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www.campbelltickell.com

April 2016

Recruitment pack Chief Executive

Dear applicant

Thank you very much for your interest in this post. On the following pages you will find details of the role and the selection process to assist you in completing and tailoring your application. In order to apply you should submit:

An up-to-date CV which shows your full career history – we recommend that this is no longer than three pages;

A supporting statement explaining why you are interested in this role, detailing how you are a good candidate for this post and how you fulfil the person specification – we recommend that this is no longer than three pages;

The declaration form – but completion of the equalities section is not mandatory, this is requested for monitoring purposes in line with our commitment to equality and diversity; and

Indicate on the declaration form if you cannot attend any of the interview dates.

Please note that applications can only be considered if all the documentation is complete. Please send your application, preferably in MS Word format by email to: [email protected].

Applications must be received by 12 noon on Thursday 19th May 2016.

You will receive an acknowledgement within 24 hours of receipt and we suggest that if after that time you have not heard from us, you telephone the office (0203 434 0990) to ensure that it has arrived. Using a secure email address and putting the job title/organisation in the subject line reduces the chances of any email going into spam.

Please do contact me if you wish to have an informal discussion about the role and organisation or if you have any other questions to help you decide whether to apply. You can contact me on 020 3434 0990.

Kind regards

Gera Patel Partner

YOUR APPLICATION

HouseMark Chief Executive

mailto:[email protected]

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www.campbelltickell.com [email protected]


CONTENTS

Welcome letter 4

About HouseMark 5

Our people 8

Job description 9

Person specification 11

Organisational structure 12

Principal terms and conditions of service 13

Key dates and the selection process 14

Supplementary information 15

Media advertisement 16

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HouseMark is a membership organisation (with around 950 members) that is jointly owned by the Chartered Institute of Housing and the National Housing Federation - two not-for-profit organisations that reinvest their surpluses back into the social housing sector.

This is a crucial role for our business and the sector as a whole. We are seeking a worthy successor to Ross Fraser, who was the founding Chief Executive (CE) of HouseMark. Ross has guided us through significant growth and many successes over the years. As such, HouseMark is now recognised as the leading provider of social housing data and insight.

HouseMark members have access to a range of superior data products and knowledge services that help members understand and improve their business and, the context in which they are operating. Our offer has developed considerably over the last few years. However, this needs to continue at pace to meet ever-evolving customer expectations and value for money, which is of course particularly important in these constrained financial times. The Business Connect and Innovation Accelerator products (see page 7) are good examples of our on-going offer to the market.

There have been many sector changes, hitting so quickly and so hard that the relevance of all our services and products must remain under constant scrutiny. Our members are reviewing their business models with a drive towards commercialisation, diversification and income growth. Our responsiveness to this changing environment is vital to our customers and therefore crucial to our business. HouseMark will continue to develop a deep understanding of each individual customer and the broader sector challenges, so the two can be intrinsically aligned.

This adds up to an exciting agenda for our new CE and you won’t be surprised to know that the Board and I are seeking an exceptional individual. Our business needs a CE who can lead, inspire and energise as we embark on this next phase of our journey. Housing sector experience is not essential, but a track record in leading change is. Together with the ability to tune in to customer needs and ensure that an organisation is sufficiently agile to provide an appropriate response. You will of course be commercially astute and ‘business savvy’, and a passion for new technology with an understanding of how it can drive and add value to businesses will also help. We are confident that there is further capacity to be realised within our organisation, and we want to be well positioned to reach into new markets. So your track record in innovating and growing a business is of particular importance to us.

This is an influential post - the sector will look to you to offer evidence based commentary and opinion. So we expect that that you will have a public profile in your field and a strategy to enhance that, while enriching our company profile. You will appreciate that there is a deftness to ambassadorial roles such as this, so we anticipate that our CE will be smart and intuitive in managing a broad range of stakeholder relationships at all levels.

