Head of Property Services - #2167872

Head of Property Services

Location: Leeds - LATCH offices with regular attendance across our property portfolio

Salary: £54k to £57k per annum dependent on skills and experience

Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract: Permanent, Full-time

Interview Date – 11th November

LATCH is looking for an experienced Head of Property Services to take overall responsibility for the management, safety, compliance and long-term condition of our property portfolio.

We provide homes and support to people in Leeds and currently manage approximately 108 properties. This is a key senior leadership role with responsibility for ensuring our homes are safe, compliant, well maintained and effectively managed, while supporting LATCH's wider social purpose.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, you will lead our Property Services function and provide oversight across property compliance, repairs and maintenance, voids and lettings, refurbishment and development, planned maintenance, asset management, contractors and property-related health and safety.

You will also play an active role within LATCH's senior management arrangements, contributing to organisational planning, budgets, risk management and future development.

Duties but not limited to:-

You will:

• Lead and manage the Property Services function, establishing clear priorities, responsibilities and service standards
• Maintain oversight of statutory and regulatory property compliance, including gas, electrical, fire, asbestos, legionella and EPC requirements
• Oversee responsive repairs, planned maintenance and property condition across the portfolio
• Ensure effective arrangements are in place to identify and address property hazards, including damp and mould
• Manage the performance of the voids service, helping properties move efficiently from vacancy through works to reletting
• Oversee property refurbishment and development projects
• Contribute to the assessment and acquisition of new properties
• Develop planned maintenance and longer-term property investment priorities
• Appoint, manage and monitor contractors, ensuring quality, safety and value for money
• Act as the senior operational lead for property-related health and safety
• Develop and monitor the Property Services budget and control expenditure
• Develop meaningful KPIs and use property, compliance and financial information to improve performance
• Provide clear property-related advice, information and assurance to the Chief Executive and Board

Skills and Experience

We're looking for an experienced property professional who can combine strong operational knowledge with effective leadership and management.

You will need:

• Significant experience of managing a property, housing, maintenance, asset management or comparable property-related service
• Experience of managing staff and coordinating a multi-disciplinary operational team
• Good knowledge of residential property compliance and health and safety requirements
• Experience overseeing repairs, maintenance and property works
• Experience appointing and managing contractors, including performance, quality and value for money
• Experience managing budgets and monitoring expenditure
• Experience using performance, property and financial information to manage services and support decision-making
• A good understanding of risk management, assurance and accountability within a property service
• Strong leadership, communication and decision-making skills
• The ability to maintain strategic and operational oversight without needing to become involved in every aspect of day-to-day delivery
• Good IT skills, including Microsoft 365 and the ability to work with property and performance-management systems

Experience within social housing, supported housing or another residential property environment would be particularly valuable, although it is not essential.

Experience of property refurbishment, acquisitions, planned maintenance or asset management would also be an advantage.

A relevant professional, technical or management qualification in housing, property, building, construction, facilities management, health and safety or a related discipline would be desirable.

About LATCH?

This is an opportunity to take ownership of an important service within an organisation with a strong social purpose.

You'll have the scope to shape how Property Services operates, strengthen systems and standards, support and develop the team and influence future investment across the portfolio.

You'll work closely with our Chief Executive, colleagues and Board, combining day-to-day leadership with the opportunity to contribute to the wider direction and development of LATCH.

If you have the property expertise, leadership experience and commitment to help us provide safe, well-maintained homes, we'd be pleased to hear from you.

Apply now with your CV and details of your relevant experience.