Head of Area x 2 (Housing) - Mayor of London

• Salary: £88, 332 per annum
• Grade: 14
• Contract type: Permanent
• Reference: GLA2229
• Interview date: Week commencing 19 September 2022
• Application closing date: Monday 05 September 2022 at 23:59 GMT

Meeting the Mayor’s targets for housing

The housing crisis is one of the greatest challenges facing the capital – and the Mayor of London has ambitious plans to tackle it. The Greater London Authority (GLA) is working hard to make genuinely affordable homes a reality for more people. The scale of the challenge is huge, but so is our commitment. Together we can build a London for everyone.

The opportunity

This is a great opportunity to become a key member of the Housing and Land directorate’s senior management team, working closely with senior stakeholders across the housing and regenation sector in London. You will play a leading role in the delivery of the Mayor’s Housing Strategy and Affordable Housing Programme, and associated investments. The portfolio you will be responsible for will be across London, with a particular focus on North East London. You will work closely with Boroughs, registered providers and others to develop their housing and regeneration ambitions to meet the Mayor’s housing targets.

This means you will use commercial awareness and strong programme management skills to identify and manage delivery risks within your portfolio, and proactively seek opportunities for increasing delivery. This is an opportunity to lead and develop the high-performing North East Area Team. You will be a key contributor to the development of GLA housing policy and practice, and and provide support to the Assistant Director and Executive Director in delivering GLA’s corporate objectives.

The person

We’re looking for someone with senior management-level experience of leading complex, high-impact and large scale investment programmes. Expertise in housing / property / regeneration with significant senior level experience of delivering major housing and regeneration programmes will be expected. We will be looking for someone with the ability to provide high level programme and project analysis, and who is comfortable analysing commercial risks and opportunities. Operating in a fast paced, complex, political environment, resilience and adaptability will be key. In particular you will have experience of providing impartial advice to senior officers and politicians.

Excellent written and oral communication skills, a well-informed and creative approach to problem solving will be important for this role. As this post is in the senior management team of Housing and Land (and the GLA), the ability to manage and motivate a team of staff in a performance-oriented culture is key, as your team will be expected to deliver work programmes in line with departmental aims and objectives.

London's diversity is its biggest asset and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects the city. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability. The GLA is committed to increased diversity among its senior leadership, so we particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce.

For more information on the GLA’s approach to Diversity and Inclusion, please see Diversity and our values | London City Hall

This job is ‘politically restricted’ under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989

The application

Knowledge of London’s housing sector is strongly desirable but not essential. We want to understand how your skills and experience are relevant to this work, regardless of your professional background. So please submit a supporting statement that uses specific examples to demonstrate how you meet the following criteria from the job description and person specification:

1. Evidence of significant senior level experience of delivering major housing and regeneration programmes

2. High level programme and project analysis, planning and management skills

3. Experience of providing impartial advice to senior officers and politicians and of operating in a complex political environment.

4. Able to lead, manage and motivate team members, ensuring work programmes are delivered in line with set team and departmental aims and objectives.

5. Building and Managing Relationships: an ability to rapport and working effectively with a diverse range of people, sharing knowledge and skills to deliver shared goals.

6. Decision Making: an ability to form sound, evidence-based judgements, making choices, assessing risks to delivery, and taking accountability for results.

This position is full time (37 hours a week). You will be anchored at London’s City Hall (Kamal Chunchie Way) but also work from the GLA’s secondary office (169 Union Street). GLA staff are hybrid working with an average of 2-3 days a week in the office.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We would welcome applications from candidates who are seeking part time work as this role is open to job share.

If you have a question about the role, please contact Natalie Daniels ([email protected] and [email protected] ) a question about the application process, please email [email protected] quoting reference GLA2229.

Please note we do not accept CV’s for this role. All applications for this vacancy must be submitted via our online recruitment system. To apply and to view a copy of the Job Description and Person specification, please click the "Apply Now" button below.