At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead governance and assurance for Housing, driving service improvement and better outcomes for residents.
- Company: Join Southampton City Council's Strategy, Insight & Performance team.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous holiday, flexible working, and excellent pension scheme.
- Other info: Opportunity to work closely with senior leaders and foster a culture of accountability.
- Why this job: Shape the future of Housing governance and make a real impact on community outcomes.
- Qualifications: Experience in governance, performance management, and organisational improvement is essential.
The predicted salary is between 52413 - 58865 £ per year.
We have an exciting opportunity for a permanent, full-time Principal Specialist to join Southampton City Council's Strategy, Insight & Performance team. Housing has designed a new operating model that strengthens accountability, clarifies responsibilities and places customer insight, performance and continuous improvement at the heart of decision-making.
We are now looking for an experienced professional to help embed the governance arrangements, disciplines and standards that will bring that model to life and support better outcomes for residents. This is not simply a reporting or meeting-management role. The successful candidate will help develop and maintain the frameworks, standards and disciplines that enable Housing leaders and teams to make effective decisions, manage risk, and ensure performance information, customer insight and assurance evidence are used effectively to drive service improvement and better outcomes for residents.
You will help translate Housing's operating model into day-to-day practice, ensuring accountability, performance, customer insight and governance work together as intended. You will support Housing leaders to be accountable for delivery, improvement commitments and resident outcomes, ensuring decisions, actions and responsibilities are clearly owned and effectively managed through governance arrangements.
Working closely with senior leaders across Housing, you will play a key role in establishing a culture of clear accountability, evidence-based decision-making, constructive challenge and continuous improvement. You will help ensure governance forums operate effectively, responsibilities are clear, and decisions, actions and learning are translated into meaningful service improvement.
This role is ideally suited to someone who enjoys bringing structure and clarity to complex organisations, strengthening governance arrangements, improving organisational performance, and helping leaders focus on what matters most. You will be comfortable working across organisational boundaries, building credibility with senior stakeholders, and helping to create the conditions for effective decision-making, accountability and continuous improvement. Experience of governance, assurance, organisational improvement, performance management, programme leadership or related disciplines would be highly valued.
As Housing embeds its new operating model, the role will help shape the future maturity of governance, assurance and accountability across the service. Working with senior leaders, you will identify opportunities to strengthen organisational learning, improve the quality of decision-making and embed a culture of ownership, challenge and continuous improvement. You will help ensure that performance information, customer insight, risk and assurance are brought together in a way that drives action and delivers measurable improvement for residents.
This is a rare opportunity to help shape how one of the Council's largest and most important services governs itself, learns, improves and delivers better outcomes for residents. You will play a pivotal role in establishing and maintaining the governance and accountability arrangements that underpin Housing's future success, ensuring that performance, customer insight, assurance and good decision-making translate into better outcomes for residents and communities across Southampton.
What we can offer you:
- Salary: The salary band for this role is £52,413 - £58,865 per annum. The starting salary is £52,413 with annual progression through the salary bands.
- Excellent local government pension with 15.2% employer contribution
- Death in service benefit of x3 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 2 paid days leave to volunteer
For further information on our benefits package please visit: Employee benefits (southampton.gov.uk)
Principal Specialist Housing Governance & Assurance in Southampton employer: Southampton City Council
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StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal Specialist Housing Governance & Assurance in Southampton
✨Dive into Local Government Events
Get yourself to local government events and public sector job fairs. These are great for meeting recruiters and understanding what different organisations, like Southampton City Council, are looking for. Plus, it shows your genuine interest in the sector!
✨Join Relevant Networks
Look for communities focused on public sector careers. Whether it’s local networking groups or online forums, connecting with professionals in the field can provide insider knowledge and opportunities that you won’t find on typical job boards.
✨Utilise Your University’s Resources
If you’re freshly graduated or still studying, make the most of your university's careers service. They often have exclusive partnerships with companies like Southampton City Council and can help you get your foot in the door for these full-time public sector roles.
✨Stay Updated with Government Initiatives
Keep your finger on the pulse regarding new government projects and policies. Understanding current initiatives can give you a leg up in interviews, showing that you are informed and genuinely interested in making a difference in the public sector.
We think you need these skills to ace Principal Specialist Housing Governance & Assurance in Southampton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Relevant Experience:In the public sector, having experience in community engagement, policy analysis, or project management stands out. Make sure to showcase any previous roles or volunteer work that reflects your understanding of public service values and how they've shaped your career path.
Showcase Your Knowledge of the Sector:When you’re applying for a government role, it’s crucial to demonstrate your understanding of the current political landscape and public policies. Consider including articles you've written or relevant projects that underline your capability to engage with these concepts effectively.
Tailor Your CV to Reflect Core Competencies:Government positions often require a clear demonstration of competencies such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving. Try to structure your CV to highlight these skills, using specific examples of how you’ve applied them in past experiences, ideally with quantifiable outcomes where possible.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to tell your story and convey your passion for public service. Discuss why you want to work for Southampton City Council and how your values align with their mission. Be genuine and let your enthusiasm shine through—this can really set you apart from other candidates.
How to prepare for a job interview at Southampton City Council
✨Get to Know Public Sector Values
Before your interview with Southampton City Council, dig deep into their mission and values, especially how they align with public service and community impact. Understand the key policies or initiatives they are involved in – you’ll want to show that you genuinely care about serving the community.
✨Brush Up on Regulatory Knowledge
Brush up on the regulations, laws, and compliance standards relevant to the role you’re applying for. Since this is the government and public sector, they might throw technical questions related to policy frameworks or project management best practices that you'll need to navigate day-to-day.
✨Highlight Teamwork and Collaboration
The government sector thrives on collaboration. Be ready to discuss how you've successfully worked in diverse teams or involved stakeholders in your projects. Show us how you bring people together to get a common goal achieved – that's what public service is all about!
✨Prepare Real-Life Examples
Craft a few STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) stories that demonstrate your experience in similar roles. Whether it’s a project that made a difference in the community or a challenging situation you managed, be ready to express how your skills and experiences make you a valuable asset for Southampton City Council.
