Head of Neighbourhoods

Brent Council is looking for a Head of Neighbourhoods, a significant role with responsibility for a wide portfolio.

The scale is substantial. You will lead around 80 employees, including up to six Service Managers, oversee a major operational budget and take responsibility for approximately £75 million of income collection. You will also play a central role within the wider Housing Services leadership team, helping to shape priorities and strengthen performance across the department.

Brent is at an important point in its housing journey. There is a clear improvement agenda, high expectations, and real scope for an experienced leader to make an impact quickly. The successful candidate will bring grip, pace, and clarity, while giving teams the confidence and direction to deliver consistently for residents.

This is a role for someone who creates momentum. You will need to see what needs to happen and keep progress moving. Brent is a large and complex council, where ideas are tested through governance, competing priorities, and a wide range of professional and political perspectives. Progress will often depend on your ability to influence and bring people with you. You will combine persistence with judgement, and challenge with the ability to build trust.

Your priorities will include:

• strengthening the quality and consistency of neighbourhood and tenancy services
• improving rent and service charge collection
• supporting sustainable tenancies and vulnerable residents
• improving the response to anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse
• strengthening resident engagement and ensuring insight leads to action
• improving performance, assurance and regulatory compliance
• building capability, confidence and accountability across the service
• making effective use of constrained resources

This is also a visible role. You will spend time in Brent’s neighbourhoods, listening to residents and understanding how services are experienced on the ground. You will connect senior leadership with frontline delivery and ensure that commitments lead to action.

You will work closely with the Director of Housing Services, elected members, senior colleagues, and partners. You will need to explain complex issues clearly, offer balanced advice and remain confident when challenged. Strong political awareness, sound judgement, and the ability to build credibility quickly will be essential.

Brent is particularly interested in leaders who can demonstrate:

• substantial experience across housing management or neighbourhood services
• a strong record of improving operational performance and culture
• experience of leading through scrutiny, regulation or significant service challenge
• confidence managing budgets, income, risk and large teams
• credibility with residents, employees, members and senior stakeholders
• resilience, pace and a high level of personal ownership
• the ambition and potential to contribute at a broader leadership level over time

You should hold, or be willing to work towards, the required Chartered Institute of Housing Level 5 qualification.

This appointment also forms part of Brent’s longer-term leadership planning. The council wants to attract someone who can make an immediate impact in the Head of Neighbourhoods role and develop into wider leadership responsibilities over the coming years.

For an ambitious housing leader, this is a rare opportunity to take on a substantial service, shape its future direction, and leave a visible mark on the experience of residents across one of London’s most diverse boroughs.