Head of Retrofit

Head of Retrofit

58818 to 71412 with potential for market supplement

Overall Purpose of Job

To lead and champion Newhams councils retrofit programme to deliver on the councils climate targets in relation to the Climate Emergency and achieving net zero by 2045 for Newhams built environment including the housing stock public buildings and private sector and in line with the councils Just Transition Plan.

To further develop the Newham councils retrofit strategy to an exemplar standard including community engagement finance and funding governance and procurement stock data to deliver transformational net zero and climate resilient neighbourhoods.

To secure substantial carbon emission reduction outcomes from Newhams built environment by influencing how residents businesses and partners think and act by influencing contracts governance and procurement processes and by addressing approaches to construction.

To continue collaborating with the Climate Team and Net Zero Energy Lead to developing an effective strategy to decarbonise the Councils housing portfolio for both heating and electricity and develop options for implementation of the strategy regarding financing resident engagement and delivery capacity.

To create a strategy for leaseholders learning from other councils as it pertains to fabric and heating upgrades.

To develop a crosscouncil approach to retrofit joining up work being done across all service areas to create a cohesive and coordinated approach to retrofit and net zero neighbourhood delivery across the borough with residents at the heart.

To work in partnership and in extensive collaboration within the council with residents and community organisations borough partners and organisations commercial partners and national government departments and agencies.

To research and evaluate methods of financing Newhams 1bn retrofit requirement to bring the full housing stock to net zero by 2045 evaluatingthe impacts on residents and Newhams budget and testing new ways of financing green transition to support scaled delivery work with the Director of Climate Action and relevant colleagues to bring together

To oversee the delivery of retrofit to LBNs Warm Homes Social Housing Fund portfolio of 359 properties as part of the London Councils Strategic Partnership and to manage delivery of retrofit projects funded by the Councils Carbon Offset Fund.

To deputise for the Director of Climate Action as requested.

Role context

1. The post holder reports to the Director of Climate Action.
2. The post holder has a system leadership influencing role working in extensive collaboration with members council staff residents and businesses.
3. The post holder will play a key role in influencing the Councils budget and external funding planning processes to ensure that Newham meets its 2045 net zero goals
4. The post holder will matrix manage a number of programmes and projects involving a range of multidisciplinary staff.

Longterm Objectives for Retrofit

1. Continue the development of the first net zero/low carbon/retrofitted neighbourhood.
2. Help create a replicable strategy for phased areabased roll out of netzero neighbourhoods across the borough to achieve strategically and efficiently the necessary 1 billion retrofit of 17000 social housing homes requirement to meet council climate targets creating blueprints for resident engagement governance financing climate adaptation work and heat decarbonisation. To be potentially replicable for the boroughs large amount of privately owned housing stock as well.
3. Build capacity and help secure largescale financing for boroughwide retrofit resident engagement in the order of 1 billion.
4. Upgrade all contracts tenders and technical specifications to meet retrofit / netzero requirements.
5. Build curate and manage projects and programmes which achieve the delivery of LBNs Net Zero Roadmap Just Transition Plan and Retrofit Delivery Plan.

Tasks within Climate Action

1. Help drive forward climate action in every aspect of the Councils work. Supporting the council to consider every decision through the lens of tackling climate breakdown and advise the council on the environmental implications of the councils current operations and propositions.
2. Advise the council at a strategic level on the implications and opportunities in relation to retrofit climate change impacts and investment in local sustainable approaches from new developments opportunities and regional/national policy.
3. Work with Members to identify the opportunities for having the biggest impact on climate change by driving implementation through their individual portfolios and the wider role they can play in climate action in the Borough.
4. Build strong partnerships that enables extensive collaboration across the council with residents and business and partners leading and influencing climate action beyond the councils own direct resources.
5. Include local people in the journey to net zero carbon galvanising grassroots activity alongside participation and accelerate community buyin to the lifestyle and business changes needed to reduce carbon emissions and achieve the tangible cobenefits that climate action can have for them.
6. Campaign and bid for the funding needed to deal effectively with the climate emergency
7. Represent the Council in local regional and national discussions relating to the development and delivery of the climate action.

Accountabilities within Climate Action

Accountabilities are intended to be a guide to the range and level of work expected of the post holder. This is not an exhaustive list of all tasks that may fall to the post holder and employees will be expected to carry out such other reasonable duties which may be required from time to time.

Strategy

• To keep under review the Corporate Plan division specific service strategies and the divisional service plan in order to ensure that the Council fulfils its duties and delivers the agreed aims and outcomes for your division.
• To work in partnership with internal colleagues and external stakeholders in an integrated holistic and cross cutting way to achieve delivery of those outcomes
• To take a one Council approach to deliver more effective outcomes and at all times avoid a siloed or single service area approach.
• To work creatively to develop ways of sharing good and innovative practice at a local and national level.
• To ensure the Councils commitment to put people at the heart of all we do by fully engaging residents in the development of ideas strategies and policies as well as the codesign coproduction and joint decision making approaches is implemented throughout the division following the professional leadership of and models developed by the Resident Engagement division.
• To contribute fully to the development and implementation of all corporate strategies and the Councils vision and to act as a major project or programme Senior Responsible Owner to lead and ensure the implementation of specific corporate projects as required.
• To actively develop and promote the Councils vision and values through personal leadership to ensure they are delivered throughout the organisation.

Service quality

• To deliver on appropriate service quality measures targets and outcomes for accountable assessment and thatact upon resident and stakeholder perceptions and to seek out more transparent accountability mechanisms for delivery in the division.
• To build effective partnerships and communication strategies in order to harness effectively the public private voluntary sector and community resources that can help to deliver the Councils vision.
• To be one of the Councils (officer level) representatives in partnerships.
• To work collaboratively with the trade unions on matters of mutual interest to improve services and solve problems in a coherent and integrated manner.
• To promote a positive public image of the Council.
• To provide high level strategic direction and policy advice to the Chief Executive Corporate Management team the Mayor Cabinet Overview and Scrutiny all Members and Full Council.

Performance

• To help the services within the division in order to ensure that they deliver effective and efficient services and that they set and achieve high standards of performance and that they provide best value.
• To manage and regularly monitor work programmes budgets performance indicators and quality targets to ensure that the services in the division meet agreed objectives key performance indicators and income targets.
• To provide the Council Mayor Cabinet Overview and Scrutiny and other council bodies as required with appropriate reports and professional advice to enable them to discharge their functions in an effective and efficient way and to display the highest standards of ethical governance.
• To performance manage specific services in the division building a valued confident developed agile empowered and innovative workforce.
• To uphold the internal control system that safeguards the residents interest in the appropriate use of council resources and ensure the system is respected and adhered to by all staff in the division.
• To ensure the effective management of data and security of information received and used within the division to comply with the relevant legislation such as GDPR and the Freedom of Information Act recognising that the Council wishes to operate in the most open and transparent way.
• To ensure performance appraisal procedures are carried out and that there is full compliance with the Councils HR policies and procedures including sickness absence conduct capability business reorganisation and Health and Safety.

Resource Management

• To participate in the overall Council budget setting process and once agreed work within that set budget to deliver the required outcomes in a way that delivers value for money both residents and the Council.
• To plan and keep under review the services within the division to control the budgets within it manage risk effectively and ensure accountability.
• To lead the service to operate in the most cost effective and efficient way driving a continuous improvement mind set among staff.

