Senior Property Services Officer Jobs
Simon Community NI is looking for a dynamic and experienced public affairs professional to lead our policy and public affairs activity. You will be a strategic thinker with a proven track record of influencing for change and an ambition to make a difference.
This role is part of our Growth & Engagement directorate and will work very closely with our CEO and Research & Development function. We are looking for someone with a strong understanding of the political landscape in Northern Ireland, ideally with direct experience of working in homelessness/housing. This is a new position, and there is a huge amount of opportunity to build a movement of change for people experiencing homelessness across NI.
Job Purpose: Simon Community’s Public Affairs & Policy Manager will lead our efforts in advocating for policies and initiatives that end homelessness across NI. As part of our wider Growth & Engagement team, you will work collaboratively across the public, political and voluntary sectors to amplify the voices of the people we help and advocate for policy change.
The postholder will develop research-based policy positions, identify and deliver clear opportunities for public and political engagement, and mobilise support from a range of stakeholders. You will build a network of constructive relationships with decision makers, influencers and political parties, and engage with the media on a regular basis, acting as a spokesperson for Simon Community when required.
Essential Criteria:
- At least 3 years’ experience managing a public affairs, policy or media function.
- Experience of communicating complex information clearly, concisely and persuasively, both verbally and in writing.
- Experience of acting as a spokesperson for an organisation.
- Experience of budget and project management.
Desirable Criteria:
- Full current driving licence or, if a disability prevents driving, an alternative means of transport to enable the duties of the post to be carried out in full.
Skills & Knowledge:
- Strong understanding of Northern Irish politics and the policy making process in our devolved context.
- Proven track record of successfully influencing different audiences.
- Excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills.
- Ability to represent Simon Community in meetings, on the media and on public platforms
- Ability to analyse, interpret and communicate facts and statistics.
- Proven ability to innovate and grab new opportunities.
- Ability to work independently and proactively.
- A working understanding of the issues affecting homelessness and/or the voluntary sector in NI.
- Excellent workload management skills and ability to prioritise to meet targets and deadlines.
Why work for the Simon Community?
We offer an extensive benefit package, including:
- Pension Plan
- Employer funded Healthcare - Benenden Health and Health Shield (includes savings on gym memberships and retail outlets)
- Death in Service Benefit
- Generous Annual Leave Entitlement
- Learning and Development Opportunities
- Compassionate Culture
- Occupational Sick Pay
- Health & Wellbeing Initiatives
- Management Development Programmes
- Long Service Awards
- Blue Light Card Scheme
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Job Purpose - Facilities Manager - Projects
The role holder will report directly to the Head of Estates whilst working closely with the Facilities Manager and the wider team, as well as operational colleagues.
The role holder will be responsible for the delivery of specific ad hoc estates projects, whilst also providing support to the wider Estates team in the delivery of business-as-usual activity to ensure the development of an estate that delivers outstanding outcomes for the people we support, ensuring the portfolio is managed safely, cost effectively and in accordance with statutory and regulatory requirements.
This role requires an individual with strong project management capability within an estate’s environment, with a demonstrable track record of delivery of projects on time, to Budget and to the requisite level of quality.
Reporting directly to the Head of Estates, the role holder will:
- Lead the estates input in the expansion of the existing property footprint.
- Onboard new additions to the estate’s property portfolio efficiently and effectively.
- Work collaboratively with operational colleagues ensuring “best outcomes” are delivered for the people we support in the development and maintenance of the estate.
- Support the wider estates team in the delivery of business-as-usual activities.
- Be visible and on site to ensure the smooth running of projects and the timely resolution of issues.
Dimensions
Whilst the role currently has no direct reports assigned, the level of project activity and the consequential resource requirements will determine any additional staffing needs. The nature of individual projects will determine this although it is anticipated that project spend will be circa £0.5m+ per annum.
Principal Accountabilities
Estates and Facilities Management
- Responsibility: Act as the senior estates and facilities professional on project work assigned.
