Kensington and Chelsea Council is seeking a new Director of Housing Management, prioritising safety and leadership in the wake of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
The Appointments Panel convened on Tuesday, 9 September 2025, to interview candidates for the crucial role. According to the Public reports pack, the successful candidate will be responsible for leading and developing an exemplary landlord service for tenants and leaseholders, embodying the council's commitment to change following Grenfell. This includes providing clear direction and accountable leadership to the Housing Management department, including the Grenfell Housing Service, and championing a culture of openness, continuous learning and improvement, and shared responsibility for safety, performance, and resident satisfaction.
The Director will advise the council on all aspects of housing management, ensure regulatory compliance, and maintain a sustainable Housing Revenue Account (HRA) business plan. A key duty involves embedding a safety-first culture
across all housing management operations and acting as the statutory Health and Safety Lead under the Social Housing (Regulation) Act.
The Director of Housing Management is expected to manage the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), capital and revenue budgets, develop and maintain a sustainable long-term HRA business plan, and secure external funding when appropriate. The key priorities include ensuring compliance with Council budget and finance policies, driving value for money and maximising cost-saving opportunities whilst maintaining high-quality service delivery.
The person specification requires candidates to hold any qualification required by statutory regulation for a post of this nature, as well as being educated to degree level or equivalent, with significant senior-level experience in housing management. Experience working in a political environment, managing budgets, and leading transformational change are also essential.
The council's expected values and behaviours for employees include Putting Communities First, Respect, Integrity, and Working Together. Candidates must demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to the council's policies on equal opportunity, customer care, and service delivery.
The attendees of the meeting were Cllr Elizabeth Campbell (Leader of the Council), Cllr Sof McVeigh (Lead Member for Housing Management, Housing Safety & Building New Homes) and Cllr Claire Simmons (Chair, Housing and Communities Select Committee).
The main item on the agenda was the interview for the Director of Housing Management position. The key discussion points would have revolved around assessing candidates against the job description and person specification outlined in the Public reports pack.
