Head of Policy and Development

HEAD OF POLICY AND DEVELOPMENT

Salary: NICS Grade 7: £55,207 - £59,049 (under review)
Job type: Full-time, permanent
Location: Skainos Centre, Belfast (with option for hybrid working)
Closing: 24 February 2025 at midday

We are looking for a Head of Policy and Development to join our Senior Leadership Team at Housing Rights.

We want someone who is inspirational, innovative and can develop and deliver on the strategic and business plans for the organisation.

About the role

The successful applicant will be responsible for providing visible leadership to the wide range of roles that sit within the policy and development function, including: policy, participation and research; digital development and communications; and business development and training.

As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will:

• lead our policy and research work to positively influence the housing and homelessness agenda in Northern Ireland;
• identify appropriate opportunities for Housing Rights to build upon existing services and expand to deliver new services;
• in collaboration with the senior team, lead continuous improvement, service innovation and development to maximise new opportunities and organisational effectiveness in the delivery of strategic objectives;
• oversee public affairs work and engaging with stakeholders to achieve successful policy outcomes;
• lead the development and implementation of a communications strategy to effectively market the organisation and its services;
• ensure appropriate resources and effective systems are in place regarding policy and business development services.

About you

You will:

• hold a third level qualification (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline, for example, housing, debt and welfare advice, public policy, business management, business development etc;
• have a minimum of three years’ experience in a senior role, analysing and communicating complex policy issues;
• have a minimum of three years’ experience in developing and maintaining relationships with a wide range of stakeholders and partners;
• have experience developing and delivering continuous improvement initiatives and securing staff buy-in to proposed changes.

About Housing Rights

Housing Rights has been helping people in Northern Ireland deal with housing and homelessness problems since 1964. We help people with their housing and homelessness problems through our helplines and advice work. We use their experiences to bring change and improvements with our policy work. We educate and inform others working in the housing and advice sectors to help their clients.

All our work helps us to achieve our vision 'when everyone has a home'.

Benefits

We offer our staff the following benefits:

• hybrid and flexible working
• tailored learning and development plan
• a generous holiday allowance
• enhanced employer pension scheme with free life assurance
• accessible location and free parking
• fun events for staff engagement
• access to employee wellbeing services

The closing date for this post is midday on 24 February 2025.

For further information and to submit your application, click APPLY NOW.

Housing Rights gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Department for Communities towards this post.

Diversity is valued at Housing Rights. Applications from all sections of the community are actively encouraged.

REF: HPD/0125