Job Description
Policy Manager (Housing)
Leeds / Hybrid
£56,481 per annum (pay award pending)
Permanent / 37 hours per week (part-time / job share considered)
Closing date - Sunday 14 December 2025 at 11:55pm
We currently have a vacancy for Housing Policy Manager in our Place and Environment Policy team.
This post is a unique opportunity to take a leading role in developing and implementing housing policy across West Yorkshire. Working within the wider Place and Environment team, your role will be responsible for a team of officers delivering on the objectives set out in the West Yorkshire Housing Strategy 2040 and delivering on the Mayors pledge to build 5000 affordable homes in the region.
We are looking for a housing specialist to take on this key leadership role driving forward our ambition to ensure that West Yorkshire is a place we are proud to call home. This will include lead on our plans to develop a place-based approach to our policy and pipeline development activity, working in partnership with local authorities, key agencies such as Homes England, housing associations, developers and communities.
It is an exciting time to be joining the Mayoral Combined Authority. We have a wide variety of impactful projects that we are working on which will help shape the West Yorkshire region. To find out more about the work the Combined Authority is involved with, take a look at our latest news stories.
It is important that you demonstrate how your breadth of experience, knowledge and skills align with the role when applying. We have therefore created comprehensive guidance for candidates, and you are strongly urged to read this before completing your application form.
Please visit our Advice for Candidates webpage to find this guidance and further support in completing your application form.
Visit our 'Life at West Yorkshire Combined Authority' webpage to find out what our staff have to say about working here.
The Role
Reporting into the Head of Place and Environment Policy your responsibilities will include:
* Influencing national housing policy and leading strategic conversations with Government related to housing across West Yorkshire and leading on our regional Strategic Place Partnership with Homes England.
* Providing leadership across West Yorkshire and within the Combined Authority on housing including delivery of our West Yorkshire Housing Strategy and the Mayor’s housing pledges. This includes providing strategic direction, leadership, and day to day support to a team of officers working on housing.
* Driving forward both our policy and pipeline / programme development activity including work aligned to delivery of good quality and affordable homes embedding and empowering officers across the Combined Authority to deliver actions.
Please review the Role Profile provided for more information about the responsibilities of this role.
About You
You will have the following key skills, attributes, education and experience:
* Strong understanding of policy development and experience of working within a housing setting.
* Experience of policy and strategy development within a complex organisation, translating
* policy objectives into programmes and delivery.
* Experienced in forming and developing effective senior level working relationships with Members, Government and partner organisations to achieve the best outcomes for the organisation.
* Finding innovative solutions to complex place-based and economic challenges
* Strong analytical skills, with the ability to distil complex information into clear and concise communications.
Our offer
Alongside a competitive salary, we offer an excellent benefits package including:
* Work your way – From flexible and agile working options, including a generous flexi-time scheme to help you balance your personal life and career.
* Time to recharge – Enjoy 28 days of annual leave (with increases based on length of service), plus all Bank Holidays.
* Free greener travel across West Yorkshire – Cover your commute sustainably with unlimited free bus and rail travel using the MCard (Zones 1–5).
* Secure your future – Benefit from a highly competitive Local Government Pension Scheme.
* Investing in you – Take advantage of fully funded professional development, regular training, and up to 3 paid volunteering days per year.
* Grow with us – Incremental salary progression for most roles and annual cost of living increases.
* Family first – We offer enhanced parental and bereavement leave, plus other family-friendly policies to support you when it matters most.
* Your wellbeing, our priority – Access 24/7 free confidential counselling services and the Headspace app for you and up to 5 family or friends.
* Modern workspace in a prime location – Work in bright, contemporary offices just a 2-minute walk from Leeds Train Station, fully equipped with the latest tech.
Take a look at our Employee Benefits webpage to find out more
To apply
If this sounds like your next role, please complete the application form and tell us within the supporting statement why you would be a great fit for our role and how your skills, knowledge and experience align with the requirements under the ‘About You’ section of the advert and the criteria within the Role Profile.
If you would like to discuss the Housing Policy Manager role in more detail please contact Alison Gillespie via alison.gillespie@westyorks-ca.gov.uk
Further Information
Please note that whilst it is our policy to recruit at SP1 for all appointments, which is the salary stated above, each role includes career salary progression, with incremental increases applicable in most cases on an annual basis.
Due to the high volumes of applications we receive, unfortunately we are unable to respond to every applicant. If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date, please assume that on this occasion your application has not been successful. We do however thank you for your application and encourage you to continue looking for roles on our Careers with Us website page.