Assistant Director of Housing

ONE CITY FOR ALL

Come and join our team

City of York Council is proud to serve one of the UK’s most distinctive and ambitious cities. We’re here to deliver the services that matter most to our communities, and to shape a fairer, more sustainable future for everyone who lives, works or visits York.

As Assistant Director of Housing, you’ll play a pivotal role in delivering that ambition. In leading housing services operations, developing policy, and managing transformation, your work will contribute directly to 10-year plan: a blueprint for a city that is affordable, inclusive, climate-ready and focused on health and wellbeing.

York is a place where big things are happening. From major regeneration schemes and housing developments to clean transport projects, innovative digital infrastructure and award-winning community engagement, we are creating the conditions for people and places to thrive. You’ll be empowered to lead in a supportive, values-led culture where collaboration, creativity and improvement are championed at every level.

If you want to lead teams that care, work on projects that matter, for services that make a difference, then York is the place to do it.

About the Role

We’re seeking an Assistant Director of Housing who shares our ambition for York’s residents. You’ll be passionate about driving improvement, skilled at managing demand through prevention and early intervention, and confident working within a defined budget.

Collaboration will be at the heart of your approach, inspiring and motivating your teams, building strong partnerships with stakeholders and communities, and working across the Council and Combined Authority.

Whilst senior-level experience within the social housing sector is a requirement for this role, we place even greater importance on leadership and people management skills. This role is not just about technical knowledge, it’s about how you lead people, inspire collaboration, and foster a culture that delivers meaningful change for the community. We believe that with the right leadership, we can work together to provide outstanding services for our residents. If you recognize yourself in the qualities below, we encourage you to consider applying for this exciting and impactful role:

• You understand what it means to be a leader, with extensive experience of inspiring and motivating others to work towards a common goal, communicating a clear vision and strategy.
• You have empathy and are emotionally intelligent, with the ability to understand and relate to others.
• You are able to build relationships and work in partnership effectively within the Council, with peers across all services and with external partners from all sectors, identifying common objectives and seeking mutual and deliverable solutions.
• You are willing to take informed risks and make decisions.

This is a pivotal role, offering professional challenge, the ability to make a tangible impact, and a genuine platform to further your career. York is large enough to offer complexity and diversity, but small enough to allow you to get things done.

Closing Date: Midnight Sunday 29th June 2025.

Shortlisting Date: Thursday 3rd July 2025.

Interview Date: Thursday 10th July 2025 – in person at the offices of City of York Council (with Peer, Partner, Resident and Main panels).

Working for York

As Assistant Director of Housing, you’ll be joining the City of York Council in the early phase of our 10-year journey, the start of our Mayoral Combined Authority and a commitment to our Council Plan. In this role, you will work closely with Executive and Corporate Management Team to shape and steer the council to achieve our ambition.

We are made up of passionate, committed problem-solvers working together for the benefit of York. We invest significantly in the development and wellbeing of our staff, creating an environment where individuals can flourish in many ways, including:

• Providing meaningful work that makes a tangible difference to the lives of residents and colleagues;
• A supportive management culture that empowers you to reach your full potential;
• Recognition for your contributions through appreciation initiatives;
• Guidance and encouragement to navigate the changing environment we are all living in;
• Flexible working arrangements to help you balance work and life effectively; and
• A comprehensive rewards package.

As an organisation we promote continuous professional development, hybrid working, employer-supported volunteering, and foster a healthy, inclusive work environment.

We offer a generous benefits package which includes 30 days annual leave increasing to 35 days upon completion of 5 years local government service, access to the Local Government Pension Scheme together with high street discounts and salary sacrifice schemes.

For more information and to apply for this position, please visit our dedicated microsite here.