Assistant Director of Operations (Housing & Support)

The Opportunity:

Avalon is delighted to be partnering exclusively with Riverside to recruit an inspirational, high-performing Assistant Director of Operations (Housing and Support) on a permanent basis.

Operating on a hybrid working model from anywhere in the UK, this pivotal senior role takes responsibility for managing a national team of senior operating managers across supported housing, mental health, homelessness, floating support, street-based, and retirement living services.

Reporting directly to the Director of Operations at Riverside, you will play a central role in driving customer-first operational delivery, improving operating margins, and leading a major operational integration plan across the Care & Support division. This permanent post offers significant executive scope to shape long-term service models, ensure robust financial viability, and maintain rigorous standards of tenancy management and safeguarding.

Key Duties:

• Lead and inspire a national team of senior operating managers across supported housing, retirement living, and community outreach services.

• Execute the operational integration plan across Riverside Housing's Care & Support services, embedding best practice and shaping a single, unified operational function.

• Drive financial viability and improve operating margins by maximising income, eliminating cash leakage from empty homes/arrears, and enforcing budget controls.

• Oversee robust housing management functions, including allocations, lettings, void turnaround, income collection, and ongoing tenancy enforcement.

• Embed customer involvement and co-production into service design, ensuring resident feedback directly shapes operational priorities.

• Provide strategic oversight for safeguarding cases, serious incidents, and health and safety compliance across all regional operations.

• Collaborate with Business Development teams to identify and implement new service contracts, growth opportunities, and potential acquisitions.

• Produce executive briefings and reports for Committees and Board members, deputising for the Director of Operations as required.

Benefits

• Salary: £95,660.26 per annum.

• Contract Type: Permanent, full-time position (37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday).

• Location & Working Pattern: Hybrid working pattern, located anywhere in the UK (role-related travel required with full expenses paid).

• Holiday Entitlement: 25 days annual leave plus statutory bank holidays.

• Generous Pension Scheme: Auto-enrolment at 3% employee / 5% employer, with an enhanced opt-in scheme of up to 6% employee / 9% employer contribution.

• Strategic Influence: High-profile leadership role driving long-term service integration, portfolio performance, and cultural transformation across the organisation.

Requirements

• Experience: Proven track record of senior operational leadership within social housing, care and support, retirement living, or complex supported housing settings.

• Financial Oversight: Extensive experience managing multiple complex budgets, improving operating margins, and minimising void or arrears losses.

• Housing Management Knowledge: Deep technical expertise in housing management, lettings, income collection, and regulatory compliance across supported and care services.

• People Leadership: Demonstrable success leading, coaching, and inspiring large, multi-disciplinary teams across wide geographic regions.

• Integration & Transformation: Experience leading organisational change, service integration, and business efficiency programmes.

• Flexibility: Willingness to participate in a 24/7 senior manager on-call rota and travel across regional sites as required.

How to Apply:

Please apply for this role online or contact Matt Goodwin-Baird at Avalon, working in exclusive recruitment partnership with Riverside Housing, for a confidential discussion.

Avalon, trading name of Spirehouse Recruitment Limited, is an equal opportunities employment business and employment agency. We practise a diverse and inclusive recruitment process that ensures equal opportunity for all individuals