- Project Plans: Ensure there is a clear and documented estates plan for each project assigned and lead the implementation of these plans to ensure best possible outcomes for the people we support. In the planning and delivery of projects, the role holder must ensure that due consideration is given to operational requirements.
- Project Performance: Ensure a robust contract performance management framework is in place for each project.
- Regulatory: Ensure all project work is undertaken in accordance with applicable regulatory and statutory requirements.
- Resource Management: Manage and co-ordinate both AFG staff and external contractors in the delivery of projects. Where required mitigating actions/plans may need to be taken to ensure that projects are delivered to requirements.
- Onboarding: With support from the Head of Estates, lead the estates input re. property acquisition (both support with the identification of appropriate property and subsequent due diligence).
- Expansion: With support from the Head of Estates, lead the estates input re. the expansion of existing estates footprint.
- Business Cases: Prepare business cases, feasibility studies for consideration by the Head of Estates and onwards by the Executive/Director team.
- Business as Usual Estates Activity: The role holder will be required to work alongside the Estates Manager and the wider estates team in the delivery of business-as-usual estates activity (including site visits, contract monitoring meetings, supervision of reactive repairs etc.), where project requirements mean the role holder has capacity to undertake this work.
Financial Management
- Financial Performance: Manage project related budgets, ensuring projects are delivered to Budget, to the requisite quality and to time.
- Procurement: Work closely with the Procurement team to source potential suppliers for services and ensure those services are sourced on a “Value for money” (VFM) basis, and in accordance with the terms of the Scheme of Reservation and Delegation.
- Tenders: Working closely with the Procurement function of the Charity, take the estates lead in tender activity where assigned, ensuring that activity is undertaken in accordance with the Scheme of Reservation and Delegation.
- Cost Reduction/Service Improvement: Lead in ensuring we are continually striving to reduce cost/improve service provision.
- Commercial Acumen: Commercially savvy to drive continuous improvement opportunities (both financial and operational).
Sustainability, Efficiency, and Innovation
- Estates Development: Ensure development activity within the estate takes account of environmental considerations/technological advances in the go-forward design.
Person Specification - Essential Requirements:
Skills and Knowledge
- Strong knowledge of current and forthcoming regulatory and statutory requirements.
- Skilled and experienced negotiator to ensure “best value” is derived from commercial contracts.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Excellent presentation skills.
- Able to build strong relationships with key stakeholders and to work collaboratively with others.
- Strong people management skills.
- Ability to work under pressure, dealing with multiple competing priorities across a changing landscape.
- Excellent working knowledge of Office 365 products.
- Takes the initiative, able to work at pace without supervision.
- Ability to analyse, interpret and resolve estate management problems, and to develop and implement practical solutions.
- Strong attention to detail and a critical eye.
- Able to develop a robust control framework re. project delivery.
- Commercially astute enabling cost reduction/service optimisation.
Values and Attitudes
- Solution focused with a “can do” attitude.
- “Change agent”, comfortable challenging the status quo.
- Comfortable and skilled operating at both the macro and micro level.
- Comfortable working independently but also as part of a team.
- Accurate and methodical in approach to work.
- “Value for money” mentality.
Experience
- Minimum of 3 years’ experience in an estate’s management/estates project management role.
- Experience of working in an environment delivering both planned and reactive maintenance and delivery of capital projects.
- Proven track record of capex project delivery (cost, time, scope).
- Experience of managing complex estates projects (resource, finances, scope).
- Experienced in managing contractors and sub-contractors including conflict resolution.
- Experience in both the development of and management of financial Budgets and Reforecasts.
- Experience in undertaking property related “due diligence”.
- Experienced in the preparation and presentation of business cases for consideration by the Head of Estates.
- Experience of working with a Computer Aided Facility Management (CAFM) system.
- Able to develop frameworks to understand a problem, identify practical options to solve the problem, and identify the most optimal solution.
Qualifications & Training
- Level 3 Facilities Management qualification.
- GCSE Maths and English
Other
- Full driving license.
- On occasion emergency contact for the properties and therefore may need to attend out of hours.
