Operations Manager

Fixed-Term / Secondment Opportunity – 24 Months

Hackney is one of the most dynamic and progressive local authorities in the UK. We are a resilient, vibrant, and creative borough in the heart of London, with strong, diverse communities and a powerful set of shared values.

Over the past twenty years, the Council has built up first-class services, outstanding public infrastructure, and a reputation for excellence, innovation, and ambition. We are leading the way on essential work such as our fight for equity in Hackney with a particular focus on becoming an actively anti-racist borough. But the work doesn’t stop there, we are proactive in our approach to bringing fairness to all aspects of life including gender, neurodiversity and across the poverty divide.

Make a difference to housing standards across Hackney

Hackney Council is looking for an experienced and ambitious Operations Manager to build and lead the operational delivery of our Private Sector Housing and Property Licensing service.

This is a significant leadership opportunity at the heart of one of London’s largest and most ambitious Private Sector Housing and Property Licensing programmes. You will lead a multi-disciplinary operational function responsible for licensing, inspections, enforcement and wider Private Sector Housing Regulation, helping to ensure that residents across Hackney have access to safe, secure and well-managed homes.

Hackney has recently introduced new Selective and Additional HMO Licensing schemes across much of the borough. We are now building the operational service required to deliver the next phase of this programme – establishing new teams, recruiting and developing our workforce, implementing new processes and ways of working, and creating a high-performing inspection, compliance and enforcement function.

As Operations Manager, you will be at the centre of this transformation. You will establish and lead the operational structure, develop a team of managers and build the capability needed to deliver a substantial programme of licensing, inspections, compliance and enforcement.

About the Role

You will provide operational leadership for the Council’s Private Sector Housing & Property Licensing teams, working within the service’s strategic direction to establish and deliver a new operating model across property licensing, compliance, enforcement and wider Private Sector Housing.

You will lead a team of managers and oversee key operational areas including licensing processing, compliance, and enforcement, both for non-licensable properties in the Private Rented Sector (including Registered Housing Providers) and targeted initiatives like Tall Building Fire Safety, Empty Properties, alongside high-quality customer service delivery.

This is a key role in establishing the new service. You will be responsible for turning the agreed operating model into effective day-to-day delivery, building team capability, embedding processes and standards, and ensuring that the service delivers consistently against its objectives.

About You

This role is for an experienced Private Sector Housing, Environmental Health or Regulatory Services Professional who is ready to take on a significant operational leadership role.

You will have the technical knowledge and operational experience to establish a new service, lead managers and ensure that regulatory activity is delivered effectively and consistently.

You will bring:

– Well developed experience of Private Sector Housing, Housing Regulation, Public Health, Property Licensing or Environmental Health

– Strong technical knowledge of housing legislations, licensing, inspections, compliance, enforcement and special projects related 

– Proven experience of leading operational teams within a complex regulatory or public service environment

– Experience of managing managers and building high-performing multidisciplinary teams

– A track record of designing or improving services, implementing new operating models or leading significant organisational change

– Experience of developing operational processes, performance frameworks and quality standards

– Strong experience of managing budgets, resources, risk and performance

– The confidence and professional credibility to provide technical direction on complex regulatory matters

– Excellent judgement and the ability to make proportionate, evidence-based decisions in complex and sensitive situations

– Strong communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills

– The ability to build effective relationships with senior officers, elected Members, residents, landlords and partner organisations

– A genuine commitment to developing people and creating an inclusive, supportive and high-performing workplace.

A relevant professional qualification in Environmental Health, Housing or a related discipline is essential.

Why Join Us?

This is an exciting opportunity to take on a significant operational leadership role at an important stage in the development of Hackney’s Private Sector Housing & Property Licensing service.

With new licensing schemes now in operation, the Council is establishing the teams, processes and professional standards needed to deliver a substantial programme of inspections, compliance and enforcement, alongside the wider responsibilities of Private Sector Housing.

You will have the opportunity to:

– Build a service – establish teams, processes and professional standards for effective operational delivery

– Lead change – develop managers and staff through a significant period of service transformation

– Shape operational practice – help develop how licensing, inspection, compliance and wider PSH regulation are delivered

– Make a difference – contribute directly to improving housing standards and outcomes for Hackney residents.

If you are an experienced Private Sector Housing or regulatory professional who is excited by the challenge of building a new service, leading teams and delivering meaningful operational change, we would like to hear from you.

Join us and help build the future of Private Sector Housing in Hackney.

As a Council, our most outstanding asset is our staff, who are highly dedicated to serving our residents and committed to our goals as an organisation.

If you want to work in a place where you can represent our values so we achieve the best for our residents, please click on the apply button below.

We operate a fair and open anonymous selection process. Therefore, we do not accept supporting statements or CV’s.

To proceed with your application, you will need to create an account and submit your application.

As part of the application process, you will need to complete a number of competency based questions. These questions allow you to demonstrate your suitability for the role and provide examples of your skills, knowledge and experience outlined in the job description.

We understand the benefits of using AI in the workplace. However, if you are thinking of using this tool to submit your application, we ask you to think about what value it will add. AI tools tend to lack the personal touch and authenticity we value in candidates. We encourage you to showcase your unique knowledge and skills using your own voice.

Closing date for applications: 26 October 2026 (22.59)

Interview date: TBC

Please note – we reserve the right to close applications early if we receive a high number of applications.

We are also working towards our vision, which is to be a place for everyone; where residents and staff can be proud. In order to achieve this, we are seeking individuals who embody our “PROUD” values: Purpose and Respect, where we foster belonging through active inclusion, kindness, and open dialogue; Ownership, where we champion proactive collaboration and accountability for our shared success; and Unity and Diversity, where we work as one Council to break down silos and champion anti-racist behavior.

Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. We also recognise that people can be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will also work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class. We also welcome those interested in flexible working. We particularly welcome applications from disabled people, as this group is currently under represented in our workforce.

The Council has a dedicated employment support service (Hackney Works), which offers Hackney residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you are thinking about applying for a job, please contact the Hackney Works team to find out what support is available: hackneyworks@hackney.gov.uk