I hope that I have given you a flavour of who we are as an organisation; what we need in our new CE; and what this means for our future. Please speak to our retained consultants (Gera Patel at Campbell Tickell) and do read on to find out more. If it continues to feel like a good fit for you, then I shall look forward to reading your application and learning more about your ambition for HouseMark.

Best regards Jon Sawyer, Chair


WELCOME LETTER

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ABOUT US

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HouseMark is the leading provider of social housing data and insight. We are dedicated to improving housing standards and helping our members navigate their way through a more commercialised landscape. We aim to achieve this through a comprehensive portfolio of products and services for members including:

Procurement for Housing (PfH): As a HouseMark member, there is automatic membership

of PfH. Delivered in partnership with Inprova, PfH enables member organisations to generate cost savings and business efficiencies. Members can purchase a wide range of goods and services spanning all areas of a housing providers business. PfH supports organisations on complex procurement processes, as well as being a valuable resource for those members who do not have an internal procurement resource. From identifying needs; sourcing suppliers; tendering and selection; contract management; and procurement strategy – PfH offers a one stop shop when it comes to all procurement matters.

Data and insight: Robust cost and performance benchmarking is a key part of the HouseMark

offer to members. Our unique archive of data combined with faster, easier input of current data; enhanced visualisation and reporting tools; and increased in-depth analysis delivers an unrivalled response to the sector’s demand for benchmarking.

We made a number of improvements during 2015 which continue in 2016 including: new and improved report templates; a flexible value for money scorecard; a refreshed social housing dashboard; and a new range of sector analysis reports. Beyond benchmarking, we're working on innovative projects related to “Big Data”, IoT and more. These will lead to a new suite of data products to help members improve business planning and service delivery.

Knowledge: Business insight is more than data. Sharing knowledge and learning from others in

and outside of the sector is fundamental to growth and innovation. We offer a portfolio of increasingly commercialised knowledge products and services to members including a wide range of events; study visits; conferences; thought-leadership publications; briefings; and more. Our specialist clubs offer members the opportunity to come together in person and via online forums and our knowledge base and website (both due to be re-launched in summer 2016) offer members direct access to current news, examples of sector best practice and other information. Our research service for members supports all of this. Additionally, we have unique experiential learning opportunities which capture learning from the commercial and third sectors - empowering members through engagement and interaction with world-class private sector businesses and commercially successful in-sector initiatives.

Consultancy: Enhancing and adding value to membership, our consultancy expertise is focused

around our core competencies of data, business effectiveness, maximising performance and value for money. We help to meet regulatory and legal requirements, provide external validation and a critical challenge of approach, systems and service delivery, and construct a framework of improvement recommendations. Combining unrivalled data with our housing and business skills, we work alongside members to release the potential within their organisation - by enhancing the use and interpretation of data to evidence efficiency and make sound business decisions.


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What’s new at HouseMark?

Our 2015 independent customer feedback survey delivered at the end of last year gave real confidence that not only are things moving in the right direction at HouseMark, but that we are also making some huge leaps forward. Satisfaction with our products and services continued to rise, with the majority of respondents agreeing that HouseMark was making good on its promise to offer more choice, flexibility and value. Our leadership and management of relationships at a senior level, were especially valued.

Particularly exciting was feedback from members around our new business solutions, regarded by the majority as being especially innovative and a good demonstration of our ability to respond to the needs of our customers in a dynamic and fast changing environment. There is further work to do around communication and product understanding but in the meantime we would highlight the following:

Business Connect: a unique programme from HouseMark that brings together leaders in

social housing with world class businesses and social enterprises to learn from one another. Examples of last years’ participating companies included: Apple, Birmingham Airport, Eden Project, Ikea, Jamie Oliver's Fifteen, John Lewis and Metro Bank.

HouseMark members were able to get behind the scenes of successful businesses to really understand what makes them tick and spend quality time with leaders of those businesses to learn how to tackle matters such as business transformation, implementing spend reduction, business diversification and customer satisfaction. This year’s programme includes:

HouseMark Innovation Accelerator: The concept of an accelerator is now well established

in the commercial sector. It involves established companies, looking to respond quickly to business challenges, change or emerging markets. Together, you look to test or find solutions in a mutually beneficial relationship which results in a new product, solution or service.

