Director of Landlord Services
About the Service
Landlord Services plays a critical role in delivering Southwark 2030, supporting a fair, green borough where residents can live safely and with dignity. The service manages around 55,000 council homes including 19 sheltered housing schemes and 2 extra care schemes, and support over 37,000 tenants and 17,000 leaseholders.
Its impact is felt daily, through the quality and safety of homes, the responsiveness of repairs, how effectively problems are resolved, and the extent to which residents feel listened to. Delivering services at this scale requires strong leadership and clear priorities, balancing safety, quality and affordability while navigating rising demand, constrained resources and heightened regulatory scrutiny.
What You'll Be Doing
You’ll provide strategic leadership for Landlord Services, setting the direction for how housing management, resident services and private housing services are delivered at scale. Working closely with elected members, senior officers and partners, you’ll ensure services are safe, responsive and financially sustainable, while driving improvement where required.
You’ll lead a large diverse workforce through ongoing transformation, embedding a strong performance culture and ensuring landlord services play a central role in improving outcomes for residents and delivering the council’s long term ambitions.
Key responsibilities:
- Set strategic direction
Define and maintain a clear strategic framework for landlord services, translating council priorities into robust plans, policies and delivery models.
- Ensure performance and compliance
Provide oversight and challenge on service performance, quality, safety and regulatory compliance.
- Oversee financial sustainability
Take accountability for significant budgets, ensuring effective financial control, value for month and long term affordability of services.
- Lead and develop the service
Build leadership capacity across the service, setting expectations, developing talent, and creating the conditions for consistent delivery of services.
- Influence and representation
Act as the council’s senior lead for landlord services, advising members and senior officers, representing the service with residents, regulators and external partners
What we're looking for
We’re seeking an experienced senior leader who can provide clear direction for a complex landlord service. You’ll bring sound judgement and the ability to work effectively in a political environment, while evidencing the resilience needed to lead large scale services under scrutiny.
Key criteria:
- Operating at senior level
Experience working at senior management level within a large complex organisation, with accountability for housing related services.
- Leading strategic improvement
Evidence of setting long term director and delivering sustainable improvement, including leading transformation and cultural change.
- Sector understanding
A clear understanding of the local government and social housing landscape, including statutory duties, governance, and the financial context.
- Assurance, performance and resources
Demonstrate the ability to oversee performance, manage complex budgets and ensure quality, compliance and value for money.
- Influence, values and leadership style
A collaborative and thoughtful leadership approach, with strong communication skills, political awareness and a clear commitment to public services.
Additional Information
Recruitment Timeline
- Closing date: 03.02.26
- Longlist: 06.02.26
- Technical Assessment: w/c 09.02.26
- Shortlist: 16.02.26
- Stakeholder Panel: w/c 23.02.26
- Interview: 06.03.26
Useful Documentation
At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities. Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals and attend our universities.
Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark Stands Together, (which is our work with Southwark’s communities and the council’s staff to tackle racism, injustice and inequality) underpins all that we do.
Guaranteed Interview Scheme
As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:
- Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
- Are currently in care or have previously been in care.
- If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition.
Benefits
Working for Southwark Council – Southwark
Attachments
Salary range
- £119,553 - £150,333 per year