Job Description

Head of Housing Operations

Location: Remote - Home Based with national travel required across ALS Housing services

Hours: 35

Salary: Circa £80,000 per annum

Contract: Permanent

For almost 70 years, Abbeyfield Living Society has been a leading provider of housing and care for older people across England. Guided by our five core values – Care, Compassion, Community, Integrity and Excellence – we're committed to creating welcoming communities where older people can live independently, feel connected and enjoy a fulfilling life.

We're looking for an experienced and inspiring Head of Housing Operations to lead our housing services, drive operational excellence and ensure our residents receive the highest standards of service and support.

As a member of our Senior Leadership Team, you'll play a key role in shaping and delivering our housing strategy, supporting organisational growth and ensuring our services remain sustainable, innovative and focused on the needs of older people.

What you'll be doing

• Lead housing operations: Provide strategic and operational leadership across our housing services, ensuring residents remain at the heart of everything we do.
• Drive financial performance: Take responsibility for budgets and financial performance, maximising occupancy, reducing voids, improving income collection and delivering value for money.
• Ensure safety and compliance: Oversee landlord compliance, building and fire safety, governance, risk management and regulatory requirements.
• Inspire and develop teams: Build a high-performing, engaged workforce, strengthening leadership capability, succession planning, colleague wellbeing and professional development.
• Champion resident experience: Improve customer satisfaction, encourage resident involvement and ensure our communities promote independence, wellbeing and social connection.
• Build strong partnerships: Develop effective relationships with local authorities, commissioners, community organisations, residents and other key stakeholders.
• Lead improvement and innovation: Use performance data, customer insight and digital solutions to improve services, drive efficiencies and identify opportunities for growth.
• Strengthen community impact: Support initiatives that reduce loneliness, encourage participation and contribute to our environmental and social sustainability objectives.

What we're looking for

You'll be a strategic, customer-focused leader with significant experience managing multi-site housing operations, supported housing, retirement living or a similar housing environment.

You'll bring:

• A strong understanding of housing regulation, governance, leasehold legislation, building safety and landlord compliance.
• Proven experience leading geographically dispersed teams and delivering excellent customer outcomes.
• Significant financial management experience, including responsibility for substantial budgets and commercial performance.
• A track record of improving occupancy, reducing voids, managing income and ensuring service sustainability.
• Experience leading organisational change, service transformation and continuous improvement.
• Strong people leadership skills, with experience in workforce planning, recruitment, succession planning and talent development.
• Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
• A commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and belonging, alongside a genuine passion for improving the lives of older people.

A CIH Level 5 or above housing qualification, or working towards this, is essential, alongside a degree-level qualification or equivalent senior leadership experience.

A leadership qualification, such as ILM Level 7, an MBA or an equivalent management qualification, would be advantageous. Experience in a charitable or not-for-profit organisation would also be beneficial.

A full Driving Licence with access to a vehicle for travel across ALS services.

Why join Abbeyfield Living Society?

At ALS, you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference to older people's lives while shaping the future of our housing services.

You'll join an organisation that values compassionate leadership, collaboration and continuous improvement, where your contribution can help create safe, inclusive and thriving communities.

Rewards and Benefits:

At Abbeyfield, we are committed to rewarding our staff for their hard work. Our benefits include:

• Salary: circa £80,000 per annum
• Up to 33 days paid leave (Pro Rata) including bank/public holidays.
• Travel expenses for mileage & overnight stays
• Book Virtual GP appointments, claim back healthcare and dental expenses with Medicash
• Comprehensive induction
• Life Assurance
• Pay progression within role
• Learning and career development opportunities
• Occupational sick pay
• Company pension
• Discounted gym membership
• An employee assistance programme
• Cycle-to-work scheme
• Shop and save vouchers
• Medical cashback scheme allowing costs of medical expenses (dental, opticians and much more) to be claimed back
• Opportunity to obtain Blue Light Card discounts.

Ready to make a difference?

If you're an experienced housing leader who can combine strategic vision with strong operational delivery, we'd love to hear from you.

Join Abbeyfield Living Society and help us create communities that keep more people connected in later life.