Overview

Westminster City Council is seeking an exceptional Interim Director of Housing Standards, Assets & Investment to lead one of the most complex and high-profile housing portfolios in local government. This senior interim appointment will provide strategic leadership across housing standards, asset management, compliance and investment—ensuring residents live in safe, high-quality homes while driving improvement, innovation and long-term sustainability.

About Westminster City Council

Westminster City Council is committed to creating a fairer Westminster, putting residents first and embedding openness, integrity and transparency in everything we do. Our culture values diversity, learning and ambition, empowering leaders at every level to deliver the best possible outcomes for residents, businesses and visitors.

The Role

Reporting to the Executive Director of Housing & Commercial Partnerships, you will be a key member of the Housing Leadership Team and a catalyst for resident-focused change.

• Provide strategic leadership across housing standards, asset management, compliance and investment
• Lead and develop a workforce of over 160 staff, with up to 7 direct reports
• Oversee significant revenue and capital investment programmes impacting approximately 22,000 council homes
• Ensure robust governance and assurance around building safety, regulatory compliance and risk management
• Drive service improvement, transformation and cultural change
• Work closely with elected members, senior officers, residents and external stakeholders
• Ensure delivery is resident-focused, transparent and performance-driven throughout the interim period

This is a highly influential role, operating at the centre of safety, regulation, investment and transformation.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for a credible and experienced senior leader who brings:

• Senior leadership experience in local government or a comparably complex organisation
• A strong professional background in housing, property, asset management or the built environment
• Proven experience leading large, multi-disciplinary services with substantial budgets
• Strong knowledge of housing regulation, building safety and compliance
• A track record of delivering service transformation, cultural change and measurable improvement
• Political astuteness, with experience working closely with elected members
• An inclusive, compassionate leadership style with a strong resident-centred mindset
• A delivery-focused approach well-suited to an interim environment