Come join the Habinteg Team

Homes | Lives | Communities

CANDIDATE INFORMATION BOOKLET

Job No: J353

Come join the Habinteg Team

HABINTEG HOUSING ASSOCIATION (ULSTER) LTD

Candidate Information Booklet

WELCOME We are pleased that you are interested in joining the team at Habinteg. We are currently recruiting for the position of Development Officer initially based in either or Holywood or North West Office located in Derry/ Londonderry. The Development Officer position outlined in this information pack is a key technical position, responsible for the wellbeing of the Association’s property stock. It offers something special: the opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of our tenants and customers across Northern Ireland. As a Habinteg employee you will assist in delivering our business objectives and contributing to the success of our overall purpose: “to providing accessible, affordable, inclusive, integrated homes and excellent services to enrich lives and communities of all our customers through the delivery of the Associations corporate strategy”. This information pack provides further information on the key responsibilities of this role and sets out the skills and behaviours that we require. Completed application forms must be submitted no later than 4.00 pm on Monday, 15 March 2021. Please Note: completed applications should be submitted in ‘MS Word’ format to allow monitoring information to be removed prior to shortlisting. All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit. Habinteg Housing Association (Ulster) Ltd is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We take a positive approach to people with disabilities. If you consider that you need a particular aid, facility or any additional assistance from us during the recruitment process, please contact us at the email below and we will do everything we can to accommodate any special requirements you may have. Please note: All communication in relation to this recruitment exercise will be via email. It is candidates’ responsibility to check their email regularly, including spam/junk folders, for correspondence. If you have any questions, please contact the HR team by emailing [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]



BACKGROUND

Habinteg Housing Association (Ulster) Ltd is an Industrial and Provident Society registered as a Housing Association with the Department for Communities and as a Charity with the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland. We develop and manage quality housing schemes of varying sizes and types, in both urban and rural areas throughout the region, promoting our Vision of

Homes | Lives | Communities Habinteg is an award winning Investors in People and Customer Service Excellence organisation which offers a competitive remuneration package, training and personal development opportunities, generous annual leave entitlement, health care options and CARE pension scheme. The primary purpose of all roles within Habinteg is to provide accessible, affordable, inclusive, integrated homes and excellent services to enrich lives and communities of all our customers through the delivery of the Associations corporate strategy. Our strategic objectives are categorised under four headings:



At Habinteg all positions at every level are expected to work together to reinforce the Association’s Vision and its Values which are the underpinning principles of our organisation.

Our Values are:

People – working for people, with people, through people.

Quality – driving continuous improvement across all our services.

Integrity – being honest, respectful, transparent and trustworthy in all that we do.

Integration – embracing diversity, equality and opportunity. Enhancing inclusive living experiences for all our customers.

Engagement – working to develop dynamic services both internally and externally, through teamwork, collaboration and partnership.



KEY TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF APPOINTMENT Length of Contract

This is a permanent appointment. The first six months of appointment are probationary, at the end of which, subject to a satisfactory performance report the appointment will be confirmed. If performance, conduct or attendance during this period is not satisfactory, the appointment may be terminated. Where the successful candidate is an existing employee, a six month probationary period will also apply. Salary Range

NJC SCP 20 – 29; £25,991 - £32,910 per annum. Hours

The normal hours of work are 37 per week. Habinteg operates a voluntary flexi time scheme. The post-holder will be required to work flexibly in order to successfully carry out the duties of the role. Annual Leave

The annual leave entitlement for the post is 22 days per annum increasing to 25 days after five years’ service and 28 days after 10 years’ service. In addition, there are normally 12 public and extra statutory holidays each year. Pension Scheme

Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme for Northern Ireland is available. The Association has a statutory obligation to automatically enrol you in the Scheme provided you meet the eligibility criteria at any time during your employment. Information and assistance on automatic enrolment is available from the HR Team. Further information is available on the NILGOSC website at www.nilgosc.org.uk. Location

The role will initially be based in either our Holywood or North West Office located in Derry/Londonderry. Due to current circumstances home working may also be required. As the role carries regional responsibility, travel across Northern Ireland (and on occasion further afield) will be required in order to attend meetings and fulfil the full range of duties and responsibilities.



