Welcome
Welcome
Our Headquarters is in the harbour town of Ardrossan in North Ayrshire and we have over 3,500 social homes for rent across North Ayrshire, East Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway in the South West of Scotland.
Ayrshire is a great place to live and work with great links to Scotland’s largest City Glasgow, known for it’s nightlife, cultural events and characters (People Make Glasgow) as well as access to the many beaches in Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway, numerous championship golf courses and other outdoor pursuits on our doorstep.
The mission of Cunninghame Housing Association is to be more than just a landlord and we are committed to making our communities better places.
As a member of our Executive Team, you’ll be fully engaged in developing and delivering the strategy to take us to where we want to be. What you do, and the way you do it as part of our team, will facilitate the work of our organisation as we offer choice and opportunities for our tenants and customers to meet their aspirations of living in quality homes in stronger communities.
If this sounds like a challenge and an opportunity that you’d welcome, then we’d love to hear from you.
Jacqueline Cameron
Group Chief Executive Officer
About Us
Cunninghame Housing Association’s origins can be traced back to The Three Towns Housing Association registered in 1984 and has had a record of success and growth since then.
Community based associations have traditionally been the offspring of involvement by dedicated community activists and future looking District Councils. Cunninghame Housing Association (then The Three Towns Housing Association) is no exception.
The Steering Committee went public in May 1985 in a bid to create greater public awareness of their proposed projects and to promote greater involvement through widening of membership. The first AGM followed in July 1985. By October 1985, a site start was made on the 3-storey tenement at the corner of Quay Street, Saltcoats and with the completion of 8 flats in this scheme in July 1986 the Association’s role as a Social Landlord was established. A second project at Princes Street, Ardrossan followed shortly afterwards in November 1986.
The Cunninghame Housing Association Group of companies also includes:
Cunninghame Furniture Recycling Company – A social enterprise recycling and reusing good quality furniture.
Citrus Energy – A service to help commercial energy consumers make savings on gas and electricity costs.
The Association also provide a fuel poverty advisory service offering crisis support to prevent loss of energy supply and arranging credit for those on prepayment meters.
Our Corporate Objectives
CUSTOMERS FIRST: Deliver high quality, customer driven services by putting tenants, customers and communities at the heart of planning and decision making.
GROWTH: To achieve growth and financial sustainability through partnership working.
QUALITY: To provide affordable, high-quality homes that meet current and future needs and aspirations of our customers and our communities.
REGENERATION: To support the social and economic regeneration of our communities.
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: To deliver effective leadership, governance and brand positioning to positively impact on our business, our people and the communities in which we operate.
CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT: To seek continuous improvement in our operations by investing in and developing further all our people and our business processes.
Our Vision and Mission
Vision: To be one of the leading Housing Associations and Social Enterprises offering choice and opportunities for our tenants and customers to meet their aspirations of living in quality homes in stronger communities.
Mission: Reflecting our Vision for the Organisation, Cunninghame Housing Association aims to pursue a strategy of: “More than just a Landlord – Making Our Communities Better Places”
Our Values
Equality – We will be fair and consistent with all of our people, customer and business partners by being open, honest and accountable at all times.
Participation – We will involve our stakeholders by promoting clear communication, participation and engagement in order to improve our effectiveness and efficiency as we continue to grow our business.
Investment – We will invest in all of our people, products, and places, to create environments that are positive, motivating, challenging and rewarding.
Creativity – We will continue to create and develop new initiatives and take measured risks to exceed our partners and customers expectations.
Customer Focus – We will focus on the needs of all of our customers and deliver a quality customer driven service.
Role Description
The role of Executive Director of Housing and Communities forms a key part of the Executive Team at Cunninghame Housing Association, delivering on the mission, vision and values of the organisation and helping us meet our strategic objectives.
The role is central to development and deliver of a number of key strategic areas including:
– Tenant Participation
– Regeneration
– Housing Management
– Community Engagement
The role also includes executive responsibility for Cunninghame Furniture Recycling Company one of our group companies.
The ideal candidate will be a highly motivated and engaging leader and have significant senior experience in the Social Housing sector with a wide understanding of the services delivered in Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) in Scotland. A professional qualification in housing at graduate level is also essential for the role.
Overview
Job Title: Executive Director of Housing and Communites
Department: Housing and Communities
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Responisble for: Housing and Community Services and Cunninghame Furniture Recycling Company
Pay Grade: Grade 11, SCP 9-12, £96,792 – £101,820
Purpose of the Role
Form a key part of the Association’s Executive Management Team (EMT), supporting the delivery of Cunninghame Housing Association’s vision, mission, values and strategic objectives, with specific responsibility for the leadership and strategic direction of the Housing and Communities Service.
