Affordable Housing Enabling Officer - Portsmouth

This is an exciting opportunity to join us as an Affordable Housing Enabling Officer! The Housing Neighbourhood and Building Services Directorates delivers a range of front-line services, including homelessness, waste management, building maintenance and housing services. The Housing Needs, Advice and Supply service is responsible for all homelessness and rough sleeping services and has a role to play in the supply of residential accommodation used to meet the need.

The service deals with a range of housing issues, giving advice to customers, working to prevent or relieve homelessness, making assessments in accordance with the homelessness legislation and assessing housing and support needs in line with the city council's Allocation Scheme as well as the provision of commissioned accommodation and new council homes. Housing Supply sits within the Housing Needs and Supply Service, ensuring a direct link between Housing and the delivery of housing solutions.

The service is pivotal in creating the provision of accommodation needed to ensure the city has the right housing models for our residents. The primary purpose of this role is to lead the effective delivery of services that maximise the supply of social and affordable housing through the planning system and the strategic use of council resources.

The postholder will have responsibility for housing delivery within the Local Planning Authority area, principally in Portsmouth, while also supporting delivery in neighbouring authorities where service level agreements apply, and within emerging combined authority areas as required.

The role requires experience and knowledge of:

• Microsoft Office (Outlook, Teams, Powerpoint, Word, Excel)
• Substantial experience in housing or property related role with experience in a section 106 affordable housing role or comparable experience preferably with a local authority or registered provider.
• Experience of assessing Section 106 affordable housing contributions via on-site delivery or financial contributions and undertaking complex negotiations over terms and legal agreements.
• Experience of managing, monitoring and collecting s106 affordable housing financial contributions and liability dates and conditions.
• Knowledge and experience of Land Registry, planning portal, hosted property information systems, property agency websites, Homes England clearing system.
• Understanding and working experience of Planning legislation at local and national level, housing legislation including allocations, homelessness and temporary accommodation provision.
• Knowledge and understanding of key housing initiatives, planning requirements and appropriate grant funding requirements.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for stakeholder engagement and establishing relationships with property owners/developers/agents.

Project management and organisational skills to deliver key objectives are essential. A valid driving licence is required.

Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act. We are committed to our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity and being people-focussed.

You must demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points described in the 'Who is the Person' points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work/personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had.

We are a disability confident employer and Armed Forces Covenant gold standard. You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK.