Job title: Policy Officer
Hours: Full time (37 hours per week – Monday to Friday)
Salary: £28,858 per annum
Location: Flexible – (Homeworking/office) with regular meetings in the North of England
The Northern Housing Consortium (NHC) is the leading not-for-profit membership body for councils and social housing providers across the North of England, with 50 years of expertise and influence.
What we are looking for
We have an exciting opportunity for somebody early in their career in housing policy, to join our well-established policy and public affairs team. At a time when housing policy is at the forefront of the government’s agenda, it is vital that the North’s housing sector can effectively make its voice heard to influence government policy. This role will help lift up the North’s voice, supporting the NHC in building a robust evidence base and communicating its messages to a wide range of stakeholders, both inside and outside of government.
Prior knowledge of government policy around housing, regeneration, net zero, devolution and local government, as well as experience of working on or delivering research projects, is desirable but not essential. All that we ask is that you have a clear passion and interest in housing, and in the ambition of our members to create better homes and places across the North.
This is an exciting role, working with people externally and internally, including our members.
The right candidate will:
- Develop a strong understanding of the policy context our members face and support the delivery of a strong evidence base related to housing in the North of England.
- Develop and communicate NHC policy positions through engagement with our members and research projects, both in-house and those which are externally commissioned.
- Support the work of housing partnerships across the North, working at the heart of housing and devolution.
- Work closely with the Membership Engagement team, ensuring that the NHC’s influencing work is effectively informed by our members.
- Support the planning and delivery of a programme of events, visits, workshops, roundtables, and more, with NHC members and external stakeholders.
Reporting to the Senior Policy and Research Manager, you will support the team in delivering key research projects – building an evidence base for housing in the North, communicating NHC policy positions, and influencing government housing policy.
We’re looking for a self-starter who can demonstrate confidence and excellent people skills, with the ability to communicate well with people at all levels within our membership and beyond.
You will have strong written and verbal skills, and able to react quickly to new situations that arise and be hands-on when required. You will be a team player and confident at managing multiple workstreams.
The successful candidate will:
- Work in a friendly and flexible environment with excellent benefits.
- Expand your profile across the whole of the housing sector, meet influential people and build your networks.
- Build knowledge and expertise on the key themes the role will deal with; devolution, regeneration, net zero, and the wider operating context of the housing sector in the North
We are flexible around working patterns and will consider applications for the role on a part-time basis between 30 to 37 hours per week, flexible across Monday – Friday.
What we can offer
The NHC is a small team, but we make a difference. We aim to offer a rewarding, supportive place to work where we invest in people, and they can be themselves and fulfil their potential, celebrating achievements along the way. We have a modern effective working environment. We have always been an agile organisation, and we continue to utilise technology to ensure work is something you do, not just somewhere you go. We are fully committed to supporting our staff to work in a flexible way that allows them to balance their commitments inside and outside of work. We want our people to work in a way that lets them be at their best, whether that’s in our hub office in Sunderland, or remotely anywhere in the UK. We meet regularly in person to collaborate as a team at various locations across the North, including in Newcastle, York, Manchester, and more. You will also be periodically required to travel to attend meetings and events, or to carry out face-to-face work, to places across the North and in some instances London.
Through staff collaboration we have achieved Gold accreditation for wellbeing through the Better Health at Work awards.
We value our staff for the expertise and perspectives they bring to our organisation. We work in an inclusive way, celebrating our diversity whilst working together as one. With this in mind, we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Our offer to you includes:
- Flexible working arrangements
- The ability to work from a location which suits you
- Workplace pension scheme offering above statutory contributions
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays (increases by one day per year to 30 days)
- Access to Benenden Healthcare and Employee Assistance Programme
- Bespoke training & development opportunities, including payments towards gaining professional qualifications
- Mental health and wellbeing supportive employer including our Wellbeing hub with discounts to gyms and numerous online stores
To apply for this role, please send your CV and cover letter which demonstrates how you meet the requirements to enquiries@northern-consortium.org.uk by midnight on Sunday, 1 June 2025.
For an informal discussion, please contact Tom Kennedy, Senior Policy and Research Manager tom.kennedy@northern-consortium.org.uk
Interviews will take place on Wednesday, 18 June 2025.
