Director of Operations

  • Job Reference: 00003550-1
  • Date Posted: 4 November 2024
  • Recruiter: The Housing Network
  • Location: Luton, Bedfordshire
  • Salary: £100,000 to £115,000
  • Role: Director/CEO jobs
  • Job type: Permanent
  • Work hours: Full Time

Job Description

The Housing Network – Who are we?

We are The Housing Network (THN), a private limited company with a purpose. We exist to provide ‘More than a Roof’, because when life is at its toughest, we believe everyone deserves a safe and stable place to rebuild their lives.
Operating right across the UK (from Scotland to the South Coast) our team of 220+ dedicated professionals provide accommodation and support to over 5300 vulnerable individuals and families every single night – within self-contained, shared, supported and specialist scheme homes.
Alongside our 100+ Local Authorities and Ministry of Justice (MOJ) partners we work hard to design, and deliver person-centric solutions that meet the needs of our commissioners, communities and of course residents – always striving to ensure best-value and effectiveness.
We are a team that is absolutely committed to innovate, excel and be dependable in all that we do. Working hard together to achieve our mission of providing Better Accommodation, Better Support, Better Partnerships – and as a result Better Business.
This is an incredibly exciting time for The Housing Network as we embark on our Strategy 2024/29 : Homelessness The missing Piece journey. A journey that will see us expand our service to provide over 10,000 units of safe and inspiring accommodation into 75% of local authority areas across the UK!

Role Overview – What is it?

We have grown rapidly over the past 10 years (and particularly in the last 3 years) to create a highly successful business that does a huge amount of great work for individuals and families who are (or are at risk of) homelessness.

The growth achieved to date has been in part organic and achieved through the dedication and hard-work of a core team. However, we now recognise that our next phase of growth will take us into ever increasing areas of regulatory oversight, financial scrutiny and the wider public sector arena.

We recognise that to achieve our full potential over the next 10 years we need to both develop our own skills and also introduce entirely new skills (and experience) from across the sector. Using that blend of existing knowledge, drive and experience in combination with new strategic approaches and ways for working to create a powerful delivery model.

This role will hold direct responsibility for the strategic leadership and delivery of our core operational areas, including Maintenance & Utilities; Landlord Partnerships; Asset Delivery & Compliance; and Transformation. All of which are in need of transformations and change as we pivot away from small-business to more structured and process lead ways of working.

If you are excited by the opportunity (and challenge) of being involved in the creation of something better, more effective and more impactful; that will leave a real legacy for literally hundreds of thousands of vulnerable individuals and families this role could be for you!

Main Duties – What needs to be done?

  • Strategic lead for our core operational functions, including Maintenance, Bookings, Landlord Partnerships, Delivery, Transformation and Asset Compliance. Providing leadership and guidance to ensure we achieve optimal performance in all areas.
  • Strategic lead on the overall transformation and development of the core department functions, using your skills, knowledge and experience to ensure optimum levels of performance, scalability and long-term sustainability.
  • Coach and mentor the Heads (and where applicable managers) across all core areas, helping them to personally develop and deliver greater outputs / outcomes for the organisation.
  • Engage actively in the development of KPIs that provide an accurate and easily understood view of core departmental function performance, supporting SLT leads (and managers where appropriate) to respond accordingly.
  • Strategic lead for performance across all core areas of the department, ensuring all applicable KPIs and budget elements are met and where possible exceeded, in support of the wider strategic objectives.
  • Work with the MDs, COO and SLT to design, develop and mobilise effective strategies that support the vision of the organisation. Creating systems to monitor performance and inform continuous improvement.
  • Champion the values of the organisation as a means to support the development of great culture at all levels (and interactions) of the organisation, using that impact to drive greater levels of performance.
  • Challenge the SLT leads (and managers where applicable) of all core departmental functions to be innovative and solution focused in their pursuit of higher levels of performance, cost control and improved efficiency.
  • Strategic lead for all elements of Building Safety & Compliance works, proactively supporting the Head of Maintenance & Facilities and Head of Governance & Compliance to deliver the transformation.
  • Strategic lead for Fleet (c120 vehicles), supporting and challenging the SLT lead (or manager where applicable) to create systems and processes that enable accurate sighting of performance / risk, to ensure effective mitigation.
  • Maintain an overarching awareness of new and emerging trends, risks and legislation which may impact the core departmental functions, using that to inform strategic and operational responses.
  • Work with the MDS, COO and SLT to identify areas of underperformance, then supporting the Head of Transformation to assesses the underperformance and design processes and mitigations to assure improvement.
  • Work with SLT leads (and managers where appropriate) for the core departmental functions in the ongoing development and continuous improvement of the organisational CRM system.
  • Maintain a visibility across the various sectors of the core departmental functions, using your skills. Knowledge and experience to support SLT leads (and managers where applicable) to maximise opportunities.
  • Lead by example in engaging with various stakeholder activities, including Lived Experience groups, as a means to gain insight whilst raising the profile of the organisation.
  • Strategic lead on the setting and delivery of budgets for the department, using your skills, knowledge and experience to support SLT leads (and managers where applicable) to set and deliver their individual budgets.
  • Work, support and challenge SLT leads (and managers where appropriate) for the core departmental functions to embed best practise around procurement, using that to ensure best-value and overall efficiency.
  • Strategic lead for engagement with statutory bodies in relation to Building Safety & Compliance (eg fire service), using your skills, knowledge and experience to manage issues and minimise negative impact.
  • Champion our organisational ways working and services, highlighting their key advantages and value. Including proactive engagement with our ‘Lived Experience’ activities, maximising opportunities to showcase them.

