Lead Officer - Private Sector Housing Standards & Grants

Job description

Lead Officer (Private Sector Housing Standards and Grants)

Grade 10 | Permanent Full Time Position

Location: Pembrokeshire County Council
Directorate: Social Services and Housing
Service Area: Public Protection

About the Role

Pembrokeshire County Council is seeking an experienced and motivated housing professional to lead our Private Sector Housing Standards and Grants Team.

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key leadership role in improving housing conditions, increasing housing availability, supporting vulnerable residents, and delivering innovative housing solutions across Pembrokeshire. Reporting to the Public Protection Manager (Public Health, Housing and Licensing), you will provide both strategic and operational leadership for a diverse service responsible for private sector housing standards, enforcement, housing assistance grants, adaptations, empty homes initiatives, energy efficiency programmes and housing improvement schemes.

As Lead Officer, you will manage a team of housing professionals and support staff, oversee significant grant and capital programmes, and work closely with Welsh Government, housing partners, landlords, developers, health professionals and elected members to deliver high-quality services that make a real difference to local communities.

Key Responsibilities

You will:

• Lead and manage the Private Sector Housing Standards and Grants Team.
• Oversee enforcement and compliance activities under housing legislation, including Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) assessments.
• Manage housing assistance grants, Disabled Facilities Grants, adaptation programmes and loan schemes.
• Lead the Council's Empty Homes Programme and initiatives to bring vacant properties back into use.
• Drive energy efficiency, decarbonisation and home improvement projects.
• Manage service budgets, grant funding and capital expenditure programmes.
• Develop policies, procedures and service improvement initiatives.
• Prepare reports and provide professional advice to senior management, elected members and partner organisations.
• Represent the Council at local, regional and national forums.

About You

We are looking for an enthusiastic and experienced housing professional who can demonstrate:

Essential Requirements

• Degree or equivalent qualification in Environmental Health, Housing, Building Technology, Surveying, Architecture or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Significant experience operating at a senior level within housing, enforcement or regulatory services.
• Experience undertaking housing inspections and applying housing legislation, including HHSRS.
• Previous management and leadership experience.
• Strong knowledge of housing and public health legislation.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and report-writing skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, projects and deadlines.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office applications.
• Access to suitable transport to undertake the duties of the role.

Desirable Requirements

• Experience of Disabled Facilities Grants and housing adaptation programmes.
• Experience of Welsh Government housing grant programmes.
• Ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to influence housing standards and housing supply across Pembrokeshire while leading a highly skilled team delivering services that improve people's health, wellbeing and independence.

We offer:

• A permanent leadership role within an ambitious service.
• Opportunities for professional development and training.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
• Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Generous annual leave entitlement.
• A rewarding career making a positive impact across Pembrokeshire communities.

Additional Information

The role combines office-based, remote and site-based working and includes inspections of residential properties, engagement with residents and stakeholders, and attendance at meetings across the county.

If you have the experience, leadership skills and passion to shape the future of private sector housing services in Pembrokeshire, we would love to hear from you.

Apply today and help us create safer, healthier and more sustainable homes for our communities.

Employee Benefits

Our employee benefits are designed to help invest in your future and are in addition to living and working in Pembrokeshire, one of the most beautiful and desirable counties in the UK. For further details, please refer to the Employee Benefits leaflet attached.

The Visit Pembrokeshire website https://www.visitpembrokeshire.com/ is an excellent source of information, and showcases the wide variety of activities, amenities and adventures that await you.

Please refer to the job description above for more details on this vacancy and the person specification.

Employment Checks

Where it is appropriate for your role and responsibility, the personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by visiting https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn.

Applicants should ensure they have the right to work in the UK before applying for a vacancy.

Please note that at this point, Pembrokeshire County Council is not accepting applicants who require a Skilled Worker visa as a prerequisite to a right to work in the UK. Applicants should ensure they have the right to work in the UK before applying for a vacancy.

Guidance Note: Use of AI and Accuracy of Information:

• We understand that applicants may choose to use tools such as generative AI to support the preparation of their application. While the use of such tools is permitted, it remains the applicant's full responsibility to ensure that all information submitted is factually accurate, truthful, and representative of their own skills, experiences and qualifications.
• Providing information that is false, misleading, or exaggerated, regardless of whether it was generated by AI or not, may result in disqualification from the recruitment process or dismissal if discovered after appointment.
• By submitting this application, you confirm that all content provided is accurate and submitted in good faith.

The Supported Employment Programme is a group of local authority based enterprises that employs over 75 people with a disability or work limiting health condition, please visit the link below for further information: Pembrokeshire Supported Employment Programme - Pembrokeshire County Council

Safeguarding

Safeguarding and protecting children and adults at risk is a high priority for Pembrokeshire County Council. We aim to support vulnerable children and adults at risk to ensure they are as safe as they can possibly be. We are committed to ensuring their safety and will take action to safeguard their well-being. The Council's Corporate Safeguarding Policy provides a framework for every member of staff and Service within the Council, setting out responsibilities in relation to safeguarding and protecting children and adults at risk as well as the methods by which the Council will be assured that it is fulfilling its duties.

This policy applies to all Council employees and workforce, councillors, volunteers and also service providers that are commissioned by the Council. Safeguarding is everyone's business whether they work for, or on behalf of, the Council.

Support & Additional Info

• Please contact the HR Systems Team as early as possible if you're unable to apply online by emailing [email protected] .
• Please contact the Recruitment Team if you have any queries relating to this vacancy by emailing [email protected] .
• Local Government Employees on National Joint Council (NJC) terms are subject to national pay bargaining; all salaries currently stated in our adverts are as 01/04/2025.
• Please note, we have a legal obligation to consider employees for suitable alternative employment if their posts are at risk; therefore prior consideration will be given to existing employees who meet the person specification and are registered on our redeployment pool.

Welsh language skills are not needed. Applications may be submitted in Welsh and will not be treated less favourably than applications submitted in English.