Pre-Appointment Checks

Appointment is subject to the completion of satisfactory pre-appointment checks which include:

Confirmation of eligibility to work in the UK.

Access NI screening (if required for the post).

Completion of satisfactory pre-employment health screening.

Receipt of two satisfactory references – references will only be taken up for the preferred candidate following final interview.

Provision of documentary evidence of qualifications/membership of professional bodies as listed in the person specification.

Provision of documentary evidence of driving licence (including photo ID card and paper counterpart)

Contract

A contract of employment containing full terms and conditions will be issued to the appointed candidate.



JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE Development Officer

RESPONSIBLE TO Development Manager, Director of Development

SALARY Level 03 - Officer, Points 20 – 29 £25,991 - £32,910 per annum and essential car user allowance

LOCATION Initially based in Holywood / Derry / Londonderry

PURPOSE

The Development Officer will be an integral part of the Development team and will be directly responsible to the Association’s Development Manager and Director of Development for all matters relating to delivering the Association’s Development Strategy and Programme. In particular, it is the responsibility of the Development Officer to effectively project manage the development process from inception to completion.

SCOPE OF WORK:

1. Customer

To ensure Habinteg provides quality, customer focused and responsive services. These services include:

To attend public meetings where appropriate and undertaking community consultation on projects.

To liaise and actively engage with Project Teams ensuring the Association’s project and delivery objectives are met.

To monitor project progress in conjunction with the Association’s Clerk of Works/Building Inspector.

To ensure all vendors/agents are kept up-to-date at all times on the progress of their site/land/properties which they have identified to Habinteg Housing Association.

To ensure all external negotiations are undertaken on a “without prejudice/subject to” basis.

To ensure that all required commissioning and handover documentation is provided on completion of projects, including all Operational and



Maintenance manuals, as-built drawings, log books, asset schedules, User, Guides and Health and Safety files.

To work with the Design Team to project manage the effective contract administration of schemes under construction.

To attend site meetings to ensure progress of construction. Review and action promptly any issues raised at site meetings as required.

To ensure Post Project Evaluation’s (PPE’s) are carried out on all schemes by the stated target dates.

2. Financial

To assist in the identification of development sites and properties throughout Northern Ireland, and liaise with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive to obtain the agreement on the location, mix and suitability.

To prepare application forms and compile documentation for Applications for Project Approval to the Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

To assist in the preparation of economic appraisals, funding bids and business cases as required by the Development Manager or Director of Development.

To secure grant funding and ensure subsequent grant claims for projects are claimed when due and that all certifications are valid – ensure any variation to this is drawn to the attention of the Development Manager.

To undertake acquisition and development work, from site identification to practical completion and final account, adhering to the development procedures manual and Housing Association Guide. To ensure that all documentation is available from the contractor at handover and that development files and Project Information document files are up to date and complete.

To undertake financial feasibility/appraisals to determine viability of schemes in accordance with the Association’s procedures and present recommendations to Management Team.

To prepare and maintain development appraisals, development budgets, cash flow forecasts, monitor spend and ensure drawdown of Social Housing Grant in accordance with Association’s procedures.



To ensure that all financial management procedures are adhered to.

To ensure receipt and review of adequate monthly financial monitoring reports for each interim certificate. Raise any items of concern to the Development Manager.

To ensure any cost variations are processed in accordance with the Association’s procedures and approved in line with the Association’s delegated authority.

3. Operational Excellence

To adhere to Association’s policies and procedures for development administration.

To ensure all Development activity is audit compliant at all stages of the development process and maintain accurate project audit files at all times, notifying the Development Manager of any variance to this.

To assist with and update the monitoring of property specification requirements during the design stage.

To identify risk to the Association in relation to Development. To monitor and review risk on a regular basis.

To undertake project specific risk identification and mitigation strategies for inclusion in the Board report and monitor that risk from inception to practical completion.

