Head of Cohousing - Housing 21

Head of Cohousing

Housing 21

At Housing 21 we pride ourselves on being passionate about people and are committed to investing in those who work for us to help them to be the best they can be. When you work for us, you will be joining an organisation that holds the Investors in People Platinum standard.

Our people are our foundation and we know how important it is to support them to do what they do best, whether through flexible working, learning new skills or being part of a friendly and supportive workplace culture. We are incredibly proud of the culture we have created and celebrate the positive difference we make to society.

If you think you’re ready for a new challenge and able to make a difference, then come and join us!

The role:

We are currently looking to recruit a full-time Head of Cohousing, based either at our Head Office in Birmingham or working from home. The role is 35 hours a week and we are happy to talk flexible working.

Housing 21 has ambitious development plans and aspirations. In addition to providing high quality Extra Care and Retirement Living schemes we believe cohousing provides an additional option for older people of modest means.

In this role, you will champion the concept and ethos of cohousing for Housing 21, ensuring that disadvantaged communities are at the heart of decision making relating to all aspects of the projects, from design through to future management. Reporting to the Deputy Chief Executive, this role is a fantastic opportunity to make a meaningful difference.

You will take the lead on Housing 21’s cohousing strategy, working closely with and supporting the Development Team, with a particular focus in areas with significant BAME populations and areas of deprivation. You will forge strong relationships with external agencies and as our cohousing lead, you will proactively engage and manage relationships with stakeholders including local community groups, local authorities and politicians.

As an IIP Platinum organisation we never stand still and always want to do better, so you will gather evidence and insights to support the continuous improvement of Housing 21’s cohousing offer, and will support with reporting and governance arrangements that provide substantial assurance to the Board (and any delegated committee) that agreed objectives and aims for the delivery of cohousing are being effectively monitored.

To be considered for this role you will need to have:

• In-depth and broad knowledge and understanding of both the housing and care sectors

• Proven experience in strategic planning and project development

• Comprehensive and demonstrable knowledge of current factors, initiatives and policy changes that impact on the housing and care sector

• Proven experience of working with local authorities, politicians and community groups

• Experience of working with senior managers

If you are committed to delivering the best, are passionate about developing others and the organisation, and have a can do approach with a customer focused attitude, we would love to hear from you. We champion employee wellbeing and work/life balance.

By joining us, in addition to our competitive rates of pay and comprehensive benefits package, we also offer two days of volunteer leave each year. We are committed to investing in your development and also offer full/part cover for professional fees.

We think Housing 21 is an amazing place to work but don’t just take our word for it…

“Housing 21 encourages people to voice their opinions and creativity. Everyone is approachable and takes time to get to know you regardless of position” – Resident Charges Analyst, Finance

“I am very happy about the progress I have made at Housing 21. I have gone from being on a temporary contract to Credit Manager!”- Credit Manager, Finance

“Housing 21 invests in people and they look at people’s abilities and their potential. Training is given on the job to add value to their existing skills. Housing 21 have a mature relationship with their staff and have a focus on quality both in terms of delivery and in terms of supporting staff.” - Head of Development

Who we are:

Housing 21 is a leading not for profit provider of Retirement Living and Extra Care for older people of modest means. We operate in nearly 200 local authority areas, manage around 20,000 Retirement and Extra Care Living properties and provide over 42,000 hours of social care each week. We are committed to providing a modern, forward thinking 21st century service. We strive for continuous improvement and innovation in all that we do. We aim to provide a consistently excellent service and a great experience for all the people we serve.

Head of Cohousing Location: Birmingham, B16 or home based

Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week

Salary: £69,603 per annum

Closing date: 14 September 2021

Proposed interview dates: 21 September 2021 

To apply and view full details of the role, please visit www.housing21.org.uk/careers/ or email a copy of your up to date CV and cover letter to detail your suitability for the role to Michelle Whittle - Recruitment Partner at [email protected]