Head of Asset Management at YMCA DownsLink Group

You will lead on investment planning, data-driven decision making, building safety, and environmental sustainability, including decarbonisation and energy efficiency initiatives. Working collaboratively across teams and with residents, you’ll ensure that services are responsive, informed by feedback, and deliver real value for money.

Alongside this, you will oversee a high-performing income function, leading the delivery of customer-focused income collection services and ensuring effective management of leases, arrears and financial performance. You will drive improvements through digital innovation, strengthen financial resilience for residents, and ensure compliance with welfare and regulatory requirements. As part of the senior leadership team, you will play a key role in shaping organisational culture, leading and developing teams, and contributing to continuous improvement across services. This is a unique opportunity to make a lasting impact by optimising assets, enhancing service delivery, and supporting communities across Sussex and Surrey.

If you’re enthusiastic about this opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway and demonstrate how your experience is transferrable. You may be just the right candidate.

Experience and Knowledge

We are looking for a highly experienced and strategic leader with a strong background in asset management within social housing or a similar sector. You will bring significant senior leadership experience, with a proven track record of delivering high-performing, customer-focused asset management, repairs, and maintenance services that achieve excellent value for money. A recognised professional qualification (MCIOB or CIH Level 4/5, or willingness to work towards Chartered status) and a commitment to continuous professional development are essential.

You will have a deep understanding of regulatory and legislative requirements relating to housing, alongside strong expertise in welfare benefits and their impact on residents and service delivery. Experience in leading change, implementing best practice, and driving continuous improvement is key, as is your ability to manage contracts, budgets, and performance to meet organisational targets. You’ll also bring strong financial acumen and experience of delivering against KPIs in a complex, fast-paced environment.

As a leader, you will be a strategic thinker with excellent analytical and decision-making skills, able to use data and insight to inform direction and performance. You will build strong relationships quickly, influencing a wide range of stakeholders, including Boards and external partners. Strong communication and presentation skills are essential, alongside the ability to manage competing priorities and navigate challenging situations with professionalism and resilience.

You will also demonstrate strong digital capability, including experience of asset management systems and MS Office 365, and a clear commitment to fostering a positive, inclusive, and high-performing culture. An understanding of (or willingness to develop knowledge of) working with young people with complex needs and psychologically informed environments is desirable, aligning the built environment with the needs of those we support.