Housing Manager in Leeds

This post is open to existing Leeds City Council employees only. Applications will not be considered from external candidates.

Hours: 37 hours

Contract: 1 Full Time Permanent Post

Location: Offices within Extra Care schemes citywide (Cardinal Court, Beeston, Wharfedale View, Yeadon, Gascoigne House, Middleton and Laurel House, Armley) and Merrion House (hybrid).

The Housing Leeds Extra Care Service provides specialist Council homes across the city, supporting the health and wellbeing of older people who wish to live independently ensuring customers have greater choice and control over their care and support. There are currently 3 council owned Extra Care schemes in the city, and our portfolio is expanding further with a new scheme due to open Spring 2027 in Armley.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

• Experience of leading a team.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to build strong collaborative relationships with residents, colleagues, elected members, and other partners.
• An ability to identify service improvements and support a culture that drives up standards of quality and performance.
• A passion for supporting older people to live independently, with the ability to challenge and drive change.
• Ability to use own initiative and take ownership of operational issues to deliver an effective and efficient service to our customers.

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Extra Care team within Housing Leeds Older People’s Service. The service has a critical role in supporting our residents to live independently in our expanding portfolio of Extra Care schemes in the city, delivering housing related support, promoting social interaction and well-being, and maintaining a safe environment for customers.

You will provide strong leadership to your teams to ensure high quality operational service delivery to support our customers, with responsibility for effective scheme and building management.

As a Housing Manager, you’ll be fundamental in providing effective support, positive direction, motivation, and management to Extra Care teams across the city to ensure effective service delivery through your excellent leadership and communication skills.

You will be a strong leader with a ‘can do’ attitude and the ability to manage competing priorities and workloads, be adaptable and responsive to changing needs, with a proven track record of working as part of a team with a strong customer focus.

You will have the ability to build strong relationships, working with teams across Housing Leeds to ensure effective management of scheme and operational issues, and create links with other internal and external partners to deliver an excellent service to our customers.

You will be supporting the citywide Age Friendly Strategy ambition to make Leeds the Best City to Grow Old in.

What we offer you

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements.
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities.
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further.

How to apply

Apply for this job online. Please complete the online application form. Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role, please contact Katie Dixon-White, Service Manager on 0113 53 50688 or 07712 217002 or via email at katie.dixonwhite@leeds.gov.uk.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Purpose: To lead and manage an efficient, customer focused Housing management service, in order to maximise performance and seek continuous improvement.

Responsibilities:

• To manage the delivery of housing management services within a geographical area or in within the Neighbourhood Service areas of Income Management, Tenant and Community Involvement, Lettings and Tenancy Management Policy, and Older Persons Housing.
• To contribute toward management and delivery of partnership working on behalf of housing services citywide.
• To manage and develop staff to deliver key council priorities and continuously improve the offer to customers.
• To contribute towards development of positive working relationships with key stakeholders including customers, elected members and other partner organisations.
• To develop a people-orientated solutions-focussed approach to dealing with customers, quickly and professionally.
• To manage and monitor budgets, risks and associated audit activities.
• To contribute to and deliver service improvement plans.
• To contribute to and implement performance management frameworks to ensure key performance indicators are achieved and outcomes inform service improvement & review.
• To contribute to, review and improve policies and strategies in line with current legislation and best practice.
• To contribute to maximising opportunities to improve local service delivery using collaborative arrangements with appropriate stakeholders and partners.
• To display a high degree of self-motivation, commitment and time management.
• A commitment to initiate and drive culture change to deliver focussed and continuously improving services.
• To ensure customers play a central part in service planning, monitoring and feedback, with deliverable and tangible outcomes.
• To contribute towards corporate projects and initiatives.
• Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
• Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities as necessary to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.
• Improve own practice through observation, evaluation, discussion with colleagues and appropriate CPD programmes.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, knowing when to seek help and advice.
• Contribute to the overall ethos, work, and aims of the service by attending relevant meetings, training days/events as requested.
• Be aware of and comply with Leeds City Council policies and procedures e.g., child protection, health, safety and security, confidentiality, and data protection, reporting all concerns to an appropriate person.
• Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, and promoting the values, standards, and equality & diversity policies of Leeds City Council.
• Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse of equal opportunities, ensuring compliance with relevant policies and procedures.
• The council has adopted a flexibility protocol and this role will be expected to work within these parameters.
• The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications: Degree level and Post Grade / Professional Membership or equivalent experience in managing in a housing context.

PERSONAL SPECIFICATION ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS: It is essential that the Candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role duties and responsibilities: Candidates will only be shortlisted for interview if they can demonstrate on the application form that they meet all the essential requirements.

Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview, and Certificate.

• Able to work flexibly across different work locations and areas as appropriate.
• Able to communicate effectively with and influence customers and stakeholders.
• Ability to lead, motivate and empower staff to achieve positive outcomes.
• Able to develop innovative solutions to varied and complex problems.
• Develop and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders including members, external and internal partners and residents.
• Ability to analyse and interpret complex information.
• Ability to write concise reports, deliver presentations and chair meetings.
• Able to use a range of IT systems, including Microsoft applications.
• Ability to manage and delegate resources effectively.
• Ability to manage a variety of long-term projects.
• Ability to manage conflicting priorities and adapt to changing circumstances.
• Relevant degree level qualification or equivalent experience of managing in a housing context.
• Detailed understanding of the functions of a comprehensive housing management service.
• Comprehensive knowledge of Landlord’s statutory responsibilities.
• Knowledge of current social housing and issues affecting the sector.
• Detailed knowledge of current housing legislation and policies.
• An understanding of key stakeholders, partners and third sector organisations.
• Recent experience of managing teams in a housing related context including motivation and staff development.
• Experience of managing varied and complex projects.
• Experience of managing resources within defined budgets.
• Experience of developing effective working relationships with residents and members to achieve defined outcomes.
• Experience of using performance information to deliver excellent operational outcomes.
• Experience of challenging inappropriate behaviour.

Essential Behavioural and other Characteristics:

• Committed to continuous improvement.
• Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council equality and diversity policies.
• Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health and Safety Policies.
• Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge, skills, and continuous professional development.
• Understand and embrace our values, behaviours and codes of conduct.

DESIRABLE REQUIREMENTS: It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria for the post within the context of the specific role. Candidates are not required to meet all the Desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between acceptable candidates.

• Membership of a relevant professional body.
• Working with and consulting with trade unions.
• Experience of working within a political environment.
• Experience of managing competing priorities and adapting to changing circumstances.
• Experience of undertaking complex service reviews.