Job Introduction
With ambitious targets to grow our housing portfolio and working alongside developers and registered providers to ensure our current stock meets the needs of our residents, this is an exciting time to join our Housing Delivery Team.
As our Enabling & Partnership Officer, you will directly influence the make-up of our affordable housing stock across new build sites and help the Council and its partners access funding. You will be responsible for purchasing new properties to be used for council housing, liaising and updating colleagues on new properties, and ensuring a smooth handover to new residents, so they are in their new homes in a timely and efficient manner.
We are looking for a candidate with a good understanding of housing development and the planning process. You will also have previous knowledge and experience of affordable housing, ideally within a local authority or registered provider setting.
This role can be performed either in the office or at home, with the requirement of attending the office one day per week. Candidate will also need to be able to visit different sites and travel to meetings when required.
Main Responsibility
- Understand local and national policy and negotiate accordingly to make recommendations to Planning officers on planning applications.
- Negotiate with the Homes and Communities agency to secure funding for the delivery of new affordable homes.
- Promote and enable the development of affordable housing by assisting the development of robust polices which facilitate its delivery.
- Monitor with Planning colleagues affordable housing delivery.
- Represent the Service and the Council in respect of the delivery of affordable housing.
- Keep up to date with relevant local and national policy and legislation.
The Ideal Candidate
-
Someone that has experience of working in either Planning or Housing, you might have worked for a developer if not a housing association or a local authority.
-
Someone who enjoys talking to people and trying to put things right.
-
Someone with tenacity who does not give up.
-
Someone highly organised.
-
Someone who can get about, ideally with a driving license.
-
Someone who is flexible – you might have to change your day in the office due to other commitments.
Package Description
We are really proud of the benefits we are able to offer our staff here at Milton Keynes Council, including:-
- Local Government Pension Scheme, considered to be one of the best employer contribution rates of 18.8%
- 27 days annual leave per year in addition to statutory and public holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years
- Holiday Purchase Scheme
- Our Professional Development Centre provides access to courses such as in-house management development programmes endorsed by the Institute of Leadership, Apprenticeship Programmes (junior and senior), coaching and mentoring and access to our Smarter Learning portal
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Health Cashplan
- MK Advantage benefits package – a range of savings on a wide range of retail, leisure and entertainment products and services such as Pizza Express, M&S, B&Q, John Lewis and Arriva Travel.
- SmartGo – Aimed at encouraging low-carbon transport and healthy lifestyle with discounted travel e.g. Halfords, Arriva, Europcar, National Railcards and Stagecoach.
- Homebuy Scheme (for eligible roles)
- Smarter working which provides the opportunity to work from various locations including from home for a proportion of your role (subject to business needs)
- A full range of family friendly policies including enhanced Maternity, Adoption and Paternity entitlements
- Childcare Subsidy
About The Organisation
Milton Keynes is a diverse, welcoming, and expanding place, built on smart ideas with even bigger plans for the future. We have world class attractions, beautiful open spaces, and a great standard of living.
Milton Keynes Council is one of the largest employers in the region, making a difference every day for local people. We’re responsible for all local government services in MK including education, housing, highways, and social services - around 240 services in all.
Our values are to be dedicated, respectful, and collaborative. If this sounds like you, join us for a stimulating and fulfilling career measured on results, and a rewarding work-life balance.
