Location
City of Westminster

Hours
37 hours per week

Salary
£72,840 per annum

About the Role
Do you want to work on one of the most exciting transformation projects in the public sector? The Defence Housing Strategy sets out the Ministry of Defence’s plan to refurbish or replace nine in ten Defence family homes, backed by £9 billion in funding and the creation of a new Defence Housing Service (DHS) to drive this change. Currently part of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, the Defence housing team manages almost 50,000 Defence family homes, making it one of the largest landlords in the country.

The Defence Infrastructure Organisation responds to the evolving needs of military personnel and the ways in which they live and work. We are proud to be the expert partner Defence needs for all infrastructure requirements, delivering value for money and innovating to meet customer needs.

The Defence Housing Service is being created through the Armed Forces Bill to deliver a step-change in housing for the UK’s Armed Forces and their families. DHS will modernise tens of thousands of homes, introduce a more proactive and customer-focused approach to maintenance, and unlock new opportunities to develop housing on Defence land. This is one of the most ambitious housing transformation programmes in the UK today.

As Head of Housing Policy, you will lead a substantial programme of policy development within Defence housing, focusing on standards, allocations, and wider landlord policy. You will ensure policy is coherent, deliverable, legally robust, and financially sustainable, supporting the Defence Housing Strategy’s ambition to provide safe, high-quality homes for Service personnel and their families.

Reporting at a senior level, you will provide authoritative advice to Ministers and senior leaders, shaping accommodation policy as the Defence Housing Service is established. You will lead policy reform, embed a family-centred approach, and ensure alignment with statutory and regulatory requirements.

You will build and lead a high-performing policy team, foster cross-government collaboration, and represent Defence at key governance forums and external engagements.

The future delivery model for this team is under review and may change as part of potential organisational developments, which could include transfer to a different employer or structure. Existing employees transferring with activities will maintain the same or substantially the same terms and conditions of employment.

Experience
Strong experience in policy development within complex or high-profile environments, ideally within housing, landlord functions, or public service delivery. Proven ability to analyse complex evidence and provide clear, balanced advice across operational, legal, and financial considerations. Experience supporting senior leaders and preparing high-quality written outputs such as Ministerial briefings or policy instructions. Demonstrable leadership experience including managing teams and driving cross-organisational collaboration. Excellent stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to influence senior levels across government and external partners. Ability to operate in complex, ambiguous environments and deliver at pace while maintaining high standards.

About you
Ability to lead and inspire a high-performing team, promote evidence-based policymaking, continuous improvement, and a strong delivery culture. Skilled in building cross-government collaboration and embedding a family-centred approach to policy design. Resilient and adaptable to change, with excellent communication and influencing skills. Holds a full, valid UK driving licence due to regular travel requirements to locations not easily accessible by public transport.

Qualifications
Knowledge of landlord regulatory frameworks, ombudsman systems, and compliance regimes is desirable. Experience engaging with a broad stakeholder landscape including legal teams, delivery bodies, and customer representatives is advantageous.