Head of Compliance & Building Safety - #2185358

Compliance Lead

• Job Type: Full-time
• Location: Manchester
• Hourly rate: £450 - £550 per day umbrella
• Reports to: Strategic Lead Assets

This Compliance Lead position sits within a senior leadership team at a pivotal point of service transformation. You will lead a multidisciplinary service in a highly regulated environment, ensuring compliance with key building and fire safety legislation while embedding a resident safety-first culture, strong governance and continuous improvement. The Compliance Lead will also play a central role in strengthening assurance, improving performance and building resident confidence.

Day-to-day of the role

• Lead the compliance and building safety service across a £1bn housing portfolio and oversee a circa £10m annual service budget.
• Provide strategic leadership for statutory compliance areas including gas, electrical, water hygiene, fire safety, asbestos, mechanical systems, lifting equipment and repairs.
• Lead the organisation’s approach to building safety, ensuring compliance with the Building Safety Act 2022, Fire Safety Act 2021 and associated regulations.
• Develop and deliver the compliance and building safety strategy, operating model, service standards and assurance framework.
• Oversee building safety cases, certification requirements, regulatory returns, risk management and performance reporting.
• Work closely with residents, elected members, regulators, contractors and partner agencies to embed resident voice, transparency and trust.
• Commission, procure and manage compliance-related services and contracts, ensuring quality, accountability and value for money.
• Lead and develop multidisciplinary teams, promoting a culture of accountability, learning, innovation and service excellence.
• Use performance data, regulatory insight, complaints and resident feedback to drive continuous improvement and stronger outcomes.
• Present clear reports and briefings to senior leaders, boards, committees and external stakeholders on compliance, assurance and service performance.

Required skills & qualifications

• Significant leadership experience in compliance, building safety, asset management or housing services within a complex environment.
• Strong knowledge of statutory landlord compliance and relevant legislation, including building and fire safety requirements.
• Proven experience leading high-quality services across multiple sites and maintaining strong regulatory assurance.
• Track record of delivering improvement in a post-Grenfell compliance and building safety environment.
• Experience producing or overseeing building safety cases, building safety case reports and property safety records.
• Strong strategic planning, governance, financial management and risk management capability.
• Excellent partnership-building, influencing and stakeholder management skills across internal and external networks.
• Strong communication skills, including experience preparing reports and presenting to senior audiences with credibility and clarity.
• Professional membership of a relevant accredited body such as RICS or MCIOB, or equivalent knowledge and experience, with willingness to secure qualification if required.
• A clear commitment to public service, resident engagement, inclusion and continuous improvement.