Principal Specialist Asset Acquisitions, Sales and Complex Voids in Southampton

We’re looking for an experienced professional to join Southampton City Council within the Housing Directorate as the Principal Specialist – Asset Acquisitions, Sales and Complex Voids. You will lead the assessment and management of property acquisitions, disposals and treatment of complex voids, ensuring decisions support Housing’s strategy to optimise the value, availability and compliance of our stock.

Working across Housing and other Council functions, you will assess properties that require significant intervention and develop clear options for retention, investment, disposal or alternative use. Where disposal is agreed, the role oversees the process through to sale. You will be responsible for shaping, commissioning and assuring acquisitions, sales and treatment of complex voids valued at c. £1m, £3m and £1m respectively (total c. £5m).

This role sits within Quality Homes – Housing’s authority for Southampton’s social housing stock. Quality Homes is accountable for long‑term investment, priorities and funding envelopes for stock. It sets the technical standards and tolerances that govern work on our homes and gives independent assurance that homes are safe, compliant and fit for the future, based on sound evidence and professional judgement.

You will be part of a small Homes Strategy and Planning team – the strategic brain of Southampton’s housing stock. This means you will work alongside other specialists to set long‑term direction, secure major investment decisions and resolve trade‑offs about the future condition, performance and provision of homes. You will also help set clear success measures and decision frameworks for works and investment, and turn strategy into credible, evidence‑based programmes that strengthen neighbourhoods and the city.

As Principal Specialist – Asset Acquisitions, Sales and Complex Voids, you will share accountability for:

• Ensuring acquisitions, sales and treatment of complex voids align with Housing’s strategy (location, demand, property type).
• Reducing long‑term voids and under‑performing assets.
• Supporting regeneration, rationalisation and growth plans.
• Delivering value for money across acquisitions, disposals, and void works – balancing social value versus financial return.
• Contributing to business plan assumptions (e.g. disposal receipts, acquisition pipeline).
• Ensuring all activity complies with housing law and internal governance – working within SCC governance and regulatory frameworks.
• Ensuring safe, lettable and compliant homes (especially post‑works).

Your key objectives for the next year include:

• Establishing a clear process to agree whether homes should be retained, improved, redeveloped or disposed of.
• Establishing a strategic relationship with an estate agent or market partner able to support the marketing and sale of void properties, helping Housing test market demand and maximise value.
• Building relationships with chartered surveyors, valuation specialists and property consultants as required to assess and negotiate opportunities for purchase, and expediting priority sales or purchases.
• Establishing and communicating a clear process for engaging each of the key stakeholders in an effective hierarchy sequence that ensures key decisions are led by one person and key contributors are engaged at the right time, mapping out clear responsibilities and accountability. This includes the lead‑up to the acquisition of a property, commissioning of service providers and a clear handover management plan.

We’re looking for someone whose authority derives from deep professional expertise, credibility and judgement, rather than from line management, enabling you to shape standards, priorities and decisions across Housing through professional advice and challenge.

You will need:

• A relevant professional qualification or experience in housing, property or asset management (for example CIH, RICS or similar) or willingness to work towards this.
• Strong experience in housing asset management, property portfolio management or a comparable role involving residential property. Ability to assess complex properties and develop clear options for retention, investment, redevelopment or disposal, balancing housing need, asset condition and financial value.
• Experience working with property markets, agents or valuers, and conveyancing/legal title to support property sales, acquisitions or development opportunities.
• Strong analytical and communication skills, able to present clear options and recommendations to senior leaders and elected members where decisions may be sensitive.
• Strong communication skills to work alongside colleagues across Housing and beyond to ensure evidence requirements and data from key stakeholders such as Housing Works, tenants and tenant needs inform objectives, performance expectations and management, prioritisation and decision‑making processes.
• You will also be comfortable working in a context where demand and need exceed available resources.

Salary: The salary band for this role is £57,755 - £65,222 per annum. The starting salary is £57,755 with annual progression through the salary bands.

Here at SCC we have a range of different benefits, a few examples can be found below:

• Excellent local government pension with 15.2% employer contribution
• Death in service benefit of three times salary, and optional salary sacrifice shared cost AVC (additional voluntary contribution)
• Generous holiday 25–31 days, based on role and service
• Flexible working options (role‑dependent)
• Family‑friendly policies – maternity, paternity, adoption, shared/unpaid parental leave, time off for dependents
• Training and development, including coaching and mentoring
• Health and wellbeing support – employee assistance programme, menopause pledge, mental health first aiders and access to a variety of staff networks
• Veteran‑friendly employer with the Armed Forces Covenant
• Retail discounts and savings through the Southampton City Council benefits platform
• Discounted memberships at local sports and fitness centres
• Sustainable travel benefits – low emission car scheme, cycle to work, season ticket loans
• Employee volunteering scheme with two paid days leave to volunteer

If you feel you have the necessary background, experience, and skills to undertake this role we would like to hear from you.