Area Manager - Housing And Land

We have an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic and committed individual to help us achieve the priorities set out in the Mayor’s Housing Strategy by supporting the delivery affordable housing to tackle London’s housing crisis. 

As an Area Manager, you will work closely with the GLA’s investment partners, including housing associations, local authorities, and developers, utilising your problem solving and negotiation skills to deliver the Mayor’s affordable homes programmes.

Job purpose 

You’ll provide a professional lead on relationships with investment partners and boroughs to deliver the Mayor’s Housing programmes in line with the priorities of the Mayor’s Housing Strategy and the London Plan. 

You’ll work with partners to ensure that the Mayor’s land assets and those of public sector partners increase housing supply, regenerate communities, and boost economic growth.  

You’ll manage a portfolio of programmes and projects to achieve Mayoral targets for new homes; and ensure developments meet the Mayor’s requirements for design quality and asset management.  

Principal accountabilities 

• Build and maintain effective working relationships with investment partners to support regeneration, deliver homes; jobs and growth to meet annual targets.
• Use professional experience of the regeneration, development, or investment sectors to support the effective use and management of public land assets both GLA owned and other public stakeholders for the maximum benefit of local communities. Manage the procurement of services required by the programme or project in line with the GLA’s procurement procedures. 
• Ensure risk management is embedded in all aspects of delivery and reporting. 
• Analyse, assess and interpret funding bids from investment partners; managing the subsequent investment programme, ensuring key milestones are achieved.  Ensure project and programme performance is accurately maintained in line with reporting requirements. 
• Grow and maintain a thorough understanding of current and potential site and neighbourhood-wide regeneration and development opportunities to deliver more genuinely affordable homes.  Working with colleagues within Housing and Land, Planning and Regeneration and Local Authorities to support the development of a business case to support investment and delivery by the Mayor or investment partners. 
• Continue to deliver the legacy of the Housing Zone programme, working with boroughs and other partners to meet annual targets and operate an effective change process as sites and outputs change over the life of the project.  
• Implement Mayoral or government policy initiatives and funding opportunities as they arise to prioritise and support more genuinely affordable homes on a short-, medium- and long-term basis. This includes seeking out opportunities for the Mayor’s Land Fund and bringing forward business cases for consideration by the Investment Committee.  
• Use commercial and professional experience to provide constructive challenge using commercial skills, business acumen and innovation and work with partners, including local authorities, to evaluate local priorities and targets and deliver cost effective development solutions. 
• Build capabilities and capacity in the delivery of high quality well designed sustainable developments through robust project management, master planning and collaborative design.  This will include resolving issues that are slowing or preventing the achievement of partners’ ambitions. 
• Manage the delivery of compliance audits over the year and ensure shortcomings in process are addressed within a portfolio of partners.  
• Oversee specific policy areas as needed to provide a strategic direction across Area Teams and develop expertise and advice. 
• Realise the benefits of London’s diversity by promoting and enabling equality of opportunities and promoting the diverse needs and aspirations of London’s communities. 
• Realise the benefits of a flexible approach to work in undertaking the duties and responsibilities of this job, and participating in multi-disciplinary, cross department and cross-organisational groups and project teams. 

PERSON SPECIFICATION 

Technical requirements/experience/qualifications 

Appropriate Degree level qualification and/or appropriate professional qualifications/membership and/or demonstrable and relevant experience and skills. 

Behavioural Competencies 

Building and Managing Relationships 

.. is developing rapport and working effectively with a diverse range of people, sharing knowledge and skills to deliver shared goals. 

Level 2 indicators of effective performance 

• Develops new professional relationships 
• Understands the needs of others, the constraints they face and the levers to their engagement 
• Understands differences, anticipates areas of conflict, and acts 
• Fosters an environment where others feel respected 
• Identifies opportunities for joint working to minimise duplication and deliver shared goals 

Problem Solving 

… is analysing and interpreting situations from a variety of viewpoints and finding creative, workable, and timely solutions.  

Level 2 indicators of effective performance 

• Processes and distils a variety of information to understand a problem fully 
• Proposes options for solutions to presented problems 
• Builds on the ideas of others to encourage creative problem solving 
• Thinks laterally about own work, considering different ways to approach problems 
• Seeks the opinions and experiences of others to understand different approaches to problem solving 

Planning and Organising 

… is thinking ahead, managing time, priorities, and risk, and developing structured and efficient approaches to deliver work on time and to a high standard. 

Level 2 indicators of effective performance

• Prioritises work in line with key team or project deliverables 
• Makes contingency plans to account for changing work priorities, deadlines, and milestones 
• Identifies and consults with sponsors or stakeholders in planning work 
• Pays close attention to detail, ensuring team’s work is delivered to a high standard 
• Negotiates realistic timescales for work delivery, ensuring team deliverables can be met 

Organisational Awareness

… is understanding and being sensitive to organisational dynamics, culture and politics across and beyond the GLA and shaping our approach accordingly.

Level 2 indicators of effective performance 

Challenges unethical behaviour 

• Uses understanding of the GLA’s complex partnership arrangements to deliver effectively
• Recognises how political changes and sensitivities impact on own and team’s work
• Is aware of the changing needs of Londoners, anticipating resulting changes for work agendas
• Follows the GLA’s position in the media and understands how it impacts on work

This role is based at City Hall, in the Royal Docks (Kamal Chunchie Way, London, E16 1Z). 

GLA staff are hybrid working up to 3 days a week in our offices and remotely depending on their role. As part of this, you will need to split your time between home working and coming into the office.

London's diversity is its biggest asset, and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London's diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith, or disability. 

We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We would welcome applications from candidates who are seeking part time work as this role is open to job share. 

In addition to a good salary package, you will be paid every four weeks, providing frequent salary payments. We also offer an attractive range of benefits including 30 days’ annual leave, interest free season ticket loan, interest free bicycle loan and a career average pension scheme. 

Application closing date:  Sunday 14th April 2024 at 23:59