Job Description

West Highland Housing Association is a charitable organisation working in the Oban, Lorn and the Isles area. We have a growing number of properties in management and now have an opportunity for someone to join our friendly and enthusiastic team.

Our Estates Assistant will ensure that we provide and maintain high quality developments that create a safe environment and sense of belonging for our tenants and customers through pro-active management of open spaces and communal areas. The post requires a strong commitment to the delivery of customer focused services and effective engagement with tenants, factored owners and contractors.

You'll be part of a staff team of 32 so you'll be able to build close working relationships and learn about the varied work being done in each team. The post requires you to work collaboratively and be supportive of colleagues across the organisation. You should embrace all aspects of digital working.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Estate Management

Support the Asset and Housing teams through the provision of high-quality accurate information about our developments and landscaping requirements. This post includes the development of an inspection schedule including but not exclusively:

Grounds Maintenance

Proactively inspect contractors' work to ensure work is undertaken to specification and meets contract requirements; this will include early intervention where there is under performance and agreement and monitoring of any remedial action plans. At all times the Estate Assistant is to represent the customer's best interest.

Winter Maintenance

Ensure that all grit bins are in non-adopted locations across our developments and maintained ready for use. The Estates Assistant will work with Argyll and Bute Council in relation to issues affecting adopted footpaths and roads.

Estate Management

Undertake a proactive programme of estate inspections to identify and address issues around aspects such as common parking, abandoned cars, issues with external property elements such as roof tiles, safety hazards, fencing, common lighting, signage, vandalism, damage, fly tipping and communal bins.

This includes working alongside the Housing Management team to develop, deliver and review estate action plans, including contributing to customer engagement in this area. You will be responsible for identifying and raising tenants' garden maintenance issues to ensure these are successfully resolved along with the Housing team and will be expected to protect inspection of landbank and non-maintained open spaces.

Play Areas

Proactively inspect children's play areas (or arrange with colleagues travelling to island locations) ensuring all records are maintained. The Estates Assistant will ensure play parks remain a safe enviroment for all users. This will involve instructioning of any remedial works through to a conclusion. Work collaboratively, with housing colleagues to develop, deliver and review the play park strategy including contributing to any customer engagement in this area.

Close Management

Undertake and record regular safety inspection of our common closes including the instruction of any remedial works and follow through to a conclusion. Work closely with tenants, owners and other WHHA staff to achieve positive outcomes in relation to customer safety.

2. Onsite Support

Support the Asset Officer by undertaking a range of site inspections, contributing to ensure Quality Assurance and specification compliance in projects relating to Estate Management. This will involve preparing and maintaining appropriate site records, addressing site issues and escalating concerns to the Asset Officer.

3. Project Work

Along with colleagues, identify small value environmental projects to prioritise and deliver: ensuring to incorporate wider tenant engagement and identify work that is non-routine ground maintenance work, for example encroaching scrub land.

4. Permissions/Alterations

The Estates Assistant will deliver permission/ alteration function external areas within a tenancy.

5. Communications

Contribute to customer communications including social media content (relating to Estate Management) conveying positive information and other relevant information around this brief.

6. Database Management

Actively collate business and performance information, input and report on information in SDM and other asset management databases. The broad areas include, but not limited to property, estate and close information. The postholder will observe GDPR requirements and ensure compliance.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 30,250.00-33,617.00 per year

Benefits:

Company pension Employee discount Free parking Health & wellbeing programme Life insurance On-site parking
Schedule:

Monday to Friday
Ability to commute/relocate:

Oban: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)
Application question(s):

Do you have excellent verbal and written communication skills including experience with excel, word and outlook? Do you have excellent organisation skills and have the ability to work with minimal supervision?
Work authorisation:

United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 22/07/2025