To develop and maintain effective working relationships with other Housing Associations.

To establish, chair and/or contribute to project groups between the Association’s Development, Housing Management and Maintenance departments at scheme inception to effectively communicate scheme proposals and progress in order to ensure the smooth handover of the scheme.

To review policies and procedures in liaison with the Development Manager and Director of Development.

To attend weekly team meetings.



To attend meetings as directed the Development Manager or Director Development and prepare reports, organise presentations and take minutes as appropriate.

To be familiar with the relevant legislation in relation to property development.

To ensure all records are maintained in accordance with the Association’s Procedures and ensure confidentiality of records is maintained at all times.

To ensure adherence to the requirements of Data Protection legislation.

To ensure confidential waste is shredded as per instructions.

To assist in the arrangement of meetings as required.

To establish a network of Vendors/Developers and Estate Agents.

To recommend appointment of and brief consultants and solicitors, in accordance with the Association’s procedures.

To prepare and present reports for the Board and Development Committee.

To be familiar with the concept and criteria of Lifetime Homes.

To be familiar with the concept and design standards of Secured by Design.

To advise the Housing Management team of the due date of practical completion to ensure that tenants are ready to move in and to update the property handover form as required to ensure that the correct rent is charged.

To work collaboratively with the Head of Procurement to ensure procurement of Consultants and Contractors is in accordance with NI Public Procurement Policy and Public Contract Regulations.

To work collaboratively with the Head of Procurement to ensure procurement of contractors is in accordance with the Association’s Tendering and Selection procedures.



To ensure where applicable and as required by the Director of Development, any schemes intended to achieve Code for Sustainable Homes accreditation are designed as such.

To organise/co-ordinate Design Team Meetings as necessary.

To ensure contractor programmes are provided and monitored and that any variations are notified to the Development Manager.

To ensure any instructions to contractors or consultants are undertaken in accordance with the Association’s procedures.

To ensure as appropriate, the contract administrator issues certificates as required in relation to delays, loss and expense, damages, early warning notices, compensation events etc.

To work collaboratively with the Clerk of Works/Building Inspector and review weekly report sheets and action any items arising.

To ensure that at scheme completion and handover stages, all documentation required by the Association is received promptly.

To assess the performance of Consultants through the completion of KPI’s in accordance with framework agreements.

To assess the performance of Contractor and Consultants as per the Association’s procedures and as required by the Development Manager and/or Director of Development.

4. Our People

To uphold the Association’s Code of Conduct, Equal

Opportunities/Diversity policy and other policies and procedures.

To maintain good working relationships across the Association and set

high personal standards so that staff are motivated to perform effectively.

Any other duties as required by line management to ensure the

successful operation of the Association.

This list should not be regarded as exhaustive and the post holder will be expected to deliver other duties relevant and appropriate to this post.



Job work environment

Whilst the post will normally be office based there will be occasions where the post holder will be required to go out and about to fulfil the full range of duties and responsibilities, for which purposes an essential car user allowance is provided. Post holder must be able to drive and hold a current full, clean (preferably) driving license with use of a private vehicle for business use or, in the case of having a disability, be able to demonstrate how they meet the mobility requirements of the post.

There may be requirements to work outside normal office hours such as attending lunch & evening meetings.

Within Habinteg we expect our employees to;

ensure that no religious, political or sexual discrimination, intimidation or harassment or obscene behaviour occurs within the Association;

perform any other reasonable duties as directed by line management.; and

be fully aware of and actively comply with the Association’s policies and procedures relevant to their own responsibilities and to corporate policies and procedures including equality, health and safety and GDPR.



PERSON SPECIFICATION

REQUIRED CRITERIA FOR POST Essential Desirable

1

3rd level qualification in a property/construction related subject and one years’ recent experience. OR Three years’ experience in a

property/construction or property/asset

management related environment.

2 Practical experience of undertaking option

appraisals and operational risk assessments.

3 Working knowledge of the building/planning

process.