Scope and Accountability – Which bits are involved?

  • Financial – Significant Budgetary Control
  • People – Initially 5-6 Direct Reports (Noting Stated Growth Aims)
  • Legislative / Compliance – Building H&S / Fire Compliance etc
  • Risk – People & Assets / Data / Fleet
  • Governance – Internal Policies / Data Protection / Budgets / Asset Compliance
  • Assets – Homes @ c2500 / Fleet @ c120 vehicles (Noting Stated Growth Aims)

Relationships – Who will I be working / engaging with?

  • Internal Stakeholders – Managing Directors / COO / Senior Leadership Team / Direct Reports / Internal Project Groups (eg Lived Experience Groups) / Staff Teams from across the Organisation.
  • External Stakeholders – Landlords / Supply Chain / Statutory Bodies (eg Fire Service) / County and District Authorities / Ministry of Justice / Commissioners / Delivery Partners (eg YMCA Federation) / Central Government Delivery Partners (eg DLUHC / Homes England) / Various Clients and Customers.

Competencies – Who with and your skill level?

  • Extensive knowledge and experience of the nature and type of services provided, with up to date understanding of current socio-economic trends and pressures.
  • Substantial experience of operating at an appropriate level within a relevant public, private or third-sector organisation; whereby you were responsible for comparable / similar functions.
  • Recognised and evidenced levels of high personal drive and ambition to deliver (and exceed) against personal targets, in the pursuit of shared strategic objectives.
  • Excellent communication and influencing skills, with an ability to work independently to foster and develop highly trusting relationships, in support of achieving identified goals.
  • Solution focused approach to delivering results, managing and mitigating risks and managing / resolving challenges.
  • Evidenced experience of budgetary responsibility and excellent performance / control at a similar or greater financial level.
  • Genuine demonstration of personal values and approach that align with our organisational values of always being dependable, respectful, kind, innovative and dynamic.
  • Commitment to collaborative and team working, recognising the importance of engaging senior colleagues and professional leads to work together across teams and department to find the best solutions for the organisation.

General and Additional

  • The responsibilities contained within this job description are indicative, but not exhaustive. This is a senior role in the organisation and we expect adaptability and versatility in the post holder. As the role develops, the requirements of the post may change, and as such the post is subject to review in discussion with the post holder.
  • The post holder may be required to undertake other duties from time to time as the organisation may reasonably require which are commensurate with the grade of the post.
  • The post holder shall comply with the organisations policies and procedures, ensuring appropriate actions and reporting protocols are followed at all times.
  • The post holder shall attend regular staff or other related meetings, contributing positively where appropriate and relevant.
  • Extensive travel across the UK will be required from time to time to support the delivery of role requirements.
  • An Enhanced Disclosure is required for this position.