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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.  

Internal Job ID: 010
Reporting to: Director of Development
Salary: £53,000 - £57,500
Hours: Full Time (35 hours per week)
Key Relationships: Director of Development, CEO, COO, Trustees, External Partners
Location: Hybrid
 
Overall Purpose
 
The Fundraising Lead will both raise money to support the sustainability of NHS Charities Together and contribute to supporting NHS Charities to increase their income.
 
The role oversees the day to day operations of both our fundraising activity and our practical support to members.
 
Overall Objectives

• Lead the strategic development of a simplified individual giving programme focused on donor retention, stewardship, and legacy conversion.
• Oversee the creation and rollout of scalable, white-label fundraising products or campaigns that enable member charities to increase income and deepen supporter engagement.
• Oversee and support the development and stewardship of corporate relationships to deliver partnerships in support of our mission.
• Guide and empower a skilled team to deliver donor-centric fundraising with excellence and empathy.
• Ensure all fundraising activity is compliant, data-informed, and aligned with NHS Charities Together’s values and strategic priorities, ensuring it complements and doesn’t compete with our members.
• Support a culture of innovation, collaboration, and strategic philanthropy across NHS Charities Together and its member network.

 
Key Responsibilities
 
The main duties and responsibilities of the role holder are as outlined below:
 
NHS Charities Together Fundraising Strategy

• Oversee the shaping of and support the Stewardship Manager on the delivery of a simplified, effective individual giving programme aligned with NHS Charities Together’s strategic priorities, with a focus on the retention and upgrade of existing donors and avoiding competing with our members.
• Ensure individual donors are regularly engaged and asked for appropriate cash gifts through a light-touch programme.
• Ensure that legacy messaging is prominent in the donor engagement cycle, to inspire existing donors to consider long-term support, aligned with their gratitude to the NHS, with appropriate pathways offered.
• Oversee prompt, accurate, and heartfelt thanking processes for all donations.
• Manage the welcome journey for unsolicited donations, and oversee the cost-effective management of existing commitments for community or events-based activity to ensure a return
• Lead stewardship for donors giving up to £25,000.
• Oversee and support the Partnerships & Philanthropy Manager to manage the relationships with selected key corporate relationships, identifying opportunities for partnerships and liaising closely with NHS Charities Together colleagues to support the development of fundable propositions which benefit our sector and our own organisation.

 
Sector Fundraising Support

• Champion sector-wide change by equipping member charities with scalable, plug-and-play fundraising products and strategic guidance that enhances their income generation capacity through individual giving, working closely with the engagement team.
• Oversee the development of support the Products Manager on the rollout of replicable or white-label fundraising products, starting with the roll-out of a lottery and legacy product, and on the development of campaigns (e.g. focused on grateful patients).
• Oversee and drive the thinking on future fundraising products that will appeal to and benefit our diverse group of member charities.
• Work closely with the engagement team and other NHS Charites together staff to tailor activity in line with segmentation and engagement strategies.
• Build trusted relationships with member charities, positioning yourself as a knowledgeable and empathetic fundraising expert.
• Contribute to supporting NHS Charities to raise their income, providing advice and guidance 1:1 and through supporting the delivery of member events. Where required support the delivery of paid for consulting support to NHS charities on fundraising.

 
Team Leadership & Compliance

• Lead and motivate the team, providing effective direction in their activities to ensure individual and team objectives are achieved.
• Deliver the new NHS Charities Together fundraising programme on budget and on target, and ensure appropriate reporting is delivered to support our governance.
• Directly line manage the Stewardship Manager, Products Manager and Philanthropy & Partnerships Manager
• Ensure excellent use of the CRM for donor engagement, reporting, and data management, and ensure the development of efficient systems and process that maximise donor income and satisfaction.
• Ensure all fundraising activity complies with relevant legislation, including GDPR and the Data Protection Act.
• Contribute to a culture of strategic philanthropy across the organisation.

