Head of Repairs

Discover yourself in Lewisham where what you do makes a difference to our vibrant and culturally diverse communities!

We have a rich history of welcoming people from all over the world and are proud to be recognised as the UK’s first Borough of Sanctuary, for our work in championing the rights of refugees and migrants.

Introduction

Are you ready to lead a high volume repairs service that puts residents first—getting homes safe, compliant and right first time? We’re looking for a senior leader to oversee responsive repairs, voids, disrepair and complex works in a demanding social housing environment, improving performance, satisfaction and regulatory compliance.

What’s the role?

You’ll lead end to end repairs operations, including the repairs contact centre, responsive repairs, voids, disrepair, and complex and cyclical works. This includes managing both direct labour and subcontracted delivery, strengthening contract performance, and ensuring high standards of health and safety, quality, and customer care. You’ll be a visible, values driven leader—present with teams and residents alike, able to inspire a strong service culture, influence senior stakeholders and consistently deliver better outcomes for residents at scale.

What’s in it for you? 

Excellent training and development opportunities, plus a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday allowance
• Local Government Pension scheme
• Flexible working and family friendly policies
• Season ticket and bicycle loans
• A range of staff discounts including local subsidised gym memberships
• Supportive staff networks

What we’re looking for

We are looking for more than technical expertise. You will be a confident, visible leader with the credibility and personal authority to build trust across the organisation, from frontline teams to senior leadership, Members and residents. You will lead with integrity, creating a culture where people feel valued, accountable and focused on delivering excellent services. Your ability to bring people with you, even when navigating challenge and change, will be critical to your success.

You will also bring a sharp, forward-thinking mindset, able to translate complex issues into clear, deliverable solutions. Whether driving improvement, responding to emerging regulation or tackling long-standing service pressures, you will combine strategic thinking with practical delivery. Above all, you will be motivated by making a tangible difference, improving services, strengthening performance, and ensuring residents receive the standard of service they deserve.

Location

The job is primarily based in Laurence House, 1 Catford Road, London, SE6 4RU, but we operate a hybrid approach where you will be required to work both in the office and from home on a regular basis.

Special conditions

Full membership with either the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) or the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is required. 

This role attracts a market supplement of £7,963 per annum

The recruitment process is anonymous and we don’t accept CVs.

Applicant handbook - please read the guidance in this handbook when applying. It is essential that you complete the application fully and that your supporting statement covers how you meet each of the person specification criteria listed. 

For an informal discussion about this job, please contact Dean Cooper – dean.cooper@lewisham.gov.uk

Please click here to view the Job Description and Person Specification  
Salary

£79,629 to £86,121 per annum (SMG3)

N.B: All appointments will be offered at the minimum spinal column point (SCP) for the grade of the role. The only exception to this will be when matching current salary (up to the maximum of the scale), which is subject to evidential proof.

Diversity

Lewisham Council is a Disability Confident employer. We welcome and encourage job applications of all abilities. If you require any reasonable adjustments in the application or interview, please contact the lead contact on this advert. We will make reasonable adjustments to make sure our disabled applicants and those with health conditions are supported throughout our recruitment process. We support the access to work scheme, further details are available at www.gov.uk/access-to-work/apply

The Council reserves the right to close adverts early if there is a large response.

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