The Role

This role presents a unique opportunity to be part of a team in a ground-breaking shared staffing structure across both boroughs.

We are seeking to recruit a dynamic and innovative Manager who can lead a team of  procurement officers to deliver a high performing  service.

We are looking for a self-motivated person to be able to  create and develop strategies to ensure the successful procurement and delivery of suitable and affordable housing.  

If you think you have  excellent communication skills and a proven ability to lead and motivate a team in a very demanding front line service, we want to hear from you.

Some of the duties and responsibilities will be; 

• Leads on developing links and partnerships with other agencies including private letting agents and landlords, other Local Authorities and Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) to maintain the required level of procurement activity to fulfil the Council’s statutory obligations to homeless and potentially homeless clients.

• Responsible for acquiring properties in and outside of the boroughs, assessing physical conditions and verifying various issues relevant to the suitability of such properties for the Councils’ housing purposes. Negotiates the terms on which the Council will procure properties including the payment of incentives.

• Lead a procurement team to ensure targets are exceeded, through effective team development and management. To develop team action plans and carry out regular supervision meetings.

• To carry out inspections of properties in and outside of the borough offered to the Council for use, ensuring that all necessary health and safety checks and records are undertaken confirmed and provided. Provide guidance and advice to landlords on the standards of properties and management required. 

This post is subject to a DBS check.

For an informal discussion please contact Julie Bernadello, Temporary Accommodation Manager on 020-8871 7846 (Julie.bernadello@richmondandwandsworth.gov.uk)

The Council offers a flexible working scheme and a generous holiday allowance of 31 days plus bank holidays. 

In addition, we offer a range of staff benefits such as membership of the Local Government contributory pension scheme, childcare vouchers, new technology scheme, interest-free loans on annual travel cards, discounts at many leisure activities, restaurants, shops and other establishments. A wide range of developmental opportunities is also offered. 

Closing Date 5th April 2020

(COVID-19) - information for job applicants

 We are unable to currently advise when interviews will be arranged. We feel that this is the correct and responsible decision to make in these exceptional circumstances in view of:

· increased demand on the time of the council staff in response to the pandemic

· the need to support more vigilant public health measures.

We appreciate that applicants will want further information. However, as this is an unprecedented situation, arrangements for undertaking these interviews will require careful consideration.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils are committed to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds bring important and positive contributions to the Councils and can improve the way we deliver services. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer.

Important Information:

This post is exempted under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and as such appointment to this post will be conditional upon the receipt of a satisfactory response to a check of police records via Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) helps employers make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children. It replaces the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and Independent Safeguarding Authority (ISA).

Richmond and Wandsworth Councils