Chief Executive

Job Reference JAUZB
Closing Date Thursday 14 Feb 2019

Like our founder, the social reformer Octavia Hill, we are proud to be different. A £55m not-for-profit organisation, Octavia manages around 5,000 homes mainly in Westminster and Kensington & Chelsea. We are known as a successful and distinctive community-based housing association, operating in a diverse London setting and playing a wider role as a force for good in the lives of local people, the areas they live in and London as a whole.

We believe in the value of mixed communities and in giving people on low incomes the opportunity to stay living close to where they work or have longstanding social ties. Today we manage an unusually diverse property portfolio, including some of the first homes that Octavia Hill acquired, and we are an award winning developer, building around 200 high-quality new homes a year, with a close eye on environmental sustainability standards. We offer a wide range of care and support services and through our Foundation we support people affected by ill health, social isolation, low income or unemployment.

We are looking for a new CEO ahead of the retirement of Grahame Hindes, following 18 years of outstanding service. This is an exciting time for Octavia as we prepare to strengthen our work in community development, care and support as well as increase our development activity. The Chief Executive will lead Octavia’s strategic and operational development, providing visible and inspiring leadership to around 385 employees, enabling growth and driving Octavia’s mission and vision. She or he will be a key figurehead and ambassador, within Octavia, across the social housing and charity sectors, with policy makers and beyond. This person will also play an important leadership role in the Connected Partnership, comprising Octavia, Origin and Shepherds Bush Housing as it works closely as a strategic partner with the GLA.

The right candidate will be a natural champion of the social purpose of housing associations and of the strong and distinctive values of Octavia. They will bring knowledge of the social housing sector and the regulatory framework in which it operates and leadership experience at CEO or senior management team level. The role requires outstanding financial and commercial acumen and experience of influencing high profile and high level stakeholders.

Reflecting the diverse communities that we are proud to serve, Octavia is committed to widening the diversity of its leadership. We seek to employ people who bring varying perspectives and who come from the widest possible range of backgrounds.

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to Octavia on this appointment. For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit www.saxbam.com/appointments using reference JAUZB. Alternatively email belinda.beck@saxbam.com or telephone +44 (0)20 7227 0880 (during office hours). Applications should be received by noon on Thursday 14 February.