Senior Strategy and Policy Officer

Help Shape the Future of Housing in Sheffield

Sheffield City Council is one of the UK's largest social landlords, responsible for nearly 40,000 council homes and delivering services that make a real difference to tenants and residents across the city.

As part of our Housing transformation, we are strengthening how strategy, policy and evidence support decisions and improve services. We are seeking an experienced Senior Housing Strategy and Policy Officer to lead complex work across Housing.

About the Role

Reporting to the Housing Strategy & Policy Manager, you will manager the development and delivery of housing strategy, policy and housing market analysis, ensuring statutory duties are met and decisions are informed by robust evidence.

You will lead complex strategy, policy, consultation and research activity, provide professional advice and prepare clear reports and recommendations for senior officers, elected members, boards and decision-making forums.

You will also oversee Housing Strategy and Policy Officers, support partnership working and deputise for the Service Manager when required.

What You'll Be Doing

• Leading housing strategy and policy work aligned with legislation, regulation and corporate priorities.
• Supporting delivery of statutory housing duties through internal, commissioned and collaborative activity.
• Managing housing intelligence, research, data and market analysis to inform planning, investment and service priorities.
• Leading consultation and engagement with residents, stakeholders, partners and service teams.
• Preparing reports, briefings, recommendations and governance papers for senior officers, elected members and boards.
• Ensuring effective governance, assurance, risk management and consideration of equality duties.
• Providing professional advice and constructive challenge on strategy, policy and regulatory matters.
• Leading work programmes, developing staff capability and quality-assuring high-quality outputs.
  

Who We're Looking For

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

• Detailed knowledge of housing strategy, housing policy and the legislative, regulatory and statutory environment affecting local authorities and social landlords.
• Significant experience of leading strategy, policy, consultation, research or service-improvement work in housing, local government or a related public service.
• Experience of interpreting legislation and guidance and translating evidence, data and intelligence into practical policy solutions.
• Experience of housing intelligence, research, benchmarking or housing market analysis to support strategic decisions.
• Strong written, verbal, presentation and influencing skills, including producing high-quality reports and governance papers.
• Experience of leading consultation, building effective partnerships and working with senior colleagues, elected members and external stakeholders.
• Experience of line management, supervision, coaching or quality assurance, with the ability to manage competing priorities and multiple workstreams.
• A degree or equivalent knowledge, skills and experience relevant to housing strategy, policy, research, planning, regeneration or a related discipline.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to shape housing priorities across Sheffield and ensure services respond to evidence, statutory requirements and resident needs. Your work will support stronger decisions, effective partnerships and improved outcomes for the city.

Interested?

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact: Ruth Ward Ruth.Ward@sheffield.gov.uk

We are investing in our workforce and are promoting opportunities to our under-represented groups. We value equality, diversity and inclusion and are focused on increasing the diversity of our workforce, particularly the number of Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic, Disabled and LGBTQ+ people, so that our teams reflect the communities in the city we serve. We are also supporting staff with unpaid caring responsibilities to work flexibly.

It is a great time to join us and we welcome your application.

Under the Guaranteed Interview scheme, applicants who are disabled, care leavers, or armed forces veterans will be guaranteed an interview if they meet the essential criteria and indicate their eligibility on the application form. Sometimes, if lots of people apply, we might not be able to interview everyone who qualifies for the Guarantee. In these cases, we’ll interview the candidates who best meet the essential criteria for the job.

Full-time employees work 37 hours for 52 weeks of the year and we offer a generous holiday entitlement. We are open to discussions about a wide range of flexible working opportunities which benefit you and the Council, including reduced hour contracts, working part time or as a job share.

If you are appointed to this role, your starting salary will be at the bottom of the grade. If you provide payslip evidence that your basic pay is greater than the bottom of the grade, we will consider starting you at the point of minimum advantage within the grade.

Equality of pay is extremely important to us. All roles at Sheffield City Council are going through an evaluation process which may result in changes to some pay arrangements from 2026. Read about the new job evaluation process to be introduced at Sheffield City Council.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all individuals, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for everyone and where appropriate to the role the successful applicant will be required to undertake relevant safeguarding checks.