Operations Manager - Benefits and Housing Needs

OPERATIONS MANAGER - BENEFITS AND HOUSING NEEDS

Public Sector: London based Council

RESPONSIBILITIES:

- To manage a range of teams and functions and report to the Head of Benefits and Housing Needs
- To deliver an efficient, high quality and customer-focussed service for a diverse client group including high numbers of vulnerable and disadvantaged households
- To develop and maintain a culture of robust performance management, focussing the efforts of staff on the achievement of specified targets and objectives and making best use of available resources
- To work constructively with partners and stakeholders from a range of other Services and agencies in order to maximise the effectiveness of the Benefits and Housing Needs Service
- In the absence of the Head of Benefits and Housing Needs, to participate with other managers in deputising arrangements in order to maintain responsiveness and communication for relevant service areas

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

- Experience of managing services responsible for delivering some or all of the functions of the Benefits and Housing Needs Service
- Management of a number of staff across a range of grades and employment status and the ability to successfully deal with employee relations issues ie organisational change and absence management
- Well developed leadership skills with an ability to achieve high level performance.
- Effective management skills, and experience of creating and maintaining a culture of high performance, using a range of management techniques to achieve service improvements and create ownership of service objectives at all levels
- Extensive knowledge of one of the following, and a working knowledge of the other (or extensive knowledge of both): homelessness and allocations legislation and related legislation, guidance, policy and practice; Housing and Council Tax Benefit legislation, regulations, policy and practice:
- Excellent verbal and written communication and presentation skills and the ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences including partner services and agencies, staff groups, stakeholders including residents' groups, and external professional forums and the ability to successfully apply this at both strategic and operational level
- Experience of effective partnership working with agencies and stakeholders and the proven ability in relating to, engaging, negotiating and consulting with a wide range of audiences.
- Ability to manage conflicting priorities and to work in a pressurised working environment to achieve targets within challenging timescales.
- Ability to adapt to new legislative, technological and financial developments and to devise and lead on the required change programmes required to implement such, whilst maintaining and developing services in periods of change
- Ability to demonstrate a track record of applying strong analytical skills and lateral thinking to develop creative and innovative service solutions whilst considering information from a wide range of sources and applying it to make practical recommendations for service delivery and development.