Overview
Based in the heart of Warwickshire, Stratford-on-Avon District Council provides public services to residents, businesses and visitors across the district. The council’s headquarters are in Stratford-upon-Avon, a region with market towns and a population of over 135,000 residents, attracting millions of visitors each year. We aim to support our communities with high-quality services and opportunities for all.
At the Council, our people are our superpower and by choosing to bring your talents to our organisation, you will be joining a great team where everyone feels that they truly belong, full of dedicated people all working with passion and purpose, across a dynamic portfolio of work providing high-quality services.
What to Expect in the Role
You will work with rural communities, stakeholders, local developers and Registered providers to promote the development of rural affordable housing. You will collaborate with other policy and planning colleagues to coordinate the implementation of the Council's housing enabling policies and programmes. You will work closely with Parish administrations to advocate for local groups and promote wider housing need within communities. Covering a large geographic area with diverse community characteristics, you will facilitate the forming and delivering of local housing policies and strategies. You will be instrumental in shaping the housing landscape and ensuring residents have a good supply of quality homes. You will ensure local voices are heard within the council and wider housing need championed across the district.
Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities
To work in partnership with local communities, housing associations and others in accordance with the District Council’s Housing Strategy and Local Plan to:
* Raise awareness of the need for affordable housing amongst local communities.
* Facilitate the identification of local housing needs by local communities.
* Promote positive relationships between communities and the council.
* Act as a main point of contact and a link to parish councils in relation to local housing needs/ community-led schemes.
* Raise awareness amongst local communities of the importance of producing plans and strategies for addressing identified housing needs (including public consultation processes).
* Facilitate the identification and assessment of suitable potential sites for affordable housing schemes.
* Develop and promote new and innovative ways of providing affordable housing for local communities.
* Promote the development of sustainable, as well as affordable housing, with reference to the sustainability of local communities as a whole.
* Be familiar with the evolving policy framework for housing at regional, sub-regional and local levels and offer advice and intelligence on housing issues as appropriate.
* Undertake locally relevant research contributing to more effective solutions to meet affordable housing needs, including Housing Need Surveys.
* Produce and disseminate verbal and written information tailored to different audiences (presentations, briefings, committee reports).
* Respond to requests for advice and guidance such as Freedom of Information requests, member press inquiries, and consultation documents as directed.
* Attend and participate in meetings and assist in organising conferences, seminars, workshops and other training events as appropriate.
What You’ll Need
* The ability to travel to locations within the district.
* Experience of working with communities, developers, Registered providers and council planners.
* Able to deal with contentious and confidential matters with diplomacy and tact.
* Enthusiastic, positive and can-do approach with the ability to use initiative and build strong relationships with colleagues and key stakeholders.
Right To Work
Applicants must have existing Right to Work in the UK, as visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Artificial Intelligence could be a useful tool to support your application. However, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by AI, as your own) applications may be withdrawn.
Interview Format
All interviews for this position will be held face to face, as we believe this offers the best experience for candidates and panel members.
Internal Applicants – Secondment Opportunity
This post is offered as a secondment opportunity, allowing employees to return to their original post at the end of the secondment period. All parties must agree to the secondment, so please ensure that your Line Manager is supportive before applying. Full agreement from all parties must be confirmed in writing for the secondment to proceed, therefore candidates must have written agreement from their Manager before making an application. This written agreement must be submitted with the application form.
For an informal chat about the role, please contact Jon Mutchell, Housing Strategy and Development Manager on 01789 260842 or Jon.Mutchell@stratford-dc.gov.uk
Applications will close at midnight on 5th May 2026. Interviews will be held w/c 1st June 2026.
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