This role is home based, with occasional travel within the north west of England required. This role is Band II as per our structure
To deliver outstanding personalised support that creates independence and value.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We're looking for an Agency & Partnership Manager to join our Landlord Services team located at our Head Office at Caledonian Road.
£55,000.00 per annum, working 35 hours per week. Benefits include 25 days Annual Leave, pension schemes, staff discounts, healthcare and career progression.
Want to feel like you have an exciting future? You'll feel at home here.
Making you feel at home here means helping you thrive in every way. That's why we offer a wide range of benefits, award-winning Learning & Development and a culture that welcomes all. These aren't token gestures - we've thought long and hard about how best to support our team. After all, our people are doing something amazing: helping to transform lives every day.
Look Ahead currently manages approx. 1,500 units on behalf of other landlords. The organisation typically enters into housing management agreements and other deliver vehicles [e.g. leases], as part of a wider contract to deliver care and support service to Local Authority and Health commissioners.
Housing management agreements and leases place responsibilities on both the landlord and management agent to provide services to tenants and licences and ensure compliance across all associated legislation (landlord & tenant, statutory landlord compliance and health and safety). To ensure compliance, agreements set distinct responsibilities for setting and collecting rent and service charges and the arrangement for maintaining properties to agreed standards.
The Agency Partnerships Manager will be responsible for ensuring that Look Ahead operates efficiently and achieves full compliance in relation to our housing management agreements, leases and office licences. The post holder will also act as the main point of liaison for the different landlords (both social landlords and private rented sector) and also act as the main interface between the Landlord Services and New Business Teams in ensuring that new services coming over with housing management obligations are properly established and integrated into the service.
The Agency Partnerships Manager will monitor the financial performance of housing management agreements and will take a lead role in negotiating appropriate allowances with Landlords and ensuring the full costs of delivery, including dilapidations and handback arrangements are understood and factored into business planning/financial modelling.
Furthermore, the Agency Partnerships Manager will have a key role in ensuring that operational service understand their responsibilities and will ensure a structured approach to quality monitoring and that Look Ahead/ Landlords are fulfilling their obligations.
The right candidate for this role will have the ability to travel.
This role requires a valid Right to Work for the UK as Look Ahead are not a sponsoring organisation.
What you'll do:
Management and Leadership Accountabilities
* Promote a culture that allows for service improvement whilst acting as a role model for Look Ahead's values and behaviours.
* Provide effective leadership to Agency Officer and wider operational colleagues.
* Ensure that all resources are utilised effectively and deliver best value when overseeing work in your area of responsibility.
* Develop positive relationships across the directorate and wider organisation and ensure approach is in alignment with the mission, vision, and strategic objectives.
* Perform any other duties as reasonably requested by your employer.
This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities that may be required from time to time and is subject to change in accordance with the needs of Look Ahead
What you'll bring:
Essential:
* Broad knowledge and experience in a Housing and Support environment
* Proven management experience in Housing Management
* Excellent communication skills both written and verbal and a proven ability to influence senior stakeholders and customers
* Experience of working with other landlords or agencies
Desirable:
* Qualification in Housing Management
* Knowledge of commercial or Intermediate lettings
About us:
Look Ahead is a dynamic, leading, not-for-profit care and support provider in London and the South East. As an organisation we deliver over 110 services, providing support to around 7000 customers each year. We work across mental health, homelessness, young people and learning disabilities so there are plenty of opportunities to grow and progress your career with us.
Look Ahead is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk, and expects all employees, workers and volunteers to share this commitment.
If your application for this role is unsuccessful, but we feel that you would be suitable for another role, we may contact you to discuss alternative opportunities. If this occurs you would not need to submit another application for the alternative role.
We reserve the right to close this advert early if we are able to appoint to the vacancy before the advertised closed date.
We are committed to diversity and inclusion at work and are accredited with Silver in the Inclusive Employers Standard 2021. We are a proud member of the Employers Domestic Abuse Covenant and encourage applications from a diverse range of applicants of all backgrounds.
Please see our website for full job description.