Chair of First Wave Housing and I4B

First Wave Housing and i4B, Brent Council
£18,000 per annum for two days per month
Hackney

First Wave Housing and i4B Holdings are two arm’s length companies wholly owned by Brent Council in North West London. First Wave Housing was established to manage the property portfolio previously owned by Brent’s ALMO, and it has Registered Provider (RP) status. i4B was formed to enable Brent to acquire accommodation to provide stable and high-quality housing options for homeless individuals and families at affordable rents. The two companies share the same medium- to long-term business objectives and Board membership, and they do not directly employ staff, so any work is carried out by Brent staff or contracted organisations.

THE ROLE

Our longstanding Chair, Martin Smith, has recently announced his departure, and we are therefore looking for a new Chair to take on the strategic leadership of the two companies.  The Chair will work closely with the board, senior officers and Members to deliver the aims and ambitions of the companies and uphold effective governance.   Looking ahead, we are determined to further develop our ability to support our communities, giving them secure and safe accommodation at affordable rents.   Neither company will have a housing development focus, therefore it is imperative that we seek out opportunities to buy houses or blocks of flats to ensure a steady flow of new properties.

We are seeking a Chair with considerable previous senior experience within a local authority or housing context, either at Chief Executive or Director level, with a strategic mindset, strong financial understanding and the ability to work effectively with Brent’s Members and officers.   We are keen to attract candidates who understand the particular nature of the London housing market and who can reflect and represent the diverse range of Brent’s communities.

INFORMATION

Download the candidate brief to find out about the role. For a discussion about the role, please contact Luke Judd: luke.judd@starfishsearch.com / 07435 270 659

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Timeline

Longlist Interviews: 9 November and 14 November 2023 (both AM)

Final Panel: 29 November 2023 (PM)