Job Description

Job title: Housing Options Team Manager
Location: Braintree, Essex
Salary: 41,145 to 45,498 per annum
Contract type: Fixed term for 2 years
Hours: Full time
Closing date: Midnight on Sunday 11th January 2026
Essex County Council (ECC) are delighted to be supporting Braintree Council to recruit this Housing Options Team Manager role.
To apply please click here: or visit https://www.braintree.gov.uk/join-our-team. Please DO NOT click the Apply button on the left.
The Opportunity:
Lead, inspire, and make a real impact:
We are looking for an energetic and passionate leader to join our Housing and Community Services team at Braintree District Council as Housing Options Team Manager.
This is a key role in shaping and delivering our temporary accommodation service and driving improvements that transform outcomes for homeless households. You will lead a dedicated team delivering Temporary Accommodation, Rough Sleeper, and Private Rented Sector services - ensuring every decision puts people first.
You will take ownership of our Temporary Accommodation Improvement Plan, reducing reliance on costly nightly lets, improving placement efficiency, and securing sustainable, suitable accommodation for those who need them most.
What you'll do

• Lead and motivate a high-performing team, fostering collaboration and accountability
• Manage day-to-day operations for temporary accommodation and rough sleeper services.
• Ensure compliance with statutory duties and suitability regulations and the forthcoming Renters Rights Act
• Provide expert guidance on complex cases, safeguarding, and legal compliance.
• Drive delivery of the Temporary Accommodation Improvement Plan, embedding robust processes, and minimising emergency placements.
• Improve data, forecasting, and coordination through dashboards and centralised tracking.
• Enhance policies and procedures for your service area.
• Build strong relationships with housing providers, landlords, and partner agencies.
• Monitor performance, budgets, and risks, ensuring continuous improvement and value for money.

Job Accountabilities * To assist the Housing Options Manager to ensure that the Council's statutory responsibilities towards people who are homeless/at risk of homelessness are met and have systems in place to ensure that all applications are thoroughly and professionally evaluated and that a consistent approach is applied across the service. Institute quality checks on an agreed number of cases annually.

• To provide guidance to the Housing Options Officers on the more complex or sensitive cases.
• To provide training and support to new team members and existing staff as required.
• To monitor and manage performance of the Housing Options Officers, Triage Officers and other team members.
• To develop a comprehensive policy and procedure manual for housing options advice and homelessness, including prevention.
• Assist the Housing Options Manager with the development of the monitoring and referral arrangements/protocols with other statutory agencies, housing providers and the voluntary sector.
• To ensure the effective operation and management of temporary accommodation (including the 4 current units in the Council's own stock) so as to minimise use of Bed & Breakfast and to support the aim of reducing the number of households in temporary accommodation.
• To ensure effective liaison with the Social Landlords with whom the Council has agreements to provide it with nomination rights to units of temporary accommodation.
• To prepare reports for the consideration of officers conducting Homelessness Reviews in respect of s202 requests and/or to liaise with any external organisation appointed by the Council to carry out such reviews on its behalf.
• To convene, chair and attend inter-agency meetings, case conferences and working groups as required.
• To support the development of strategies and plans to prevent homelessness and to assist in developing the Council's strategic housing role.
• To participate fully in the Housing Options Service planning process and, where required, to take a lead role in the implementation of service improvements and the Council's response to changes in legislation.
• To participate in the homelessness out of hours rota.
• To support, contribute and comply with quality practices as described within the Corporate Quality Policy and as described by Management.
• Ensure all BVPIs, KPIs and local performance indicators are adhered to and improved upon wherever possible.
• To apply and actively promote the principles of the Council's Equal Opportunities Policy in all areas of employment and service delivery.
• To apply and actively promote the principles of the Council's Safeguarding Procedure in all areas of employment and service delivery.
• To advise the Housing Options Manager if, at any time, the above duties and responsibilities cannot be performed and to deputise for the Housing Options Manager in his/her absence.
• Any other duties, which may from time to time become necessary, as directed by the Head of Service.

What we're looking for
We need a motivated, innovative leader who brings:

• A proven track record of delivering homelessness/housing needs
• Strong knowledge of housing legislation, including the Housing Act 1996 as amended by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, and related case law.
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence, collaborate, and inspire.
• Experience managing people, performance, and contracts effectively
• A proactive, solution-focused approach to complex challenges.
• Strong organisational and analytical skills, including data-driven decision making
• Commitment to safeguarding and delivering excellent customer service.
• Strong IT skills, including housing systems and data analysis for performance monitoring.
• Budget awareness and cost control experience.
• A relevant professional qualification (e.g., CIH) is desirable but not essential.

If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, love working with people, and making a tangible difference, we'd love to hear from you.
Why choose Braintree District Council?
Braintree District Council is an ambitious and forward-thinking authority with a vision of creating a great place for our residents and businesses.
As a Council our role is as a guardian of the place and its people; where residents live well in healthy and resilient communities; a well-connected district with high-quality homes delivered with the infrastructure and a place which attracts and provides good employment opportunities.
We are becoming one of the fastest growing Districts in the East of England with three growing towns, London just 45 minutes away and the district located directly between the international transport centres of Stansted Airport and Harwich and Felixstowe International Ports. We have a deserved track record for delivering and a strong reputation within the business community.
Braintree District Council is a great place to work. We pride ourselves on our creative and innovative approach which is led by our staff. We are committed to having an engaged workforce who understand our strategy and how they can help deliver it.
Some of the benefits of working for Braintree District Council are:

• Hybrid working arrangements are available in this role (home/office based with at least 2-3 days in the office per week) subject to business need

*Competitive pay and benefits
*Flexible working
*Local Government Pension Scheme Defined Benefit Scheme
*Free Car Parking
*Learning and development for all staff
*Staff Discounts
*Employee Assistance Programme
*Staff recognition schemes
*Extensive health and wellbeing programme, including discounted gym membership
For an informal chat about the role, please contact Becca Collins or Carly Jones on 01376 552525.
To apply, click here: or visit https://www.braintree.gov.uk/join-our-team. Please DO NOT click the Apply button on the left.
Closing date for receipt of applications: Midnight on Sunday 11th January 2026.
Please Note - Essex County Council is advertising this role on behalf of Braintree District Council and if successful you will be employed by Braintree District Council.

Skills Required