Job Introduction
Make a visible difference to our homes and communities.
Medway Council is delivering on its One Medway Plan (2024–2028)—and housing sits at the heart of our ambition. We are committed to ensuring residents live in safe, high-quality, affordable homes, supported by a modern, tenant-focused landlord service.
We are now seeking an exceptional leader to join us as Head of HRA Property & Development, responsible for shaping and delivering services across our portfolio of 3,000+ council homes.
About the role:
This is a senior leadership position reporting to the Chief Housing Officer, with full responsibility for the strategic and operational performance of property services.
You will:
- Lead the asset management, repairs, compliance, development, and energy services across our housing stock
- Manage annual budgets of £15m–£30m, ensuring value for money and alignment with the HRA Business Plan
- Drive the delivery of new homes through land use, acquisitions, and development opportunities
- Ensure full compliance with all building safety and landlord responsibilities (gas, electrical, fire, asbestos, water safety)
- Develop and implement long-term strategies to improve asset performance and reduce lifecycle costs
- Champion sustainability, delivering EPC C by 2030 and contributing to carbon neutrality by 2050
- Ensure our tenants voice is at the heart of our decision-making processes.
You’ll lead a multidisciplinary team, including four senior managers, overseeing external contractors and consultants to deliver consistent, high-quality services.
What you’ll bring:
We are looking for a credible and forward-thinking leader with:
Experience
- Significant senior leadership experience within housing or a comparable regulated environment
- A strong track record of delivering improvements in compliance, service quality, and tenant outcomes
- Experience managing large budgets and complex programmes
- Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary teams and transformation initiatives
Knowledge & Skills
- Deep understanding of social housing regulation, landlord compliance, and the evolving legislative landscape
- Strategic thinking with the ability to influence at senior level, including with Members and regulators
- Strong financial, commercial, and performance management capability
- Exceptional stakeholder engagement and leadership skills
- Commitment to resident engagement and customer-focused services
Qualifications
- CIH Level 4 (minimum) with commitment to Level 5, or equivalent
- Professional membership (e.g. CIH, RICS, CIOB, CMI) desirable
Interviews will be held mid to end of June 2026.
If you would like to have an informal discussion with the recruiting manager, please call Claire Bonthrone to arrange an appointment on 01634 331507.
In return we offer you:
- Generous annual leave entitlement
- Generous local government pension scheme package
- Access to wider training and development qualifications
- Flexible working scheme
- Travel plan discounts
- Car Benefit Scheme from Tusker
- Access to CAREFIRST advice & counselling service
- Employee discount scheme for national and local retailers
- The Government has introduced new ways of supporting parents with childcare costs. Further details are available here: - https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/
We're committed to making Medway carbon neutral by 2050. We have developed an action plan to ensure we play our part in addressing the climate emergency. Our declaration fits into our Council Plan priority of making Medway a place to be proud of. The main outcome being a 'clean and green environment'. All Medway Council staff can access an additional day’s paid leave to undertake a volunteering activity which supports climate change.
Our organisation:
Medway is a unitary authority in the South East of England, made up of the towns of Strood, Rochester, Chatham, Gillingham and Rainham and more rural areas, including the Hoo Peninsula.
Situated in Kent in the South-East of England, the area has plenty of green spaces, excellent facilities and easy access to the national motorway and rail networks, facilitating superb transport links to London.
We provide all local Government services for a quarter of a million people, looking after education, environment, social care, housing, planning, business and much more - everything from frontline services such as rubbish collection and events like the Dickens Festival to work that goes on behind the scenes to ensure services in Medway run smoothly and cost effectively.
Working at Medway Council means that you get to be part of this journey working alongside talented, professional colleagues to drive forward change to transform the lives of our residents and the communities they live in.
Important Information:
- Applicants must be able to demonstrate all criteria at level A which are essential for appointment to the role.
- Medway Council is not able to provide a Certificate of Sponsorship, so candidates must already possess the right to work in the UK.
- For further information, and for details of the benefits of working for Medway Council, please refer to the Medway information pack available as a download or to view online.
- Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted. All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email.
- We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.
Please visit http://www.mindfulemployer.net/ for information on how Medway Council put good practices in place to ensure employees and job applicants who declare mental health issues receive the right level of support.
