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- Tasks: Lead a team to deliver high-quality housing services for older people.
- Company: Join a leading not-for-profit provider committed to social impact.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, flexible working, and generous leave options.
- Other info: Flexible nine-day fortnight work schedule available for better work-life balance.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful difference in the lives of older residents while advancing your career.
- Qualifications: Strong leadership skills and a passion for customer service are essential.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 ÂŁ per year.
Hours: 35 per week. Due to the mobile nature of this role, candidates must live within a reasonable commuting distance of South London and Surrey.
Want to make a positive difference to society whilst accelerating your career in Housing? Looking to grow your career while making a meaningful social impact? Join us in delivering high‑quality housing and services for older people. We’re a leading not‑for‑profit provider of Retirement Living and Extra Care housing, committed to helping people live independently in safe, welcoming communities.
With an ageing population and increasing demand, we are investing in our services and expanding, and we need passionate leaders to help drive this forward. Retirement Living is a unique housing service with residents’ wellbeing at the heart. We have one overarching aim – to provide high quality housing that is welcoming, comfortable, modern, safe and secure and has the right amount of support to help people live independently.
Covid‑19 has magnified the strengths and benefits of Retirement Living, showing the positive effect of community living in supporting individuals and reducing isolation. We want to be able to offer this service to more older people, and have ambitious plans for growth. We’re committed to significantly investing in Retirement Living to make sure we have the right structure to provide the best service for residents, as well as providing opportunities for internal and external candidates.
To help us achieve our ambitions we are recruiting for an Operations Manager who shares our passion for good quality homes for older people.
The Role
As an Operations Manager, you will lead a team of approximately 10–11 Local Housing Managers, ensuring our services are safe, compliant, and consistently deliver an excellent resident experience. This is a highly visible and impactful role where you will:
- Lead, support and develop front‑line housing teams
- Drive high levels of resident satisfaction (currently 91%)
- Ensure schemes meet all legal and safety compliance standards
- Improve performance by minimising voids and supporting tenancy sustainment
- Foster a strong customer‑focused culture across your region
- Contribute to organisational performance and continuous improvement
You’ll spend around 60% of your time on‑site, building relationships with your teams and residents, with flexibility to work remotely when appropriate.
About You
You don’t need a formal housing qualification—we’re more interested in your leadership style, values, and ability to make things happen. We’re looking for someone who is:
- A confident and proactive leader with strong people management skills
- Passionate about delivering excellent customer service
- Comfortable challenging the status quo and driving improvements
- Able to build relationships with people at all levels
- Organised, transparent, and solutions‑focused
Experience in housing, care, supported living, or property management environments is highly desirable.
The Benefits
At Housing 21 we’re proud to be actively recognising the importance of our employees and rewarding them accordingly. You will receive:
- Pension scheme
- Holiday pay
- Holiday purchase scheme
- Occupational Sick Pay
- Occupational Maternity/Paternity Pay
- Health Cash Plan
- Blue Light Card (offering discounts across retail, hospitality and leisure)
- Income protection
- Eye care vouchers
- Car lease scheme
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Support to progress and develop
As part of our commitment to our employees and offering flexibility, Housing 21 now offers a nine‑day fortnight, providing employees with the opportunity to work their hours across nine days. Further details on how this works will be discussed with successful candidates upon offer being made.
Operations Manager (South London & Surrey) - Birmingham, West Midlands County in Heath employer: Housing 21
Contact Detail:
Housing 21 Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Manager (South London & Surrey) - Birmingham, West Midlands County in Heath
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the housing sector, especially those who work at Housing 21. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info about the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by understanding the company’s values and mission. Show us how your leadership style aligns with our commitment to providing excellent customer service and supporting older people.
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready to share examples of how you've driven improvements in previous roles. We love candidates who can demonstrate their proactive approach and ability to challenge the status quo.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed and shows us you’re serious about joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Manager (South London & Surrey) - Birmingham, West Midlands County in Heath
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Operations Manager role. Highlight your leadership experience and how it aligns with our mission of providing high-quality housing for older people. We want to see how you can make a positive impact!
Showcase Your People Skills: Since this role is all about leading teams and building relationships, don’t forget to emphasise your people management skills. Share examples of how you've successfully motivated and developed teams in the past. We love a proactive leader!
Demonstrate Your Passion: Let your passion for delivering excellent customer service shine through in your application. Talk about why you care about improving the lives of older people and how you’ve contributed to similar causes before. We’re looking for someone who shares our values!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at Housing 21!
How to prepare for a job interview at Housing 21
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, make sure you understand the ins and outs of the role. Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities of an Operations Manager, especially in the context of housing for older people. Research the company’s values and recent initiatives to show that you’re genuinely interested.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Since this role is all about leading a team, be prepared to discuss your leadership style. Think of specific examples where you've successfully managed teams or driven improvements. Highlight how you foster a customer-focused culture and ensure high levels of resident satisfaction.
✨Prepare Questions
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare thoughtful questions about the company’s future plans, especially regarding their ambitious growth in Retirement Living. This shows that you’re not just interested in the job, but also in contributing to the organisation's mission.
✨Be Yourself
Authenticity goes a long way. Be honest about your experiences and how they align with the company’s goals. They’re looking for someone who fits their culture, so let your passion for making a positive difference shine through during the conversation.