At HouseMark we think innovation – deploying new technologies to meet our biggest challenges – is crucial for the survival of our sector. However, that innovation is unlikely to come from traditional suppliers in the sector without huge increases in cost. Through the HouseMark Innovation Accelerator programme, participants are able to pool resources to benefit from innovation. The programme will be delivered with L Marks – a leading start up accelerator managing innovation labs for John Lewis, DPD and William Hill.


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Board of Directors

The company has a board of eight directors, experts in their field, who collectively set the strategic direction at HouseMark:

Non-shareholder directors:

Jon Sawyer, Chair (Head of Custom Build Housing, Igloo)

Tom McCormack, Vice Chair (Chief Executive, Hexagon Housing Association)

x1 vacant post, held for the HouseMark Chief Executive

x1 vacant post, we will shortly be recruiting another experienced private sector Board member

Chartered Institute of Housing directors:

Gavin Smart, Director of Policy and Practice, CIH

Will Nixon, Deputy Chief Executive, Aspire Housing Group, and CIH Board member

National Housing Federation directors:

Elaine Walder, Director of Commercial Services, NHF

Cath Purdy, Chief Executive, South Lakes Housing, and NHFBoard member

Board advisers:

Steve Coffey, procurement adviser (Chief Executive, Liverpool Mutual Homes)

Rob Anderson, finance adviser (Partner, Baldwins)

Nick Murphy, local authority sector adviser (Chief Executive, Nottingham City Homes)

Senior staff:

Ian Wright, Assistant Chief Executive

Joined in 2013, is also the Chief Financial Officer, leading on member and stakeholder engagement, sales, partnerships and the Scottish strategy.

Wendy Small, Director of Operations

Joined in 2014 and is responsible for operations and all aspects of service delivery. Leads on knowledge, marketing, member relations and consultancy.

Paul Edwards, Director of Data Services

Joined in 2011, and leads on the strategic development and management of the company's data offer.

Arturo Dell, Director of Product Development

Joined in 2015, leads on product development, IT and innovation including our soon-to-launch Explore, Accelerator, Big Data and the Internet of Things initiatives.


OUR PEOPLE

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RESPONSIBLE TO: HouseMark Board, via the Chair

RESPONSIBLE FOR: See structure chart (x4 director reports)

ROLE SUMMARY:

To shape HouseMark’s vision with the Board; shareholders; and senior management team (SMT) and to execute that strategy. The current vision (in broad terms) is to deliver the shareholders a strong and sustainable return by:

Delighting existing customers by ensuring that the HouseMark’s data and knowledge offer is high quality, relevant in a changing operating environment and flexible to meet customer needs across the different UK markets;

Ensuring that PfH continues to perform successfully and generate profit for HouseMark;

Continuing to diversify the HouseMark business so that benchmarking is a part of a broader range of service and product offers, supporting housing organisations to innovate; and

Diversifying the profit base – by refreshing existing services and especially through new product development and new market exploration.

MAIN DUTIES:

1. Member of the HouseMark Board with all duties associated with that role.

2. Set and live the leadership; mission; values; and culture for the business (including ethics).

3. Act as a brand ambassador for HouseMark and promote the company through a public profile that includes speaking engagements; social and traditional media presence; networking/meetings with government officials, senior customer staff; and other sector opinion formers.

4. Supported by the Assistant Chief Executive, manage the relationship with Procurement for Housing (via its governing body and our delivery contractor Inprova), ensuring HouseMark maximises its value in this relationship.

5. Work with HouseMark’s shareholders (CIH and NHF) to capitalise on the unique brand relationship between the three organisations, to maximise mutual opportunity and manage competition as appropriate.

