Fire safety manager jobs in Manchester

We are currently seeking a dynamic and experienced Director of Housing to lead our supported housing services nationally and help shape the next stage of our growth.

As Director of Housing, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across all of Life’s supported housing services. This is a key role within the Senior Leadership Team, responsible for ensuring our housing provision is high‑quality, compliant, safe and truly centred around the needs of our clients.

You will lead our national Housing Strategy, drive service improvement, ensure regulatory compliance, support organisational growth, and champion a culture of compassion, accountability and high performance.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Growth

• Develop and deliver a national Housing Strategy aligned to Life’s vision and mission.
• Identify housing development and expansion opportunities, including partnerships with local authorities and commissioners.
• Support organisational business planning and future growth.

Regulatory Compliance & Governance

• Ensure full compliance with housing legislation and regulatory requirements including the Social Housing (Regulation) Act, HHSRS, safeguarding and Health & Safety.
• Lead regulatory audits, inspections and risk management.
• Provide assurance on compliance and viability to the CEO and Trustees.

Service Quality & Client Experience

• Embed a client-centred, compassionate approach aligned with Housing Ombudsman principles.
• Oversee effective complaints management, learning reviews and client feedback systems.
• Ensure properties and services meet high standards of safety, warmth and comfort.

Operational Leadership

• Lead housing management, income recovery, voids, repairs and maintenance, compliance and tenancy sustainment.
• Ensure effective escalation of tenancy breaches and safeguarding practices.
• Work closely with Life’s Helpline services around referral and allocations.

Financial & Asset Management

• Oversee rental income, arrears, void control and financial performance.
• Manage contracts, grants and local authority funding.
• Ensure major works, planned maintenance and statutory compliance are delivered effectively.

Leadership & People Management

• Lead and support Housing Managers, support teams and frontline workers.
• Foster a positive culture of accountability, inclusion and high standards.
• Support staff development and performance.

Partnership Management

• Build strong relationships with local authorities, property professionals, contractors, funders and other key partners.
• Represent Life at external forums and sector networks.

About you:

Essential

• CIH Level 5 (or equivalent) qualification
• Senior leadership experience in supported housing, social housing, or homelessness services
• Strong knowledge of housing law, tenancy management and regulatory compliance
• Understanding of Housing Ombudsman standards and consumer regulations
• Experience in strategic planning, service development and organisational growth
• Budget management and financial performance experience
• Experience with property maintenance, asset management and compliance
• Strong safeguarding knowledge
• Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills
• UK driving licence and access to a car

Desirable

• Experience supporting vulnerable women or family services
• Charity/third sector leadership experience
• Experience securing funding or development partnerships

About Life: 

Life is a national pregnancy support charity that helps over 60,000 people a year. Through our services, we help people – whoever they are – to meet pregnancy or pregnancy loss with courage and dignity so they can flourish. 

Our services include:  

• Supported housing and community support   
• Counselling and skilled listening   
• Free pregnancy tests and baby supplies  

Our values :

All our work is underpinned by the following universal human values: 

• Humanity – All people are special and equal 
• Solidarity – We’re with you and for you 
• Community – We’re better together 
• Charity – Doing good for one another 
• Common good – Building a better world 

Information about the role: 

For further information, please see the attached job description. 

Salary: £45,750 per annum

Hours: 32 hours per week

Location: Home based with extensive travel across the South of England

Benefits:  

At Life we are passionate about providing our employees with a supportive and engaging environment. As well as ongoing development and training, we offer our:  

• Generous holiday allowance, starting at 25 days per year, plus 8 Bank Holidays (pro rata for part time hours) 
• Birthday Leave  (applicable after 1 years service)
• Additional annual leave for long term service  
• Company Pension Scheme  
• Signed member of the Menopause Workplace Pledge 

Safeguarding and Equality: 

Life is committed to protecting all staff, volunteers and service users from harm of any kind. Life expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment through our code of conduct.   

We are committed to ensuring diversity and equality within our organisation by encouraging applications from all backgrounds.  

All offers of employment will be subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks. Life takes its obligation to protect the rights of children and vulnerable people very seriously; therefore, the successful candidate for this post will be also subject to extensive background checking, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS) which is paid for by the Charity.  

Direct Reports and span of control: Head of Property Compliance, Head of Mechanical & Electrical, Head of Specialist Repairs

Dimensions (budget holder, level of contract/systems etc responsibility):

• Responsible for delivery of compliance related services of over 30,000 homes, 90,000 customers
• Controls budget >£20m per annum
• Responsible for headcount of circa 200 colleagues including managers and trades
• Member of the Property Services Senior Leadership Team
• Representation at operational panels to support Compliance Delivery
• Organisation leader

Created/Reviewed date: October 2025

Role Purpose

Oversee a blended model of in-house direct labour teams and external supply chain partners, lead and empower your teams to successfully deliver effective building, mechanical, electrical and regulated compliance related works and services across the organisation's property portfolio to ensure our homes are safe and well maintained. Delivering against challenging KPI's, ensure continuous improvement and customer safety across gas, fire, water, electrical, lifts, M&E and asbestos.

Working with the Property Services Director and Assistant Directors to shape and implement the Property Compliance Delivery strategies to deliver effective building/property regulatory compliance in line with statutory, regulatory and policy requirements. Instrumental in leading change and embedding a positive, enthusiastic, and empowered culture that enables colleagues to deliver good performance and great customer service.

Lead on new ways of working including the use of modern digital solutions to make our business more effective, agile, and responsive, requiring a forward and outward looking approach as well as an open mind and applying Lean principles in decision making.

Key Accountabilities

• Shape and contribute to the organisation's long-term compliance strategy, ensuring alignment with national housing policy and emerging legislation.
• Lead on the effective management of statutory compliance, ensuring all regulatory and legislative responsibilities for gas, electrical, asbestos, fire safety, legionella, water, and lifts are delivered.
• Oversee the delivery of regulatory repairs within the required timelines such as Damp, Mould and Condensation, Disrepair cases, and HHSRS related complex repairs, oversee escalated complaints that require additional attention to de-escalate and resolve.
• Responsibility for preparing and presenting detailed assurance, risk and performance reports to the senior leadership teams and relevant committees / boards.
• Ensure services delivered have customers at the heart of decision making, proving excellent customer service which prioritises keeping them safe.
• Accountable for performance targets, budgets and work programmes, agreeing and monitoring these and ensuring team managers align and set objectives that deliver the strategic and directorate plan.
• Manage critical relationships with stakeholders both internally and externally including but not limited to, in-house colleagues and external contractors, senior stakeholders, governing bodies, external auditors and consultants and legal representatives.
• Lead a team which is capable of delivering all current and new regulated delivery, such as Awaab's Law, HHSRS, and disrepair cases.
• Lead on external audits, inspections and regulatory reviews.
• Ensure effective property compliance 1st line assurance is in place for all areas of service and works delivery.
• Lead on the development of the compliance schedule, creating programmes on a pre-emptive cycle to ensure that the business remains compliant.
• Recruit, manage, coach, motivate, and develop colleagues within your team in line with organisational policies.
• Critically evaluate compliance information and KPIs, producing regular assurance reports covering all areas of compliance performance, processes, procedures, and statutory responsibilities.
• Oversee the development and on-going review of compliance related policies and procedures, in line with legislation and industry best practice.
• Ensure a sustainable suite of competent specialist Supply Chain partners is in place.
• Ensure that business compliance responsibilities are complied with in respect of properties where there is no maintenance responsibility.
• Responsible for a responsive aspect of repairs and maintenance in respect of Gas/Heating b