Interim Head of Housing in Barnet

James Stevens Associates is working exclusively with a well-established London Housing Association to appoint an Interim Head of Housing during an important senior leadership transition. This is a senior housing management appointment responsible for providing stability, technical expertise and visible leadership while the organisation’s SLT goes through a transitional period.

The appointment is expected to start as soon as possible, allowing time for a structured handover with the current Head of Housing (start within next 2-3 weeks). This is primarily a business-as-usual leadership role. The successful candidate will inherit a well-performing team and maintain the progress already being made across housing services, particularly income collection and void performance.

The role

Reporting initially to the Chief Executive, you will lead the full housing management service, including:

• Tenancy and estate management
• Income collection and income maximisation
• Allocations, lettings and void performance
• Anti-social behaviour and complex tenancy casework
• Welfare, safeguarding and tenancy sustainment
• Resident engagement and tenant scrutiny
• Customer satisfaction and complaints learning
• Estate services contract oversight
• Rent, service charge and budget management

You will directly manage two Housing Services Managers and a Welfare and Safeguarding Officer, while providing senior leadership across the wider organisation. A particularly important element of the assignment will be providing authoritative housing law and complex casework guidance. You will be expected to operate independently, advise colleagues confidently and resolve matters that require experience beyond routine housing management.

About you

We are looking for an experienced Head of Housing, Head of Housing Management, Head of Neighbourhoods or senior housing leader who can demonstrate:

• Strong technical knowledge of housing law, tenancy management and complex casework
• Senior operational leadership within a housing association or comparable landlord
• Experience leading housing management, income, ASB, safeguarding and resident-facing services
• The ability to maintain performance while supporting and developing an established team
• Confidence reporting to a Chief Executive and presenting at board or committee level
• A collaborative approach that looks beyond individual service boundaries
• The organisation and self-sufficiency to operate without close day-to-day direction

The role can be delivered across four or five days per week. Approximately half of the working week will involve office or estate-based presence in London. Tuesday attendance will ordinarily be required due to senior and operational meetings. The postholder will also attend quarterly evening committee meetings and occasional resident meetings.