At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a high-performing team ensuring asset compliance and safety across our housing portfolio.
- Company: Join Southern Housing, a leading provider of affordable homes in the UK.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, healthcare cash plans, and career development opportunities.
- Other info: Hybrid working available; apply early as we may close applications sooner.
- Why this job: Make a real difference to residents' safety and well-being while shaping compliance strategy.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in asset compliance and leadership within regulated environments.
The predicted salary is between 56700 - 69300 £ per year.
At Southern Housing, we're committed to providing safe, high-quality homes and services for our residents. We're looking for an exceptional Head of Asset Compliance to join our Asset Compliance leadership team and play a pivotal role in ensuring our properties remain fully compliant, safe, and fit for the future. You'll be leading a substantial multidisciplinary service through six to eight direct reports.
As one of three Heads of Service within our Asset Compliance function, you'll lead a specialist team responsible for electrical safety, domestic alarm safety, water hygiene, and a broad range of mechanical and electrical compliance activities. This is a strategic leadership opportunity where you'll influence policy, drive innovation, manage major contracts and budgets, and provide assurance to the Executive Team and Board.
In this role, you'll lead the delivery of critical compliance services across our housing portfolio, ensuring statutory obligations are met while continually improving service quality and resident outcomes.
Your day-to-day responsibilities will include:
- Leading and developing a high-performing Asset Compliance team.
- Driving compliance performance across electrical safety, domestic alarms, water hygiene, and wider M&E compliance services.
- Managing complex compliance contracts and strategic supplier relationships.
- Overseeing audit programmes, risk management, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance.
- Developing policies, procedures, and management plans that reflect best practice and legislative requirements.
- Managing significant budgets and investment programmes, ensuring value for money and robust financial control.
- Working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, including residents, contractors, regulators, and executive teams.
- Supporting the development and delivery of Southern Housing's strategy documents.
This role can be based at one of our offices at Croydon or Sittingbourne office and offers hybrid working as agreed with your Line Manager.
We're looking for an experienced compliance leader with a strong track record of managing asset compliance services within social housing, property, or a similarly regulated environment. You will need a valid UK driving licence, access to a vehicle and the ability to travel between Southern Housing sites and offices, subject to reasonable adjustments where applicable.
What you'll bring:
- Significant senior-level experience leading asset or property compliance services within housing or another highly regulated environment.
- Strong knowledge of electrical safety, water hygiene, domestic alarms, and wider property compliance.
- Experience of procuring and managing major contracts, budgets, audits and compliance programmes.
- Proven people leadership skills with the ability to inspire, develop, and motivate teams.
- Relevant professional or academic qualification in Health & Safety, Building Services, Engineering, Surveying, Maintenance, or a related discipline.
- A CIH Level 4 housing qualification*, or a willingness to work towards one in line with the Competence and Conduct Standard requirements.
This is an excellent opportunity to shape compliance strategy, drive service excellence, and make a real difference to the safety of our residents and homes.
Closing date: 1st November 2026, Sunday at 23:59
Shortlisting: from 2nd November 2026
Interviews: in-person interviews will be held on 10th and 13th of November 2026 in our Sittingbourne office.
Please note: We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. We encourage you to submit your application and supporting statement as soon as possible so your application can be reviewed and considered.
What's in it for you:
- Pension
- Life assurance
- Healthcare cash plan
- Eyecare & dental
- Birthday leave
- Retailers discounts
- Cycle to work
- Buy & sell annual leave
- Season ticket loan
- In-house academy & career development
- Flexible working
At Southern Housing, our residents are at the heart of everything we do. As one of the largest housing providers in the UK with over 77,000 homes across London, the Southeast, the Isle of Wight, and the Midlands, we give over 167,000 people somewhere affordable to call their own! We also understand the difference that safe, secure, and affordable homes can make to people's lives.
A career at Southern Housing will allow you to make a difference every day you come to work. Working in the housing sector with us will bring fresh challenges and give you the opportunity to grow and develop, too.
Head of Asset Compliance in London employer: Southern Housing
At our Kent Science Park location, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work culture that encourages innovation and collaboration. Employees benefit from comprehensive professional development opportunities, competitive remuneration, and a supportive environment that values work-life balance, making it an ideal place for those looking to advance their careers in cyber security and networking.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Asset Compliance in London
✨Join Compliance Communities
Get involved in compliance and risk communities — both online and offline. Look for forums, LinkedIn groups, or even local meetups where compliance pros hang out. You never know who might drop a job opportunity your way!
✨Attend Industry Conferences
Keep an eye out for compliance and risk management conferences and workshops in your area. These events are a goldmine for networking, and they often have job boards or recruiters on-site looking for new talent. Plus, it’s a chance to learn what's trending in the field.
✨Leverage Your University Career Services
If you’ve recently graduated or are still studying, head over to your university's career services. Many companies, including those in compliance, actively recruit fresh talent through these services, so make sure you tap into that resource.
✨Showcase Your Knowledge Online
Start writing articles or blog posts about compliance topics that interest you. Share them on platforms like LinkedIn to demonstrate your knowledge and passion. This not only builds your presence in the field but can also catch the attention of companies like Southern Housing looking for candidates who are engaged and informed.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Asset Compliance in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Understanding of Compliance:In the compliance-risk field, it's super important to showcase your understanding of regulations and risk management frameworks. Highlight any relevant coursework, certifications (like ICA or AML), or even projects that demonstrate your knowledge and commitment to this area. We want to see how you can navigate this complex landscape!
Quantify Your Achievements:When detailing your experience, try to quantify your achievements. For example, if you've previously worked on a project that improved compliance metrics or reduced risk exposure, give us the numbers! This data-driven approach really stands out to hiring managers in compliance-risk roles.
Tailor Your CV to Reflect Relevant Skills:Make sure your CV highlights skills that are particularly relevant to compliance, like attention to detail, analytical thinking, and report writing. Ensure these are easy to spot – consider using bullet points to break down your responsibilities and achievements for maximum impact!
Craft a Motivating Cover Letter:In your cover letter, let us know why you’re excited about the compliance-risk role at Southern Housing. Share what motivates you about compliance, and how you believe you can contribute to our mission. This is your chance to showcase not only your skills but also your passion for this important field!
How to prepare for a job interview at Southern Housing
✨Master the Regulations
Brush up on key compliance regulations relevant to the industry you're applying to. Familiarising yourself with specific laws and frameworks used in your field will give you an edge during technical questions. Show that you’re not just aware of them but can also apply them—think real-life scenarios!
✨Show Your Analytical Skills
Compliance roles really focus on analytical skills, so be prepared for case studies or situational questions during the interview. We've got to demonstrate how we approach risk assessments or compliance audits, possibly drawing on examples from past experiences or university projects. Bring some thoughtful case scenarios to discuss!
✨Know Your Tools
Get comfortable with commonly used compliance software and tools. Familiarity with platforms like RSA or MetricStream can really impress during your interview, as it shows you're ready to hit the ground running. If you’ve had any experience with them, make sure to highlight that!
✨Align with Company Culture
Since it's a full-time position, show your long-term commitment and interest in the company’s mission and values. Dive into how your ethics and professional philosophy align with Southern Housing’s stance on compliance. A shared vision can really resonate with interviewers looking for fit as much as skill!