Private Sector Housing Manager

Do you want to make a real difference to the local environment and quality of life for communities?

If you want to make a real difference to the local environment and quality of life for local communities then consider joining our recently restructured Regulatory Services Department in one of two challenging yet rewarding roles. 

The Dover district is home to a diverse range of communities, from coastal towns to rural villages and hamlets.  As well as making this a great place to live and work, this diversity also brings challenges and opportunities. 

We work closely with the public and businesses to help realise our corporate vision of a District of ambition, inspiration, and good living – a destination of choice. 

Within this vision we consider protection of the environment and the housing stock a high priority. We aim to achieve this through serving our communities effectively with the provision of efficient, effective, consistent customer focused Environmental Protection & Private Sector Housing Teams.  

We have a high commitment to customer care, so it is important applicants have:

• excellent communication skills,
• the ability to organise and manage their own workload.
• be able to work as part of a team,
• possess good IT skills.

Both roles cover a 37-hour week worked predominately between the hours of 9am and 5pm Monday-Friday.  However, work outside these hours will be required from time to time for targeted operations or operational need.

Dover District Council employees have the benefit of

• a generous annual leave package
• opportunity for home-working and flexible working hours subject to service requirements
• private healthcare scheme 
• an opt-in local government pension scheme with the opportunity for staff to make advanced voluntary contributions to top up their pension.
• free onsite parking
• confidential employee advice and support programme
• a modern leisure centre within walking distance of the council offices with reduced membership rate for council employees
• the opportunity to work within a seaside location bursting with heritage and a number of towns and villages all within easy reach of the coast. Other benefits of living in the district include the excellent transportation links to London and across the continent via High-speed Train and cross-channel ferries

The roles available are:

Private Sector Housing Manager

Due to the retirement of the current post-holder, Dover District Council has an exciting but challenging opportunity available for an experienced person to lead our busy Private Sector Housing Team. We are seeking a talented and creative individual with substantial experience in private sector housing enforcement and knowledge of Disabled Facilities Grants, to lead our Private Sector Housing Team.

You will manage a team of experienced and motivated members with an excellent track record in improving the quality and accessibility of private sector properties and supporting residents to have safe, decent, homes.

We deal with the full range of private-sector housing issues including, HMO licensing, empty-homes, Disabled Facilities Grants, Loans and Caravan Site Licencing. We also commission several services such as Hospital Discharge Scheme and Handyperson.

Dover District Council has a pro-active policy in enforcement and was the first Kent Council to have an enforcement policy on penalty charges under the housing Act 2004 and to make a Banning Order. The postholder will contribute to the improvement of private sector housing conditions in our district through housing enforcement and HMO licensing.

The role is demanding and will require you to take personal responsibility for a wide range of issues. You will advise and support the team when taking formal enforcement action, prosecutions, and the issuing of Civil Penalties.

You will have a proven record of achieving positive outcomes in this sector, through collaboration, partnership working and formal action. You will have excellent interpersonal and influencing skills and the ability to think creatively to find solutions to complex problems.

Essential Requirements

• You should be educated to degree level and ideally a graduate member of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.
• You should have at least five years previous experience in private sector housing work, excellent working knowledge of housing legislation and private sector housing issues and will be a confident and self-motivated professional with excellent communication skills.
• A full UK driving licence and access to a car is also essential.

Applicants may  undergo a DBS check.

For an informal discussion about this post, please contact Robin Kennedy Private Sector Housing Manager on 01304 87221 or email robin.kennedy@dover.gov.uk

Interview Date: Friday 25^th June 2021

Job Title

Private Sector Housing Manager

Job Reference

N/A

Date posted

17^th May 2021

Application closing date

Friday 11 June 2021

Location

Dover District

Salary

£46339 to £52435 plus £6352 car allowance

Contract Type

Full Time- permanent

Job Category/ Type

Private Sector Housing