Development & Enabling Support Officer (Housing) in Kettering

About The Role

Housing Development & Acquisitions is a new team within Housing Services dedicated to the buying and building of new affordable council homes and temporary accommodation, whilst also enabling the maximum amount of social housing from Registered Providers across North Northamptonshire. This new role will undertake the following in support of these objectives:

• Provide administrative and financial processing support.
• Maintain a database detailing the demand, type and location of all affordable housing across North Northamptonshire and respond to associated enquiries.
• Produce monthly and annual performance information in regards to development, acquisitions and enabling.
• Provide data for the production and review of the Council’s key housing documents, including the new Development, Acquisitions & Disposals Strategy.

The role shall also assist officers in delivering the following:

• Assist with the delivery and monitoring of NNC's Affordable Housing Programme of new build council housing and open market acquisitions, plus new build social housing provided by Registered Providers.
• Assist in the project management of new build council housing projects from inception through to practical completion.
• Assist with the purchase of new land & properties on the open market.
• Assist with the disposal of properties the Council no longer considers financially viable.
• Assist with bids for external funding.

What will you be doing?

• Ensure all purchase requisitions and external invoices are processed accurately and within target.
• Maintain a database of affordable housing units across North Northamptonshire to include location, type, size, adaptations and tenure information.
• Analyse data from the council’s choice based lettings system, to provide information on the needs of people applying for housing in North Northamptonshire.
• Contribute to the development and preparation of key housing policies and strategies through research and the provision of data and associated text.
• Co‑ordinate and attend meetings as required, providing administrative assistance in respect of organising the meetings and taking and distributing agendas, minutes, reports, etc.
• Assist with the organisation of housing development related events, including consultations & forums, promotions & publicity, such as new build completion ceremonies, which may occasionally be out of hours.
• Assist with ensuring the Housing Service's web‑pages are accurate, up to date and promote the activities of the service.
• Assist with other housing related information for our tenants, including newsletters, leaflets and other literature.
• Assist in responding to development related Freedom of Information Requests and affordable housing Planning Application consultation responses.
• Assist with external funding bids for new housing schemes to maximise the funding available for new affordable homes in North Northamptonshire.
• Assist with identifying potential sites and properties for affordable housing or temporary accommodation to be developed by either the Council or one of their registered partners.
• Attend site meetings and assist in the project management of new build council housing projects from inception through to practical completion.
• Assist with the purchase and/or disposal of properties on the open market across North Northamptonshire, for example by contacting estate agents to arrange viewings.
• Carry out individual projects or pieces of work under the supervision of the Housing Development and Acquisitions Manager.

About You

Essential:

• 5 GCSE passes at grade C/5 or above, including maths and English, or equivalent.
• Experience of undertaking and completing project related work.
• Experience of undertaking and completing data analysis related work.
• Experience of an office‑based customer‑focused environment.
• An enthusiasm for team working.
• Good IT and keyboard skills, including Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Good analytical skills, with the ability to analyse statistical data.
• Good communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to meet deadlines and prioritise workload.
• Ability to organise tasks and work unsupervised.
• Ability and willingness to travel around North Northamptonshire, including at short notice.
• Spoken and written English fluency required.

Desirable:

• Experience in a housing services or development environment, particularly in the affordable housing sector.
• Experience of partnership working with housing associations, statutory organisations and/or voluntary agencies.
• Ability to demonstrate awareness/understanding of equal opportunities and other people’s behaviour, physical, social and welfare needs.
• Full driving licence and access to a car for work.

Our benefits

Here at North Northamptonshire Council, we’re transforming for the better, using all our creativity and imagination to create the best life for our local people. You’ll find that we have a wide range of careers that may be more surprising than you think!

Why choose us?

• We offer a vibrant working environment with a competitive salary.
• A pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill‑health protection.
• Lots of opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council.
• Generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days.
• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements, where practicable for service needs to help you with a healthy work‑life balance.

We provide a range of great benefits such as an Employee Assistance Programme, an Employee Benefits Scheme, wellbeing support, travel rates at HMRC rates, as well as supporting a range of active Employee Network Groups.

Our Values and Behaviours

Our values define who we are and how we operate, by forming the foundation for how we interact with our customers, colleagues and provide our services. They are also at the forefront of our decision making and delivery and are:

• Customer‑focused
• Respectful
• Efficient
• Supportive
• Trustworthy

Disability Confident Employer

We are proud to be a recognised Disability Confident Employer and are committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role. Our Employment and Disability Service provides bespoke support to individuals facing barriers to employment, helping them work towards their goals to start, stay and succeed in employment.

Armed Forces Community

The council obtained the Gold status award for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS).