At Wates Family Enterprise Trust, we believe that safe, stable housing is the foundation for a decent life. We're looking for a Homes Collective Lead to play a pivotal role in strengthening collaboration across the housing and homelessness ecosystem. This is a unique opportunity to work at a system level – bringing together funders, practitioners, policymakers, researchers and people with lived experience to drive meaningful, long‑term change. This is not a traditional programme or grant management role. Instead, you will act as a connector, facilitator and strategist, ensuring organisations are working collectively – not in silos – to address housing insecurity, temporary accommodation and challenges within the private rented sector.
Programme Leadership & Grant Making
* Manage WFET’s Homes grant portfolio (c.£350k, scaling to ~£1m over time)
* Build strong relationships with partners across housing and homelessness
* Identify opportunities for shared learning and system‑wide impact
* Develop co‑funding partnerships with aligned funders
* Use insights from funded work to shape long‑term housing strategy
Convening & Collective Impact
* Lead the Housing Funders Policy Network to drive alignment and collaboration
* Coordinate cross‑sector groups focused on housing data and systems change
* Convene learning spaces (online and in person) to share evidence and insight
* Foster collaboration and reduce duplication across the sector
Learning, Evidence & Influence
* Work with research partners to generate and interpret evidence on:
o Temporary Accommodation
o Private Rented Sector reform
o Access, tenure and prevention models
* Ensure lived experience is meaningfully embedded in all work
* Translate complex data into actionable insights for stakeholders
* Support proportionate monitoring, evaluation and learning approaches
Strategic Engagement
* Identify and engage co‑founders, investors and philanthropists
* Contribute to the development of WFET’s Homes strategy
* Work closely with trustees and senior leadership to shape direction
We're looking for someone who is collaborative, systems‑minded and passionate about social impact.
Knowledge & Experience
* Strong understanding of UK housing and homelessness systems
* Experience working within or alongside housing, policy or homelessness organisations
* Track record of building partnerships and convening diverse stakeholders
* Experience in grant making or managing funded programmes
* Ability to interpret and communicate research and evidence effectively
Skills
* Excellent communication skills across a wide range of audiences
* Skilled facilitator, able to lead inclusive and constructive conversations
* Experience working across public, private, voluntary or academic sectors
* Ability to influence without authority through relationships and insight
Behaviours
* Highly collaborative with a shared leadership mindset
* Values‑led, with a strong commitment to equity and social justice
* Comfortable navigating complexity and ambiguity
* Empathetic, proactive and solutions‑focused
This role manages a grant budget of c.£350,000, with growth to ~£1m over time
* The role does not include direct line management responsibility
* Jointly funded by WFET, Trust for London and Oak Foundation
* WFET is committed to supporting your professional development
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