Head of Housing Governance, Assurance and Improvement

London Borough of Tower Hamlets

Tower Hamlets Council is dedicated to delivering outstanding public services, with a particular focus on providing exceptional Landlord Services to our 22,000 homes and building the largest number of new council homes in a generation. At LB Tower Hamlets, you’ll find a rewarding career with the chance to make a real impact.

Our workplace is supportive, friendly, diverse, and flexible, ensuring that all employees have the opportunity to thrive. You’ll join a highly motivated team, passionate about delivering services that truly matter to our residents.

The Service

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Housing and Regeneration Directorate at a pivotal moment. Since taking direct management of our 22,000 council homes in November 2023, we have embarked on a journey of improvement, including a self-referral to the Regulator of Social Housing and the launch of our ‘Your Voice, Our Action’ improvement programme. Having recently undergone inspection, we are on a clear path towards excellence, and this role is central to delivering our regulatory Improvement Plan.

The Role

Reporting to the Director of Strategy, Policy and Regulatory Assurance, you will be instrumental in shaping the Council’s governance, performance management, risk control, and service improvement within housing management. You will oversee performance, complaints, regulatory requirements, and the continuous improvement of our landlord services. Key responsibilities include:

• Ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory obligations, including data protection and record keeping.
• Providing expert advice and support to the Executive Mayor, Lead Member for Housing, Cabinet Sub Committee, and Senior Leadership team.
• Overseeing the Council’s governance framework and promoting best practice across the Directorate.
• Acting as the main contact for the Regulator of Social Housing and other external government and regulatory bodies.
• Managing a team responsible for governance, assurance, and complaints services.
• Developing and maintaining robust governance, risk, and controls frameworks.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues, elected members, and the wider leadership team to ensure we meet our regulatory obligations and deliver for our residents.

About You

We are seeking a sector expert with a proven track record in governance, assurance, risk management, and service improvement within a regulated, customer-facing environment. Experience working with executive teams, boards, and committees is essential, as is an in-depth understanding of the challenges facing housing providers and their residents. You will be a confident leader with excellent interpersonal skills, able to inspire and support colleagues at all levels.

You will bring:

• Expertise in governance, assurance, performance/improvement, and regulatory compliance.
• Experience managing teams within a regulatory or housing environment.
• A collaborative and practical approach to supporting strategic leadership and decision-making.
• A strong commitment to delivering high standards of service for residents.
• The ability to advise on and ensure compliance with relevant legislation and best practice.

Our Values

At Tower Hamlets, we are proud of our vision: to be a borough where people are aspirational, independent, and have equal access to opportunities; a place our residents are proud to call home. We are committed to our TOWER values—Together, Open, Willing, Excellent, Respect—and to fostering a diverse and inclusive workforce. We have zero tolerance for discrimination and are dedicated to eliminating disadvantage caused by social and economic circumstances.

Applications

We welcome candidates from across the housing sector, including those with experience in Registered Providers. We also encourage applications from those living in the borough. We are an accredited “disability confident employer” that guarantees an interview for all those that have indicated a disability that meets the minimum essential criteria for the role

What we offer

• 29 days paid holiday each year, rising with long service, plus bank holidays
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Cycle to work Scheme
• Range of employee discounts including tech schemes
• Corporate gym membership through our Be Well leisure offer
• Flexible working options subject to role
• Working within a diverse and inclusive workforce.
• Access to a range of staff networks
• Employee Assistance Programme and well being support
• Hybrid working within this role - minimum 2 days in the office