This includes housing management, tenant engagement, financial wellbeing, services to shared owners, and wider economic and social regeneration as well as being the executive lead for the Association’s Cunninghame Furniture Recycling Company (CFRC) subsidiary.
The role will be the lead of development and delivery of key strategies, including the Tenant Participation Strategy, Regeneration Strategy, and various Housing and Communities Policies.
Corporate Responsibilities
- To carry out the requirements of the job in accordance with the agreed policies and procedures of Cunninghame Housing Association including the code of conduct.
- To ensure absolute confidentiality at all times in respect of tenants, former tenants and applicants.
- To comply with responsibilities under the association’s data protection, health and safety, safeguarding and equality and diversity policies.
- To identify and attend training to ensure skills are up to date.
- To take responsibility for keeping oneself fully apprised of changes in association policy, current legislation, relevant guidance and models of good practice.
- To carry out any other duties which may be required from time to time to ensure the proper functioning of Cunninghame Housing Association.
Management and Leadership Responsibilities
- To effectively lead and deliver on all aspects of the Housing and Communities Service while ensuring that activities comply with legislation and regulatory requirements and the Scottish Social Housing Charter.
- To provide line management to the team ensuring they are supported in their roles and able to fulfil their duties.
- To input into Cunninghame Housing Association Strategic Risk Register in relation to housing management related financial, regulatory and reputational risk.
- To lead on the delivery, monitoring, evaluation and reporting attached to all budgets, KPIs, and social value reporting to achieve continuous improvement through effective operational management.
- To ensure the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion are embedded in the association’s culture.
Principal Duties of the Role
Support the embedding of a value for money culture in the Housing and Communities Service that delivers continuous improvement throughout the organisation and a proactive approach to service delivery.
Deliver assurance by ensuring regulatory and statutory compliance is achieved in all areas of responsibility.
Manage the operational risks associated with the Housing and Communities Service and contribute to the development and implementation of the Association’s Risk Management Strategy and Business Continuity / Disaster Recovery Plans.
Maintain the positive reputation of CHA through inspirational leadership, high performance, encouraging a positive team culture and fostering strong external partnerships.
Ensure the Association’s Performance Management Framework supports the provision of key performance indicators and targets for Housing and Communities, and that progress on these is communicated at strategic (Board), tactical (Executive Management Team) and operational (staff group) level.
Lead the Housing and Communities teams to take ownership of continuous improvement through involvement in service improvement groups and procedural review.
Develop and implement operational plans to support achievement of the Association’s strategic objectives, and ensure that these are embedded in policy, procedure, staff engagement and appraisal.
Working with Others
Provide effective leadership that supports, inspires and motivates teams, empowering them to deliver through clear objectives, performance targets and personal development plans.
Lead on change management to promote a culture of continuous improvement.
Ensure consistent communication through team meetings, one-to-ones, appraisals and general team management to support delivery of the Association’s objectives.
Through effective engagement strategies, define and uphold positive behaviours and an improvement and empowerment culture to support business goals and new working practices.
Maintain strong relationships with common housing register partners and local authorities to support the delivery and allocation of affordable housing and prevention of homelessness.
Develop key relationships across the sector to support the sharing of good practice, delivery of value for money and sharing of services where appropriate.
Customer Engagement
Lead on the provision of high quality, accessible and efficient services to the Association’s tenants, shared and factored owners, wider customers and communities, and engaged groups and partners.
Ensure the principles of tenant and community engagement, empowerment and scrutiny are embedded throughout the organisation.
Commission periodic satisfaction surveys, report on performance and trends and act on their findings.
Develop and implement a framework for wider economic and social regeneration activities and demonstrate the monetary and social benefits of this work.
Seek external funding and partnerships to extend the impact and range of services available to the Association’s customers
Governance
Contribute to the annual budget preparation in relation to the Housing and Communities Services.
Ensure budgets are set, controlled and managed to deliver value for money objectives.
Ensure there are appropriate controls in place to maximise rental income, minimise void expenditure and write off bad debts.
Ensure contracts, goods and services are procured in support of value for money principles and the Association’s Policies.
Contribute to the development and implementation of the Association’s Corporate Strategy and Business Plan, Annual Report and Performance Management Framework.
