Housing Solutions Strategic Lead in Stroud

Lead the future of housing solutions in Stroud District Council

We are looking for an exceptional strategic leader to join our Housing team at Stroud District Council and play a pivotal role in shaping services that positively impact the lives of residents across the district.

As Housing Solutions Strategic Lead, you will provide leadership for housing advice, homelessness prevention, rough sleeping services, temporary accommodation, housing allocations and refugee resettlement. This is a high-profile role offering the opportunity to influence policy, drive innovation and ensure some of our most vulnerable residents receive effective support when they need it most.

About the role

Reporting to the Strategic Head of Housing, you will lead a diverse portfolio of statutory and strategic housing services, ensuring they are customer-focused, legally compliant and deliver excellent outcomes for residents.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing strategic leadership across Housing Solutions services.
• Leading the development and delivery of the Council's Housing, Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy.
• Ensuring compliance with housing and homelessness legislation and statutory duties.
• Driving service transformation, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Leading the Council's strategic response to homelessness and rough sleeping.
• Managing significant budgets, grant funding programmes and commissioned services.
• Building strong partnerships with housing providers, health services, voluntary organisations, government bodies and neighbouring authorities.
• Providing expert advice to senior leaders and elected members on housing matters.
• Leading and developing high-performing teams whilst promoting a positive, accountable and customer-focused culture.

About you

We are seeking a confident and inspiring leader with substantial experience in housing, homelessness and related services within a local authority or comparable setting.

You will be a values-driven leader who sets the standard through their actions, nurturing a positive, inclusive and high-performing culture. You will champion the Council's values and behaviours, ensuring they are reflected in how services are delivered, how partnerships are developed and how teams are supported to achieve their best. You will inspire trust, demonstrate integrity and accountability, and help foster an environment where residents remain at the heart of everything we do.

You will bring:

• Extensive knowledge of homelessness legislation, housing law and statutory housing duties.
• Significant leadership experience, including managing teams and delivering organisational change.
• Experience of strategic planning, performance management and service improvement.
• Strong financial management and commissioning experience.
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience of partnership working across multiple agencies and sectors.
• Knowledge of safeguarding, domestic abuse legislation and support for vulnerable households.
• A track record of delivering innovative solutions and improving outcomes for residents.

Why join us?

This is an exciting opportunity to influence housing outcomes across the district and lead services that make a genuine difference to people's lives. You will work with dedicated colleagues and partners to tackle homelessness, improve access to accommodation and develop innovative solutions to some of the sector's biggest challenges.

If you are a strategic thinker with a passion for housing, homelessness prevention and improving lives, we would love to hear from you.

Join us and help shape the future of housing services across the district.

For questions about the role, please contact Andy Kefford, andy.kefford@stroud.gov.uk

CLOSING DATE: 29th November 2026

INTERVIEW DATE: 7th December 2026

In exchange for your expertise, experience and enthusiasm we provide a range of staff benefits. Please click here for more information: https://www.stroud.gov.uk/jobs-and-careers/benefits-of-working-for-us

A local government reorganisation is planned for Gloucestershire, which may result in changes to structures and services. Potential changes are provisionally timetabled for April 2028. We are committed to supporting all employees through this transition and ensuring continuity of employment wherever possible. Joining us now means you’ll be part of shaping an exciting new chapter for local government.

It is important that our staff reflect the diversity of our community, and we therefore welcome and encourage applications from people of all genders and sexual orientation, those from Black, Asian and other minority ethnic backgrounds, and people with disabilities.

We welcome applications from neurodivergent candidates and value the diverse lived experiences they bring.

We recognise the wide range of cognitive strengths that contribute to delivering high-quality services.

We are committed to ensuring that every applicant can participate fully and fairly in our recruitment process. To support this, we offer workplace adjustments at every stage. Please let us know if you have any additional requirements as we are here to help create a positive, inclusive, and equitable experience for all.

Please be advised that the Council is unable to provide sponsorship under the UK Skilled Worker visa route. Candidates must be able to demonstrate an existing right to work in the UK.

Responsible recruitment practices for safeguarding are in place within the Council’s HR policies and processes. This is part of our commitment as a Council to safeguard the welfare of vulnerable adults, young people, and children.

Stroud District has an energy unlike any other place. It’s green and dynamic, climate conscious and motivated, creative and collaborative, and unapologetically ambitious. To find out more about what makes our place, our people and our businesses so special, please follow the link to our dedicated website: Stroud District – The Natural Place