Principal Strategic Asset Manager

Hackney Council is facing an unprecedented increase in homelessness, with a significant surge in both the number of placements and the unit cost of temporary accommodation (TA). This has led to an overspend in the 2024-25 budget, this financial strain is unsustainable, placing immense pressure on the Council’s ability to provide safe, secure housing for those in need. 

As part of the Council’s comprehensive strategy to address the growing demand for temporary accommodation, we are seeking a Principal Strategic Asset Manager to play a pivotal role in sourcing and acquiring new housing to meet this critical need and secure long-term, cost-effective housing solutions.

Hackney Council is working on various mitigation strategies, including the acquisition of new hostels, lease agreements for additional properties, and exploring grant opportunities. However, the key to achieving sustainable, long-term solutions lies in the proactive expansion of Hackney’s temporary accommodation stock.

The Principal Strategic Asset Manager will be central to the Council’s efforts to rapidly scale its housing stock for TA use. You will be responsible for the successful delivery of the business objectives of the Benefits and Homeless Prevention team in order to contribute to the achievement of the Mayor’s priorities and the Council’s corporate objectives and working within the scope of the Council’s Strategic Asset Management governance.

This role will involve building relationships with agents, developers, and investors to position Hackney as a serious, reliable buyer in the property market. By identifying acquisition opportunities both within Hackney and beyond, the postholder will ensure the Council is well-equipped to meet the diverse needs of its homeless residents, while reducing the financial burden on the public purse.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the strategy and execution of property acquisitions (freehold and leasehold) to meet temporary accommodation needs.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including property agents, developers, and investors.
• Establish a robust property pipeline, focusing on both short-term and long-term solutions for housing homeless individuals and families.
• Collaborate with internal teams to explore and implement building and construction initiatives for additional TA stock.
• Contribute to the broader homelessness strategy by providing insight into market trends and identifying cost-saving opportunities.
• Help the Council achieve its goal of reducing reliance on high-cost nightly accommodation by acquiring new properties for both temporary and move-on housing.

What We’re Looking For:

The ideal candidate will have significant experience in property acquisition, with a strong track record in negotiating deals and securing housing stock in a competitive market. A strategic thinker, the Principal Strategic Asset Manager will need to have a deep understanding of the housing and homelessness landscape, both locally and nationally, with the ability to work creatively to find new solutions to the housing crisis. Strong relationship-building skills, commercial acumen, and the ability to navigate complex financial and legal frameworks are also essential.

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.

The recruitment process is anonymous. Therefore, we do not accept supporting statements or CVs.

When applying, there will be a number of questions relating to the post on the application form. It is essential that you complete the application questions, responding to each using examples of your skills, knowledge and experience.

We will not accept applications where Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been used to assist with completing the competency questions or any part of the application form.

This application process replaces a supporting statement.

Closing date for applications: 8 December 2024 2024 (22:59 pm)

Interview date: to be confirmed

We are also working towards our vision, which is to be a place for everyone; where residents and staff can be proud; a place that celebrates diversity and where everyone can feel valued, included and involved. In order to achieve this, we look for people who are: Proud; Ambitious; Pioneering; Open; Proactive; Inclusive.

Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy and maternity, age and marital status. 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