Head of Allocation & Accommodation

Connected Local Government; Sutton; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Sutton is seeking a leader for housing allocations and transformation. This role requires deep expertise in homelessness law, a track record in service transformation, and the ability to manage complex budgets and teams. You will address a pressing need for safe and affordable homes while enhancing compliance and performance across services. If you're ready to lead crucial changes in housing for residents, we invite you to apply.

Qualifications

• Deep expertise in housing allocations and homelessness law.
• Track record of leading successful service transformations.
• Confident in managing complex budgets and operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead housing allocations and temporary accommodation services.
• Manage statutory duties under relevant housing laws.
• Drive innovation in procurement and service delivery.

Skills

Expertise in allocations of accommodation

Income collection

Homelessness law knowledge

Service transformation leadership

Budget management

Political astuteness

Job description

Sutton is a borough defined by ambition, community and change.

We are proud of our strong local identity, vibrant neighbourhoods and commitment to delivering services that make a real difference. Sutton is one of London’s greenest and safest boroughs, with excellent schools, thriving businesses and a strong sense of community. It is a place where people want to live, work and invest, and where we are determined to ensure everyone has access to a safe, secure and affordable home.

Housing is central to that mission and we are now looking for four senior leaders to help us stabilise, modernise and transform. We have come through a major transition and are embedding the Sutton culture across teams who have previously worked under a different operating model. Our priorities are clear: providing safe, secure and affordable homes; reducing the use of temporary accommodation; strengthening systems and compliance; and working in partnership with Sutton Housing Partnership and other stakeholders to put residents first. If you want to lead change with purpose and pace, this is your moment.

This is a role with real scale, complexity and opportunity. You will lead housing allocations and temporary accommodation services at a time of acute demand, with over 1,100 households in TA and significant nightly-paid usage. You’ll manage statutory duties under the Housing Act 1996 and Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, oversee multi-disciplinary teams and budgets, and drive innovation in procurement and service delivery.

You’ll play a pivotal role in reducing the number of households in temporary accommodation, strengthening compliance and performance, and leading the Housing Allocation Scheme. You’ll work across the Council with Sutton Housing Partnership, Regulatory Services, Adults’ Social Care, Children’s Services, and the voluntary & faith sectors and community, to create sustainable move on pathways and improve outcomes for families. This is a chance to lead transformation in one of the most pressured areas of housing.

We are proud of the progress we’ve made, but we know there is more to do. Internal audits have highlighted areas for improvement, and we are committed to learning and delivering best practice. This role is central to that journey. We need a leader who can combine operational grip with strategic vision, and who can inspire a team that is ready for change.

About you

You’ll bring deep expertise in allocations of accommodation, Income collection, TA and homelessness law, and a track record of leading service transformation. You’ll be collaborative, data-driven and confident managing complex budgets. You’ll also be politically astute and comfortable working across systems and partners. Above all, you’ll be a visible leader who delivers results and builds trust.

We’re ambitious for our residents and for our services. We have a clear mandate for change, strong partnerships and leadership that backs delivery. If you share that ambition and if you’re ready to lead one of London’s most important housing transformations, we’d love to hear from you.

For further details, please contact our retained partners at GatenbySanderson:

[e-mail] [e-mail] Closing date: Sunday 1st February

To apply please click the Apply Now link below.