At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire teams to enhance customer-focused objectives and performance culture.
- Company: Join Southampton City Council in transforming housing services for residents.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous holidays, flexible working, and health support.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for professional growth and community impact.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in residents' lives while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in operational management and strong coaching abilities required.
The predicted salary is between 52413 - 58865 £ per year.
Southampton City Council is seeking an experienced and influential leader to join Housing as our Team Manager - Customer-Centric Objectives and Performance Culture.
This is a new role at the heart of Housing's organisational transformation, helping managers and teams translate our purpose, priorities and customer commitments into clear objectives, stronger performance conversations and better day-to-day services for residents.
Housing is central to Southampton's ambition to be a city of opportunity where everyone thrives.
Our Housing Directorate is working to ensure residents have access to safe, affordable and sustainable homes, while supporting inclusive and thriving communities.
We are introducing a new operating model that will require services to work more coherently, take greater ownership of outcomes and use customer insight and evidence to drive improvement.
This role will be a key part of the new Strategy, Insight & Performance function, within the Learning Organisation & Capability team.
You will report to the Head of Housing Organisational Capability and Change and work closely with Housing leaders, operational managers, HR and organisational development colleagues, performance and customer insight specialists, commissioners, delivery teams and trade union representatives.
The role
You will strengthen management practice and performance culture across Housing.
Your focus will be practical: helping managers set meaningful customer-centred objectives, hold regular and effective conversations about performance and development, use team time well, and create a culture where people take responsibility, solve problems and collaborate across service boundaries.
You will provide both support and constructive challenge.
You will coach and facilitate managers to improve their practice, while addressing unclear expectations, weak accountability, avoidance of difficult issues and behaviours that do not support good resident outcomes.
You will also use workforce, performance and customer evidence to identify themes, target support and give senior leaders assurance that management practice is improving.
- Your key priorities will include
- Establishing a clear and consistent approach to setting personal objectives across Housing, connecting individual contribution to Housing priorities, customer outcomes, regulatory expectations and collaboration between teams.
- Improving the quality and consistency of performance conversations so managers confidently address performance, development, behaviour and expectations.
- Developing practical guidance, tools and examples that turn service priorities and performance frameworks into meaningful team and individual objectives.
- Helping managers use team time to review performance, reflect on customer insight, learn from experience and improve how services work together.
- Promoting ownership and early problem-solving, reducing unnecessary escalation and the passing of issues between teams.
- Recognising and reinforcing strong management practice while helping leaders address poor practice fairly and consistently through the Council's policies and processes.
- Working with learning and organisational development colleagues to build practical capability in coaching, feedback, performance management and customer-centred leadership.
- Using evidence to assess impact, identify where further support is needed and provide credible assurance to Housing's leadership and governance forums.
About You
You will bring credibility with operational managers and a strong understanding of how leadership and management practice affects team performance, service quality and customer outcomes.
You will be comfortable working across a large and diverse service, influencing without relying solely on formal authority and balancing professional standards with the realities of operational delivery.
- We Are Particularly Interested In Candidates Who Can Demonstrate
- Significant experience in a complex operational service and a strong understanding of how leadership and management practice influence outcomes.
- The ability to support and challenge managers to strengthen accountability, collaboration and customer focus.
- Strong facilitation, coaching and communication skills, including the confidence to lead constructive discussions about performance, behaviour and ways of working.
- Experience helping teams reflect on performance, learn together and use team meetings or team time effectively to improve services.
- The ability to work confidently with HR colleagues and apply organisational policies and performance-management processes in practical service environments.
- The ability to use data, workforce information, customer insight and evidence to inform judgement, target support and measure improvement.
- Professional development or substantial practical experience in leadership, coaching, facilitation, organisational learning or organisational development.
You do not need to come from a traditional housing career route.
We welcome applicants who can bring relevant leadership, organisational development, learning, performance or transformation experience from other complex operational environments, together with a clear commitment to improving outcomes for residents.
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
- 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
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Team Manager - Customer-Centric Objectives and Performance Culture in Southampton employer: Southampton City Council
Join our vibrant partnership of six schools in Southampton and the New Forest, where we prioritise a rich learning experience for every child. As a Classroom Play Assistant, you will be part of a collaborative and supportive team dedicated to nurturing confident learners and responsible citizens. With a strong focus on employee development and a commitment to safeguarding, we offer a fulfilling work culture that values diversity and encourages personal growth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Team Manager - Customer-Centric Objectives and Performance Culture in Southampton
✨Join HR Networks
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Attend HR conferences and workshops in your area to network with potential employers. Don't be shy—introduce yourself, exchange business cards, and let them know you're keen on a full-time role in HR. Who knows, you might just land a friendly face at Southampton City Council!
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We think you need these skills to ace Team Manager - Customer-Centric Objectives and Performance Culture in Southampton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your HR Skills:When you’re crafting your CV, make sure you highlight specific HR skills that are relevant to the role at Southampton City Council. Include any experience with recruitment processes, employee relations, or performance management, and don’t forget to mention your familiarity with HR software or tools that could give you an edge.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine, so tailor it to Southampton City Council and the specific HR role. Highlight your passion for people management and how your unique approach can help foster a positive workplace culture. Be sure to sprinkle in examples from your past experiences that illustrate your problem-solving abilities and interpersonal skills.
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any HR certifications or relevant training under your belt, be sure to showcase them! These qualifications can really set you apart from other candidates when applying for this full-time HR position at Southampton City Council. List them prominently on your CV to catch the hiring manager's eye.
Align with Company Culture:Make sure your application speaks to Southampton City Council's values and culture. Research the company and align your experiences or values with what they stand for. This will show them that you're not only a fit for the role but also for the overall vibe of the team and organisation.
How to prepare for a job interview at Southampton City Council
✨Brush Up on HR Best Practices
As you're diving into human resources, it’s crucial to be well-versed in the latest HR practices and legislation. Get familiar with key topics like employee engagement, talent acquisition, and diversity initiatives, as these could easily pop up in your interview with Southampton City Council.
✨Know Your Recruitment Tools
Most HR roles involve using various recruitment tools and ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems). Make sure you can comfortably discuss platforms like Workday or Greenhouse. If you've had direct experience, share those examples; if not, show your eagerness to learn!
✨Highlight Your People Skills
A full-time HR role at Southampton City Council will require strong interpersonal skills. Prepare to share stories that demonstrate how you’ve successfully navigated conflicts or supported team members in past experiences. Authenticity goes a long way in this field.
✨Stay Current with HR Trends
Being up to speed with current HR trends, like remote working protocols or mental health initiatives, can set you apart. Be ready to discuss how these trends could impact Southampton City Council and how you would contribute to adapting HR strategies.
