Are you a natural leader who is excited by change and motivated by the opportunity to build something better?
Watford Community Housing is a community-focused housing association with a strong social purpose. We own and manage around 8,000 homes and associated assets across South-West Hertfordshire and North-West London, with a clear commitment to investing in high-quality, safe and sustainable homes for our customers. As a Community Gateway housing association, we place residents at the heart of decision-making, ensuring our services reflect the needs and ambitions of the communities we serve.
As we continue to strengthen our governance, risk, and compliance frameworks – and build on our C1 rating under the consumer standards – we are seeking to appoint a Director of Assurance & Compliance. This is a critical senior leadership role that will ensure the organisation continues to meet the highest standards of safety, regulatory compliance and risk management, while embedding a culture of assurance and accountability across the business.
It is an exciting time to be joining us. We have recently agreed a merger with Thrive Homes to create a new Community Gateway housing association from 1 June 2026. The successful candidate will become Director of Assurance & Compliance for the new organisation.
This role offers the chance to operate at scale, influence how a newly merged organisation defines safety and assurance, settings the standards for our new organisation. This is an opportunity to shape culture, confidence and trust across more than 13,000 homes.
Reporting to the Executive Director of Asset & Compliance, you will provide strategic leadership across building safety, compliance, health & safety, risk and insurance. Working closely with colleagues across asset management, operations, finance and governance, you will ensure that robust assurance frameworks are in place and that the organisation meets all statutory and regulatory obligations.
Key responsibilities include:
* Leading the design of a future‑focused assurance, compliance and risk framework that takes the best of both legacy organisations, responding to emerging regulation, digital opportunity and customer expectations.
* Providing visible, confident leadership in matters of regulatory, reputational or safety risk.
* Lead assurance through the merger, aligning cultures, systems and ways of working.
* Leading the strategic vision and delivery of assurance, compliance, health & safety, risk management and insurance services across the organisation.
* Providing clear assurance to the Executive Team, Board and Committees that all statutory, regulatory and safety obligations are met.
* Acting as Responsible Person where required, ensuring compliance with Building Safety and Fire Safety legislation.
* Driving a proactive, data-led approach to risk management, compliance monitoring and performance reporting, including the use of digital systems and analytics.
* Ensuring effective management of corporate health & safety, embedding a strong safety culture for customers, colleagues and contractors.
* Identifying emerging risks, service failures and compliance issues are ensuring they are reported clearly and mitigated effectively.
We are looking for a senior values-led leader who brings:
* A clear commitment to safety, customer outcomes and social purpose.
* Experience of operating at a senior level, providing assurance to Boards, committees and regulatory bodies.
* A strong track record of leading compliance frameworks, risk management strategies and organisational assurance.
* Significant experience in compliance, building and fire safety, risk or assurance within social housing or a similarly regulated, asset-intensive environment.
* The judgement to balance risk, cost, quality and long-term value.
* Experience managing complex supply chains and delivering large scale programmes.
* Strong analytical capability, with experience of using data to drive insight and performance improvement.
* Energy and enthusiasm for change, including the opportunity created by our merger.
A relevant professional qualification (e.g. RICS, CIOB, IOSH or equivalent) is desirable but not essential.
If you are a strategic, values-driven leader who can strengthen assurance, embed a culture of compliance and ensure the safety of our homes and communities, we would be delighted to hear from you. Please contact our consultant at Neemar Search for a confidential discussion.
Eliot Jeffries
Delivery Consultant