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.