Leadership and Culture

• To participate in the directorate and organisational change that is needed in order to ensure the services play their full part in achieving the Councils vision and values.
• Drive improvement in customer and community focus performance productivity budget managerial efficiency and workforce changes to deliver improved outcomes for the people of Newham.
• Model the new behaviours required of all staff in terms of equality ethical behaviour effective internal control agility transparency openness community empowerment and engagement.
• To promote and champion equality and diversity in the delivery of all Council activities service provision and employment practice.
• To ensure that all services are maintained to the required standards as directed by business continuity and resilience policies.
• To participate in the Councils emergency arrangements as an on call member of the strategic or tactical response team at the appropriate level.
• To ensure that Health & Safety legislation and the Councils Health & Safety requirements are all complied with.
• To work evenings weekends and occasional public holidays in order to meet service requirements as required.
• This is a politically restricted post under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and the Local Government Officers (Political Restrictions) Regulations 1990. The individuals holding this post cannot have any active political role. Politically restricted employees are prohibited from:
• standing for office as local councillors MPs MEPs Members of the Welsh Assembly or Members of the Scottish Parliament
• Canvassing on behalf of a political party or a person who is or seeks to be a candidate and speaking to the public at large or publishing any written or artistic work that could give the impression that they are advocating support for a political party.

QUALIFICATIONS

Educated to degree level or equivalent level of work experience at a senior level relevant to the field.

KNOWLEDGE/EXPERIENCE:

Expert knowledge and experience of climate change and net zero carbon delivery green budgeting and strategic and technical understanding of specific climate change subjects including building retrofit and zero carbon development creating green zones active travel supporting urban greening developing the green and circular economy and improving air quality.

Comprehensive knowledge of the issues and challenges for climate action nationally regionally and locally including Just Transition.

Experience of successfully operating as a senior leader in a large complex and comparable setting (local authority public sector organisation or equivalent).

Experience and track record of being a system leader developing effective internal working relationships and actively creating collaborations with external partnerships at a borough regional and national level.

Knowledge and experience of leading effective resident and community engagement and involvement strategies and programmes including behaviour change programmes and communication campaigns.

Experience and knowledge to lead develop and deliver innovative savings and income generation opportunities using a breadth of techniques and exploit grant funding opportunities.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Political awareness with the ability to build positive relationships with elected members to balance political drivers with strategic priorities.

Outstanding communication skills both oral and written with ability to influence outcomes effectively through persuasive argument.

Constructively challenging of the status quo open minded and responsive to new ideas.

Able to apply innovative creative and lateral thinking to complex problems.

Exemplary leadership and management skills and the ability to lead motivate and enthuse teams and employees whilst creating a culture in support of organisational vision values and behaviours.

Ability to work within a highly pressurised environment.

Ability to plan and work towards a long term strategic vision and translate that vision into reality.

Ability to develop implement and monitor appropriate qualitative and quantitative indicators to measure performance and impact.

Ability to assess the impact of legislative or policy changes affecting climate action and to proactively implement changes to comply with those requirements.

OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Willingness and ability to work occasional evenings and weekends to maintain service delivery.

Politically Restricted Posts

The Local Government & Housing Act 1989 imposes restrictions on political activities for certain categories of local government employees. In accordance with this legislation this post is politically restricted and as such the post holder must refrain from being a candidate for election an election agent or sub agent an officer of a political party or subcommittee of such a party or canvass speak to the public at large publish written or artistic work or display posters in support of a political party or sub group of such a party.

Please view JD here

Closing Date 5/5/25

Additional Information

We are committed to creating an inclusive antiracist environment for all. When you apply for a job at Newham your application is considered on its merits regardless of your age disability ethnicity faith gender identity or sexual orientation. If you share our vision and values and you bring the experience and skills we need thats all that matters to us.

The London Borough of Newham has important responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children young people and vulnerable adults. If you are appointed to a job that involves working with these groups you may be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

Please attach your supporting statement explaining in no more than x2 A4 sides why and how you meet the criteria for this role.

We practice anonymised recruitment. Please ensure that you remove all personal information from any documents that you upload.

The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud other unlawful or dishonest conduct malpractice and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas and your data protection rights can be found by Experience:

Director