Director of Repairs & Maintenance in Watford

Watford Community Housing is a community-focused housing association with a strong social purpose. We own and manage around 7,700 homes and associated assets across South-West Hertfordshire and North-West London, with a clear commitment to providing high-quality, safe homes for our customers. As a Community Gateway housing association, we place residents at the heart of decision-making, ensuring our services reflect the needs and ambitions of the communities we serve.

As we continue to strengthen our service delivery, invest in our homes and neighbourhoods, and build on our C1 rating under the recently introduced consumer standards, we are seeking to appoint a Director of Repairs & Maintenance. This is a key senior leadership role that will shape the strategic direction of our repairs, maintenance and voids services and ensure consistently excellent, customer-focused outcomes.

It is an exciting time to be joining us. We are currently in discussions regarding a proposed merger that would create a new Community Gateway housing association with more than 13,000 homes. Subject to approval, the successful candidate will become Director of Repairs & Maintenance Designate for the new organisation, playing a central role in bringing together two in-house repairs teams, aligning cultures, and establishing a single, high-performing and values-led service.

Reporting to the Executive Director of Operations, the Director of Repairs & Maintenance will lead the delivery of safe, efficient and compliant repairs and maintenance services across the organisation. Working closely with the Executive Team, Board and Gateway Membership Team – our tenant representative body – the postholder will ensure regulatory compliance, strong performance, and a culture of collaboration, trust and continuous improvement that puts customers first.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the strategic vision and delivery of high-quality repairs, maintenance and voids services.
• Playing a pivotal role in aligning ways of working, behaviours and cultures across teams, particularly in the context of a potential merger.
• Building strong collaboration across directorates to ensure repairs and maintenance services are fully integrated with housing, customer and community services.
• Ensuring a strong customer focus across all service activities, driving improvements in satisfaction, quality and responsiveness.
• Providing clear, data-driven performance leadership, ensuring KPIs, regulatory expectations, corporate objectives and business plan targets are met.
• Ensuring full compliance with building safety, health & safety legislation, property standards and Awaab’s Law.
• Managing contractor and supply-chain performance to deliver value for money and high standards of workmanship.
• Advising the Executive Team, Board and Committees on service performance, risk, compliance and strategic priorities.
• Developing and maintaining strong partnerships with customers, local authorities, contractors and key stakeholders.
• Overseeing effective budget management, ensuring services are well controlled and financially sustainable.
• Building, motivating and empowering high-performing teams, fostering an engaged, inclusive and values-led culture.
• Representing Watford Community Housing professionally and positively, promoting collaboration and excellence across all areas of responsibility.

We are looking for a senior leader who brings:

• Significant leadership experience within repairs and maintenance, asset management or a related operational discipline.
• A strong track record of leading teams through change, with experience of cultural alignment, service integration or organisational transformation.
• Strong technical, commercial and regulatory knowledge, ideally within a social housing or property-focused environment.
• A proven ability to develop and deliver strategic service improvement plans.
• Experience of working confidently with Boards, Committees and governance structures.
• A collaborative, inclusive leadership style, with the ability to build trust, engage colleagues and motivate high-performing teams.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with experience of working effectively across organisational boundaries and with external partners.
• A clear commitment to customer outcomes and the social purpose of Watford Community Housing.
• A relevant professional qualification is desirable but not essential.

If you are a forward-thinking, collaborative leader who can help us align people, culture and services while delivering safe, high-quality homes for our communities, we would be delighted to hear from you.