Service Manager - Homefinder

About the job

Some key information

• Salary: £41,771 - £46,142 per annum (Grade 9)
• Annual leave: 30 days’ annual leave, plus bank holidays
• Hours: Permanent, Full-time (37 hours) role
• Location: Based at one of our offices in Bridgwater, Shepton Mallet, Taunton or Yeovil
• Hybrid working: Flexible working arrangements to support work-life balance

Regretfully, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. We are only able to proceed with candidates who already have the right to work in the UK without the need for visa sponsorship.

What will I be doing?

As a Service Manager for Choice Based Lettings, you’ll lead our dedicated teams to ensure the smooth and efficient delivery of the Homefinder service across Somerset. This pivotal role provides strong operational leadership, ensuring resources are used effectively, demand is well‑managed, and statutory and partnership timescales are met.

We’re working to improve the lives of people in Somerset - and you’ll be a key part of that. Your day-to-day work will involve:

• Providing leadership for the Homefinder service, ensuring policies are followed and developed appropriately.
• Leading the Choice‑Based Lettings Working Group, driving improvements and fair allocation processes.
• Acting as the escalation point for complex cases, including reviews and complaints.
• Building strong relationships with partners and representing the service at key meetings.
• Managing and developing staff, supporting a positive and effective team culture.
• Taking an operational lead in MP and Councillor liaison

What kind of experience or qualifications do I need?

We offer ongoing support, training and guidance to help you be the best you can be, but it will really help if you have:

• Comprehensive understanding of housing legislation, Homefinder policies and the Choice Based Lettings process.
• Strong partnership‑working skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate with internal teams, Registered Providers and multi‑agency partners.
• Experience leading or supervising staff, with the ability to motivate, support and develop a high‑performing team.
• Excellent communication, organisational and decision‑making skills.
• Strong problem‑solving and conflict‑resolution abilities, with experience handling complex customer cases or complaints.

We’re proud to be here for the people of Somerset, and that means everyone in Somerset. An important part of this is ensuring that we are as diverse and inclusive as the people and communities we serve.

We welcome applications from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences to enrich our team. You can always contact the hiring manager for a chat if there’s anything you want to talk about before you apply.

What's in it for me?

We are proud to offer an environment that is supportive and rewarding, working as part of a team who are passionate about the work they do to improve the lives of people in Somerset.

We offer great training and development opportunities, with supportive management. As well as this, we have some fantastic employee benefits available:

• We promote a healthy work-life balance and offer flexible working arrangements wherever possible, including working from home.
• Generous annual leave allowance, with the opportunity to purchase additional leave
• Staff discounts in gyms.
• Employee Assistance for the times you may need some support and a variety of employee wellbeing services.
• Auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme and optional pension enhancement through our Additional Voluntary Contribution scheme.
• A Flexible Benefits Scheme via salary sacrifice to obtain a cycle for work and health screenings.
• My Staff Shop offering discounts in shops, online shopping, restaurants, cinema tickets, insurance benefits and more

Anything else I should know?

For more information about the role, you can contact Sam Wenden-de-Lira (Head of Service) on sam.wenden@somerset.gov.uk

When completing your application/CV please provide your full employment history and ensure that any gaps in employment are explained. Please start with your current or most recent employment.

This post requires a criminal background check via the Disclosure procedure.

If you have all the information you need, just hit the apply button - we can’t wait to hear from you.