Rural Housing Enabler, Harrogate

Salary: From £37,035 up to £41,511 per annum

Grade JK

Hours: Full time & Part time

Contract: Permanent

Location: Based at one of our locality offices with the expectation to travel across the county when required. Hybrid working is available.

Would you like to be part of a team committed to understanding and meeting the housing needs of rural communities in North Yorkshire? Are you interested in working with communities, Parish Councils and Housing Associations? Then this could be the opportunity for you.

This is an exciting time to be joining the Housing Strategy, Partnerships and Enabling Team at NYC. We are responsible for overseeing the Council’s Housing Strategy and associated Action Plans; working with colleagues in Planning to implement existing and develop new affordable housing policies; and working across our diverse range of housing enabling partnerships and projects to ensure that opportunities to deliver the affordable homes that we need are maximised.

Housing Strategy, Partnerships and Enabling sits with the Housing Delivery and Partnerships Service. Across the Housing Service and the wider Council, we adopt a one team approach, providing both challenge and support to one another.

We are looking for a Rural Housing Enabler (RHE) to join our team working across North Yorkshire to deliver new affordable homes in our villages and rural settlements.

The RHEs work closely with parish councils, rural communities, and partners (including Registered Providers/Housing Associations and Homes England) and assist housing and planning officers with enquiries relating to rural housing provision and the development of rural affordable housing policy.

About the role

As a Rural Housing Enabler, you will oversee a portfolio of work, which includes:

1. Delivery of new affordable housing across our rural parishes
2. Progressing affordable housing opportunities across the patch, including liaising with landowners, parish councils, Planners, developers, RP partners and Homes England
3. Negotiating with landowners, developers, and agents to secure affordable housing through the planning process.
4. Prepare evidence bases, including undertaking parish housing needs surveys, to support the delivery of affordable housing.
5. Monitoring delivery outputs against targets

Within this position you will have a particular focus on understanding the County’s rural housing needs and requirements and ensuring that these are addressed through the RHE delivery plan.

What you will bring

You will be passionate about housing and delivering high-quality services to our stakeholders, colleagues, and partners.

You will be a self-starter, able to work independently and as part of a team. We are looking for someone who has the drive to ensure continuous improvement across this area of the housing service, with an eye for innovation and efficiency.

An enabler with a track record of partnering and collaborating would be an advantage, as would an awareness of the Council’s Local Plan policies in respect of housing. Excellent communication skills are a must, both written and verbal, with the ability to persuade, influence and negotiate as well as problem solve and implement solutions.

Working for us

When you join us, you are entitled to our outstanding benefits and wellbeing plan as part of your position. Our holiday entitlement starts at 28 days rising to 34 days (pro-rata) per year with continued service, plus public holidays. Pension: save for your retirement with our generous local government pension scheme with a 22.6% contribution. Fitness & Rewards: Fitness discounts with various gyms across the County. Stay on top of your game and save £££. Lifestyle Savings: explore a huge range of discounts to help you save money across hundreds of the UK’s favourite high-street and online retailers. Plus lots more…

Contact and apply

If you would like an informal discussion about the role and service, please contact Sharon Graham, Housing Strategy Partnerships Enabling on email Sharon.Graham1@northyorks.gov.uk or Angela Walmsley Senior Housing Enabler Officer on Angela.Walmsley@northyourks.gov.uk

Key dates:

Closing date: 12^th January 2025

Interview date: Week commencing 20^th January 2025

NYC are committed to directly recruiting staff and will not accept applications nor services from agency suppliers in respect of our vacancies.

We are committed to meeting the needs of our diverse community and aim to have a workforce reflecting this diversity. We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

North Yorkshire Council (NYC) advertises vacancies on behalf of schools and external organisations (third parties) in North Yorkshire. NYC are not responsible for the recruitment/employment practices of third parties and accept no liability in relation to the vacancy and any subsequent recruitment/employment processes. Enquiries regarding the vacancy or practices should be made directly with the third party.

North Yorkshire Councils’ purpose is to deliver services and facilities to the diverse residents and visitors of North Yorkshire. To ensure we deliver inclusive services we strive to have a diverse workforce where everybody can be themselves by respecting differences and embedding equality of opportunity. We celebrate diversity and recognise each other’s contributions; we therefore welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds.

North Yorkshire Council are committed to the health and safety of our employees and of others including the general public. It has a responsibility to ensure employees who hold a position that is deemed to be safety critical as it requires the performance of duties which are directly related to the safe operation or security of a facility, piece of equipment or vehicle, handling of chemicals or work at height or in confined spaces and which, if not performed properly, could result in a serious safety risk or environmental hazard to employees, a facility or the general public, do not attend work whilst under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Individuals offered employment with North Yorkshire Council will be subject to the Workplace Substance Misuse policy. For safety critical roles as detailed above, random alcohol and drug testing may take place during the course of employment.