4

Hold a current full, clean (preferably) driving license with use of a private vehicle for business use or, in the case of having a disability, be able to demonstrate how the mobility requirements of the position will be met.

5 Experience in negotiating land purchases and working with local communities.

6 Practical experience of being able to interpret

technical, contract and planning drawings.

7 Knowledge of the Department for Communities Housing Association Design Guide.

8 Knowledge of construction contracts (eg NEC3, JCT etc).

9 Working knowledge of NI Public Procurement Policy and Public Contract Regulations.

10 A relevant professional qualification (eg RICS/RIBA/CIAT/CIOB etc).

11 Project Management experience.

We reserve the right to enhance criteria to facilitate short listing.



Habinteg’s aim is to recruit employees who will embrace our vision and values and fulfil our performance standards within their role. The following outlines the behaviours, which are linked to our values, and which we expect from all our employees.

Values Expected Behaviours

Customer focused

Habinteg employees will establish the needs of customers and strive to ensure that these are met. They will understand the needs and expectations of customers to enable the effective delivery and development of an appropriate quality service which exceeds customer expectations.

For managers, as leaders, it is about seeking feedback, involving customers and consulting broadly on customer needs.

Continuous improvement

Habinteg employees will have initiative, be innovative and seek out opportunities to create effective change. They will learn from what has worked as well as what has not, being open to change and improvement and working in ‘smarter’ more focused ways.

For managers, as leaders, it is about creating and encouraging a culture of innovation and allowing people to consider and take informed decisions.

Trustworthy

Habinteg employees will be honest, dependable and reliable to get things done right. They will behave ethically and with integrity when carrying out their role.

For managers, as leaders, it is about demonstrating high levels of integrity, accountability, honesty and impartiality when dealing with customers / clients, managing employees, and making decisions.

Embracing equality and diversity

Habinteg employees will treat everyone with professional and personal respect, promoting fairness and recognising the value of diversity.

For managers, as leaders, it is about creating a work culture and practices that recognise, respect, and value diversity for the benefit of the association.

Working together

Habinteg employees will work cooperatively, sharing information appropriately and building supportive, trusting and professional relationships with colleagues.

For managers, as leaders, it is about being approachable, delivering business objectives through creating an inclusive environment, welcoming challenge however uncomfortable.



SUBMISSION OF COMPLETED APPLICATIONS

Completed application forms must be submitted by 4.00 pm on Monday, 15

March 2021.

Completed applications can be emailed to recruitment@habinteg-

ulster.co.uk If you are returning your completed application by email, you

MUST ensure that the subject line is completed with the job reference number

i.e. J353. Please Note: completed applications should be submitted in ‘MS

Word’ format to allow monitoring information to be removed prior to

shortlisting.

It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the form is received by the

closing date. Late applications will not be accepted unless there are

extenuating circumstances. Applications must bear the correct amount of

postage as any shortfall may lead to a delay in delivery and the closing date

may be missed.

Candidates are reminded that the application form must be fully completed.

Incomplete application forms will not be considered. Faxed applications will not

be accepted. CVs, letters or any other supplementary material will not be

accepted in place of, or in addition to, completed application forms. Additional

information received after the closing date will not be considered. It is therefore

essential that applicants indicate on their application form how and to what

extent their qualifications, skills and experience are relevant to the selection

criteria outlined in the person specification.

Any candidate experiencing difficulties completing their application form

because of a disability should contact the HR team by email:

[email protected].

Applications will normally be acknowledged by email. If you do not receive an

acknowledgement within three working days of submission please contact the

recruitment team on the email given above.

Applicants are advised that expenses incurred due to attending the selection

process will not be payable by Habinteg.

We thank you for your interest and look forward to hearing from you.






Alex Moira House Exchange House 22 Hibernia St 2nd floor, Queens Quay Holywood BT18 9JE Londonderry BT48 7AS 028 9042 7211 028 7136 0015 [email protected] [email protected] habinteg-ulster.co.uk twitter.com/habintegNI

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Come join the Habinteg Team