Prepare and present regular reports for the Association’s Board of Management, their Sub Committees and Subsidiary Boards, keeping them appraised of performance against targets, new legislation and policy issues.
Effectively assess, manage and report on strategic and operational risks pertaining to Housing and Communities to support the Association’s Risk Management Framework.
Work with regulators, internal and external auditors and consultants to ensure compliance and continuous improvement.
Ensure robust and accurate reporting on the Annual Return on the Charter and that self-assessments and associated supporting evidence are regularly reviewed to support the Annual Assurance Statement.
Your Values
The Cunninghame Group of Companies respect the following values:
Equality: We will be fair and consistent with all of our people, customer and business partners by being open, honest and accountable at all times.
Participation: We will involve our stakeholders by promoting clear communication, participation and engagement in order to improve our effectiveness and efficiency as we continue to grow our business.
Investment: We will invest in all of our people, products, and places, to create environments that are positive, motivating, challenging and rewarding.
Creativity: We will continue to create and develop new initiatives and take measured risks to exceed our partners and customers expectations.
Customer Focus: We will focus on the needs of all of our customers and deliver a quality customer driven service.
Essential Skills
- Degree or relevant professional qualification or equivalent demonstratable experience.
- Skilled in Managing relationships with all stakeholders, including elected members, the public and professional colleagues.
- Skilled in positive support and challenge of other ideas and contributions
- Highly developed written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
- Able to act decisively, demonstrating effective problem-solving skills.
Knowledge
- Devising strategies and to translate strategy meaningfully into easily understood operational plans and actions.
- Able to provide clear professional advice to formal voluntary board and management and sub committees.
- Able to present clearly and persuasively to a variety of audiences at all levels.
- Sound understanding of legislative; regulatory and governance requirements in social housing sector (particularly RSL sector).
- Changes in welfare system; clear understanding of impact on social housing sector landlords and understanding of mitigation actions required.
Experience
- Senior leadership role in a complex organisation.
- Using effective systems for managing risk and performance.
- Operating at a strategic level, contributing corporately beyond the confines of the specific job role.
- Leading and managing a highly skilled and motivated professional team.
- Engaging successfully with voluntary board members and senior staff colleagues.
- Demonstratable success in the management of organisational and cultural change and in securing the support of others in the process.
- Financial and budgetary management.
- Understanding of business challenges withing the Housing Association Sector.
Behaviours
- Flexible
- Future focused
- Approachable
- Engaging
- Caring
- Reflective
- Empowering
- Nurturing
- Decisive and responsive
- Team worker
Desirable Skills
- Membership of relevant professional body.
Experience
- Managing a housing service.
- Working effectively with internal and external partners and agencies.
- Working with a group structure.
- Wider initiatives to invest in local communities.
Working for CHA
With around 120 staff across frontline, maintenance and support roles the Board of Management recognises the importance of recruiting and retaining an engaged and motivated workforce and therefore is committed to the implementation of best people management practices. We are a member of Employers in Voluntary Housing (EVH) and the national bargaining structures that are managed through them to provide excellent terms and conditions, salaries and other contractual benefits to support our workforce.
Through EVH and locally we engage with our Trade Union Colleagues at Unite the Union to ensure our staff are represented and listened to. We also undertake regular engagement sessions with staff and an annual staff survey.
Our social activity group (Seeking New Adventures Group – SNAG) organises a series of events and activities to support social interactions of staff, encouraging cross interaction and collaboration of teams and departments in a more social setting.
Annual Leave
40 days annual leave for support staff (inclusive of 15 days fixed, public and closure days and 25 bookable days)
Pension
A group Pension Scheme through Scottish Widows 10% employer contributions.
Other Benefits
Enhanced Maternity, Paternity and Adoption Leave and Pay.
Generous Occupational sick pay that increases with length of service.
Discounts/Cashback and Rewards at hundreds of high street and online retailers.
Employee Wellbeing
EAP scheme through Westfield Health – Access to information and confidential advice for staff and managers on a variety of topics inc. Wellbeing and 24/7 Counselling services.
How to Apply
We hope that you have found the information on this site useful. If you have any queries or wish to discuss the role further, please contact Kirsteen Wyllie kwyllie@chaltd.org to arrange a call or a visit with Jacqueline Cameron, Group CEO.
To apply please send your tailored CV and Cover Letter to hr@chaltd.org
Recruitment Timeline
Closing Date for applications – 2 June 2025
Notification of progression to next stage – 9 June 2025
Assessment Centre – w/c 16 June 2025
Interviews – 30 June and 1 July 2025