About the job

Summary

We are looking for talented and ambitious individuals to join the Housing Strategy team responsible for setting the long-term strategy for one of Government’s highest priority policy areas.

We are seeking people with excellent problem-solving skills to help find solutions to the country’s toughest housing challenges. We are especially keen to attract applications from people who are confident using data, have experience shaping strategies, and can skilfully engage a range of stakeholders across government. Housing sector experience is not necessary but would be advantageous.

This is an exciting time to be joining DLUHC, which is at the forefront of the government’s agenda to level up the United Kingdom. The Housing Strategy Division sits at the heart of DLUHC’s five housing directorates and works closely with teams across the Department and wider government. We support Ministers to set the Department’s housing priorities and objectives, and then work to implement these through fiscal events and cross-cutting strategy projects. We complete short sharp projects to help Ministers and the Department to get to the heart of difficult problems - on everything from how to improve the quality of housing in deprived neighbourhoods to how to boost homeownership.

Job description

We are recruiting a Senior Executive Officer to join the team responsible for developing government’s long-term vision for housing: ‘Housing 2035’. The work is high impact, fast-paced and requires close working and regular contact with the department’s senior officials, Ministers and other government departments to deliver our housing objectives.

The successful candidate’s role will involve:

• Developing strategy from first principles

• Developing ‘Theories of Change’ that make clear how the Department will deliver its housing priorities

• Developing the evidence base on ‘what works’ in housing, working closely with the Department’s analysts and external experts

• Horizon-scanning across the broader government policy and political landscapes, quickly identifying opportunities and risks, anticipating issues and working with relevant colleagues to resolve in an appropriate manner.?

• Considering the role that housing has to play in key cross-government priorities such as Net Zero and Levelling Up.

• Building strong relationships with relevant policy teams within the Department, in other government departments and outside government

• Advising the Executive Team and Ministers on priorities and ensuring those priorities are reflected in planned activity

• Independently and proactively coordinating responses to commissions, briefings requests, reports and correspondence

• Supporting the running of cross-government housing governance structures

• Not only will you have the chance to shape radical and long-lasting reforms to improve the housing market, you will also have the opportunity to develop yourself and build a career with us. We give our people the opportunity to use their skills and talents to build a rewarding career.

• You will have opportunities to manage the work of others in the team

We look for people who share our values and want to make a difference in a small, friendly and influential department. If you are interested in public service and are excited by being involved in the running of the country, we want you to join us.

We welcome people from any sector or background to play a key role in developing and delivering our part of the government's policy agenda. We are a multi-disciplinary team made up of people who have worked in think tanks, management consultancies, local authorities, housing associations as well as a range of civil service departments.

You can find out more about the work of DLUHC here.

Responsibilities

Key skills/criteria:

• Strategic thinking, independent problem solving, and the ability to consider the long-term implications of decisions;

• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to structure and draft reports to a high quality first time without significant input from others;

• Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to form close working relationships across the Department, with other Government Departments, and with stakeholders outside Government;

• Self-motivation and an ability to deliver at pace;

• The initiative to identify and complete work that needs to be done without prompting;

• Attention to detail;

• Ability to manage uncertainty; and

• Flexible and inclusive approach to delivering work.

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role

•An environment with flexible working options

• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

• A Civil Service pension