At a Glance
- Tasks: Support the External Repairs Contracts Manager and ensure smooth delivery of services.
- Company: Join Watford Community Housing, a forward-thinking organisation dedicated to community strength.
- Benefits: Enjoy 28 days' leave, up to 11% pension contribution, and development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in your community while advancing your career in a dynamic team.
- Qualifications: 2 years of contract or customer service experience required.
- Other info: Embrace agile working with flexible hours and a collaborative culture.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 35000 £ per year.
We have an exciting opportunity for an External Repairs Contracts Officer to join Watford Community Housing on a full-time basis. The External Repairs Contract Officer will be responsible for supporting the External Repairs Contracts Manager, ensuring operational targets are delivered and met.
If you have contract management or customer service experience and would like the opportunity to progress into the next stage of your career, we would love to hear from you. You will be a part of a dynamic and fast-paced team. If you are ready for a new challenge, this could be the role for you. We strive to strengthen our communities whilst offering affordable housing services and more. Our success is largely associated with our internal Repairs and Maintenance, and External Repairs Contractors, who ensure that our neighbourhoods and homes are safe, secure, maintained, and fit for tomorrow.
Role purpose
You will support and work alongside the External Repairs Contracts Manager. In this position, you will support the day-to-day functions within the external repair contracts team, providing excellent customer service to all stakeholders, ensuring the customer is at the heart of everything that we do.
Key Accountabilities:
- Support the External Contracts Manager in ensuring smooth, effective delivery of external contracts and services.
- Provide a high-quality, customer-focused service that meets agreed satisfaction, performance and financial targets.
- Maintain strong knowledge of External Contracts to effectively support Repairs and Maintenance teams.
- Help develop and maintain processes that uphold high standards of contracted service delivery.
- Monitor and raise repair requests promptly, ensuring accurate reporting.
- Coordinate fleet vehicle inspections, servicing and maintenance, including all related administration.
- Process and review requests with strong attention to detail, following policies, procedures and deadlines.
- Provide weekly updates on invoices and support with closing WIP jobs and reporting progress.
- Manage the external repairs mailbox, ensuring all enquiries are responded to within 48 hours.
- Oversee warranty documentation, purchase orders, supplier onboarding and stock/materials monitoring.
- Support with insurance, disrepair and complex repair claims, and maintain Constructionline data.
- Contribute to continuous improvement by reviewing working practices and supporting data for contractor and team reports.
What are we looking for?
Essential:
- 2 years Contract / Customer Services Officer experience.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work as a part of a team or individually.
- You will need to maintain a satisfactory basic level DBS check.
Desirable:
- Knowledge of the housing sector.
- Knowledge of Microsoft Office including Excel.
Who you’ll work with
Responsible to: External Contracts Manager
Department: External Contracts
Our values
- Professional - We are honest, open and respectful. People trust us to keep our promises.
- Forward-thinking - We have a can-do attitude and embrace opportunities to improve and innovate.
- Collaborative - We work together as one team and build lasting partnerships to get results.
What can we offer you?
- 28 days’ annual leave (pro rata)
- Employer pension contribution of up to 11%
- Development opportunities
- Comprehensive employee rewards scheme
How we work
We embrace agile working - blending time in our communities, shared spaces, and remote working. With digital technology at the heart of our approach, we empower teams and individuals to work flexibly.
How to apply
If this sounds like your next role, click 'apply now', tell us why you’ve got what it takes, and attach a copy of your current CV.
Closing date: 4th February 2026
Interviews: 9th February 2026 (Please note we reserve the right to close the vacancy early if we receive a large response.)
External Contracts Officer in Watford employer: Watford Community Housing
Contact Detail:
Watford Community Housing Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land External Contracts Officer in Watford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the housing sector or those who work at Watford Community Housing. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info that could help you stand out.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by knowing your stuff! Research the company’s values and recent projects. Show us you’re not just another candidate, but someone who genuinely cares about their mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your customer service skills! Think of examples from your past experiences where you’ve gone above and beyond for customers. We want to see how you put the customer at the heart of everything you do.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team at Watford Community Housing.
We think you need these skills to ace External Contracts Officer in Watford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your contract management and customer service experience. We want to see how your skills align with the role of External Contracts Officer, so don’t be shy about showcasing relevant achievements!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re excited about this role and how you can contribute to our team. Keep it concise but impactful – we love a good story!
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since excellent written communication is key for this role, make sure your application is clear and free of errors. We appreciate attention to detail, so take the time to proofread before hitting send!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining our dynamic team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Watford Community Housing
✨Know Your Contracts
Familiarise yourself with the basics of contract management and the specific external contracts relevant to the role. This will show that you understand the responsibilities and can engage in meaningful discussions about how to support the External Repairs Contracts Manager.
✨Customer Service Focus
Prepare examples from your past experience that highlight your customer service skills. Think about situations where you went above and beyond to meet customer needs, as this role is all about ensuring a high-quality, customer-focused service.
✨Demonstrate Team Spirit
Be ready to discuss how you work within a team. Share experiences where collaboration led to successful outcomes, as the role requires working closely with various stakeholders to deliver effective services.
✨Attention to Detail
Since the role involves processing requests and maintaining documentation, be prepared to talk about how you ensure accuracy in your work. Bring up any tools or methods you use to stay organised and detail-oriented, especially when managing multiple tasks.