 
Other duties

• Visibly live NHS Charities Togethers values, including our commitment to diversity and inclusion.
• Carrying out the duties of post in accordance with NHS Charities Togethers policies and procedures on Health and Safety and take responsibility for ensuring personal health and safety.
• Working flexibly, prioritising workload, and working effectively as part of a team. Demonstrating an ability to work calmly and effectively when under pressure of tight deadlines, to deliver work on time and to a high standard.
• Adhere to relevant legislation, best practice, policies, and processes including, but not limited to charity law, the fundraising regulator, GDPR and professional codes and standards.

 
This is not meant to be an exhaustive list of duties. The need for flexibility is required, and the post holder is expected to carry out any other related duties that are within the employee’s skills and abilities whenever reasonably instructed.
 
Competencies
 
Teamwork – ‘One charity’, working within and across teams

• Collaborates across teams, ensuring our approach is aligned with our support of members and the segmentation strategies we are pursuing.
• Builds strong relationships internally, and models a ‘one charity’ approach.
• Identifies and creates opportunities to support members, and works with colleagues to identify how to best to deliver support

 
Building trust and respect – listen, feedback and learn

• Provides clear leadership, fostering a strong team and supporting individuals to perform.
• Models our values through their work, seeking to support colleagues and understand their perspectives.
• Proactive and adaptable to support the wider work of the organisation as required

 
Responsibility – owning your part in our success

• Takes responsibility for maximising our fundraising return, keeping costs to a minimum.
• Proactively adjusts our approach to deliver maximum success, and keeps the organisation updated on likely returns.

 
Professionalism – creating an environment to achieve success

• Maintains virtual and face to face presence across NHSCT and with key supporters and third-party agencies.
• Takes a learning approach to ensure we continually improve our fundraising
• Upholds the highest standards of integrity, ethics, and transparency, ensuring we always work within the Fundraising Code

 
Stakeholder focus – understanding the needs of our key stakeholders and audiences

• Passionate about supporting NHS charities and helping them to increase their income.
• Seeks to understand the needs of NHS charities, shaping our support to maximise our impact in supporting them to raise income
• Ensures our stewardship and fundraising work does not compete with members.

 
Acumen – Sound decision-making

• Adapts and shapes appeals and campaigns based on learning to deliver success.
• Identifies and shapes member support around what is most effective.

 
PERSON SPECIFICATION
 
Qualifications/Education:
 
Desirable

• Fundraising Qualification, Chartered Institute of Fundraising, or equivalent

 
Knowledge, Skills and Experience:
 
Essential

• Demonstrable success in developing and delivering fundraising strategies across a range of disciplines/mediums (e.g. individual giving, legacy, products, corporates) to meet or exceed financial targets.
• Ability to identify and act on opportunities for innovation in donor engagement and fundraising product development.
• Entrepreneurial with a high level of motivation and initiative, and a demonstrable desire to succeed and achieve results.
• A passion for thoughtful, accurate and timely donor stewardship
• Experience in building credibility with senior external stakeholders and managing relationships with diplomacy
• Experience managing external relationships with suppliers
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Experience of leading and managing successful teams, providing clear direction and creating a values-based culture

 
Desirable

• Experience in individual giving or retention programmes
• Experience in developing corporate partnerships.
• Experience working within an NHS charity or large health-related fundraising environment.
• Consulting or advisory experience, or of providing specialist advice

 
Benefits: 10% employers pension contribution (NEST) HSF Health cash Plan-covering employee partners and dependants under 18 28 days Annual Leave plus bank holidays and increases with length of service 2 hours weekly wellbeing time out Employee assistance program , offering GP advice lines, virtual doctors, prescription services, emotional wellbeing support, a legal help line and counselling. Funded eye site test (Specsavers) Pay it forward days- 2 days volunteering Mindful Employer Perkbox and Reward Gateway – discount platforms
 
REF-226 887