Assistant Director of Housing

About the Council
Rochdale is a borough with ambition, momentum and a strong sense of identity. Located at the heart of Greater Manchester, the borough is undergoing significant transformation, with major regeneration programmes, ambitious growth plans and a clear commitment to improving outcomes for residents and communities.

Housing is central to those ambitions. Rochdale Borough Council is increasingly ambitious about the role it can play in shaping places, delivering high-quality homes and creating thriving communities across the borough. This is not simply about overseeing housing services, it is about helping define Rochdale’s future.

About the Role
This is a genuinely exciting opportunity to lead one of the Council’s most important and evolving agendas.

Reporting to the Director of Economy & Place, the Assistant Director of Housing will provide strategic leadership across housing growth, homelessness, temporary accommodation, strategic housing partnerships and wider housing services. Alongside leading a broad operational portfolio, this role will play a pivotal part in shaping Rochdale’s future approach to housing delivery and place-making.

What makes this role particularly exciting is the opportunity to help lead something new.

Rochdale Borough Council is increasingly ambitious about developing and delivering its own homes, with a clear desire to play a more direct role in housing delivery across the borough. The Council sees housing not just as a service, but as a catalyst for regeneration, inclusive growth and stronger communities. This role will sit at the centre of that ambition.

Working closely with Homes England, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Registered Providers, developers and regeneration partners, you will help shape and deliver a pipeline of new housing opportunities and support the council in establishing its long-term approach to council-led housing development. There is real opportunity here to influence strategy, shape delivery models and help create a lasting legacy across the borough.

Alongside growth and development, you will oversee highly visible housing services that directly impact residents and communities, including homelessness prevention, temporary accommodation and wider strategic housing functions. The role therefore requires someone who can balance strategic ambition with operational grip, ensuring services remain resident-focused, financially sustainable and responsive to increasing demand and regulatory expectations.

This is a significant leadership role within the wider Economy & Place Directorate and an opportunity to make a visible and lasting impact at a pivotal moment for Rochdale.

About You
We are looking for an experienced, collaborative and politically aware housing leader who can combine strategic thinking with strong operational understanding and visible leadership.

You will bring senior-level experience across housing, growth, regeneration or development within a complex organisation, alongside a strong understanding of the opportunities and challenges currently facing the housing sector.

Most importantly, you will be excited by the opportunity to help shape something new. Rochdale is looking for someone who can bring energy, ambition and credibility to the role, someone who can help drive forward the council’s housing ambitions, build strong partnerships and create confidence around delivery.

You will be comfortable operating within a fast-moving environment, able to work confidently across political and organisational boundaries and capable of leading through complexity and change. Experience of housing growth, development or strategic housing delivery will be particularly valuable, as will strong partnership skills, commercial awareness and the ability to inspire high-performing teams.

This is a rare opportunity to join Rochdale at a pivotal moment and play a leading role in shaping the future of housing across the borough.

Find out more information by visiting the dedicated microsite: https://www.successatrochdale.com/

If you would like to have a confidential conversation about the role please contact Maud Hollis on 07444 696659 or Clare Connor on 0161 408 0703

To apply:
To apply, please submit an up-to-date copy of your CV (three sides of A4 maximum), along with a supporting statement (three sides of A4 maximum) detailing your experience, and achievements and addressing the key criteria for the role set out on this site and using examples to demonstrate how you meet the requirements. Documents should be uploaded via our website, please include and upload the below information in two documents only. If you experience any issues whilst applying, please contact matthew.ashby@tile-hill.co.uk

Applications must include:

• Full contact details;
• Names, positions, organisations and contact details for two referees (we will ask your permission before contacting referees);
• Details of your notice period;
• Notification of any dates when you are not available for interview.

Recruitment timeline   

• Closing Date: Wednesday 22nd July 2026 (Midnight)
• Longlist Meeting (no candidate involvement): Thursday 30th July 2026
• Preliminary Interviews (Virtual):  

*Wednesday 5th August

*Thursday 6th August

*Wednesday 19th August

*Thursday 20th August

• Shortlist Meeting (no candidate involvement): Thursday 3rd September 2026
• Final Panel Interviews (in person): w/c 7th September 2026

The deadline for submission of the Assistant Director of Housing application is Wednesday 22nd July 2026 (Midnight).

At Tile Hill, we are committed to inclusion and accessibility. We champion and support all individuals to ensure everyone feels valued, listened to and motivated to get the very best out of each recruitment process and that processes are designed to meet the needs of individuals. If you have any specific requests and would like a confidential discussion with the Tile Hill team, then please email inclusion@tile-hill.co.uk.

Rochdale Borough Council are a Disability Confident Employer. If you are applying under the Disability Confident Scheme, please mention this clearly in bold at the top of your supporting statement. If there are any adjustments that would support you during the application or interview process, please let us know.