Benfleet employer: Essex County Council
Essex County Council is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises the well-being of its employees while making a meaningful impact in the lives of children and young people. With flexible working arrangements and opportunities for professional development, staff are encouraged to grow within their roles, all while contributing to a vital service in the heart of Chelmsford.
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We think this is how you could land Head of Strategic Housing – Castle Point Borough Council in South Benfleet
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We think you need these skills to ace Head of Strategic Housing – Castle Point Borough Council in South Benfleet
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Relevant Experience:In the public sector, having experience in community engagement, policy analysis, or project management stands out. Make sure to showcase any previous roles or volunteer work that reflects your understanding of public service values and how they've shaped your career path.
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Tailor Your CV to Reflect Core Competencies:Government positions often require a clear demonstration of competencies such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Try to structure your CV to highlight these skills, using specific examples of how you’ve applied them in past experiences, ideally with quantifiable outcomes where possible.
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How to prepare for a job interview at Essex County Council
✨Get to Know Public Sector Values
Before your interview with Essex County Council, dig deep into their mission and values, especially how they align with public service and community impact. Understand the key policies or initiatives they are involved in – you’ll want to show that you genuinely care about serving the community.
✨Brush Up on Regulatory Knowledge
Brush up on the regulations, laws, and compliance standards relevant to the role you’re applying for. Since this is the government and public sector, they might throw technical questions related to policy frameworks or project management best practices that you'll need to navigate day-to-day.
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