6. Chair the SMT and deliver the existing five year vision.

JOB PROFILE


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7. Formulate a new five year vision to be effective from 1st January 2018 (and five yearly thereafter).

8. Produce annual business plans and budgets, and a rolling six year financial plan from 2017 onwards, secure Board and shareholder approval of these proposals.

9. Investigate the potential for HouseMark to expand its business base into sectors beyond social housing and, and agree with the Board development of the growth strategy, launching new products and services as appropriate.

10. Mentor and manage the senior management team in their respective roles and as a collective leadership team.

11. In conjunction with the Chair and Head of Governance, ensure that the governance requirements of the business are met, including arranging and administering Board meetings; ensuring compliance with the joint venture agreement with the shareholders; and effective Board succession planning.

12. Support the Chair to perform their duties effectively.

No CE job description can cover every issue which may arise, so the postholder is expected to be flexible in undertaking other reasonable duties as required from time to time.


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Technical competence

Financial awareness: Strong financial acumen; business growth experience; familiar with revenue raising and P&L accounts

Knowledge of product development: Track record of understanding customer needs and the strategic context for new product development

Familiarity with technology: Champions new business technology, for self and organisation

Marketing expertise: Strong marketing experience, understands the role of brand impact and visibility

Change management: Track record of delivering transformative change

Experience and knowledge

An executive leader, with a track record of setting direction and priorities creating a high performance/support climate

Experience of working in a competitive environment, understands what it means to compete for customer business; leadership in a membership organisation would be an advantage

Gets the best of people, appreciative of their strengths; an effective delegator who can bring together a team for successful delivery

Knowledge of good governance and decision making – works well with a Board and understands the nuances of executive/non-executive relationships

Understanding of working across a regulatory and political backdrop

Knowledge of customer relationship management or working to an account manager model

Strong commercial acumen, brings entrepreneurial flair and understands process and how they add value for the business and customers

Skills and abilities

A strategic and critical thinker, able to interpret ideas/translate strategy, into deliverable plans

Adept at leading through change and uncertainty, determined yet flexible in finding alternatives, inspires creativity when dealing with the unknown

Able to make evidence based and data driven decisions, supports a learning environment, encourages constructive feedback for self and others

Intuitive at managing a wide range of relationships at all levels, uses influencing and negotiating skills to secure buy-in

Personal attributes

Champions inclusion and diversity, integrating into own professional conduct

Good self-awareness, an effective listener, who inspires confidence without needing to seek self-credit

Resilient and energetic, adopts a positive outlook while effectively weighing up risks

Uses and builds upon a personal profile and impact for the benefit of the organisation, comfortable with public engagement and media presence


PERSON SPECIFICATION

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ORGANSIATIONAL STRUCTURE

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Position:

Chief Executive

Remuneration package:

The annual salary is circa £120,000 (dependent upon experience), with a potential bonus. There is also a car allowance and a pension scheme. Further details are available from Campbell Tickell.

Annual leave:

30 days plus public holidays.

Location:

The HouseMark head office is based at the University of Warwick Science Park, Coventry.

We do not wish to be prescriptive about the location of the new CE (for example the current postholder is based in London). However, given the seniority of the role and national customer base, travel will be necessary, as is regular visibility in the office.

A relocation package may be considered for the successful candidate.

Working hours:

The office keeps usual business hours. However, given the seniority of the role, flexibility will be necessary, including evenings and occasional weekends.


PRINCIPAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

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Closing date:

Thursday 19th May 2016, 12 noon

First interviews:

Wednesday 25th May or Thursday 26th May 2016

Longlisted candidates will be interviewed by a Campbell Tickell panel. On the same day

there will be an opportunity to meet with the HouseMark Chair for a separate discussion

session.

Testing and information gathering:

Shortlisted candidates will be asked to complete an on-line psychometric assessment on

leadership style and a written test.

There will also be an opportunity for a discussion with Ross Fraser, current CE.

On the evening of Monday 13th June 2016, shortlisted candidates will also have the

chance to meet with the HouseMark senior staff and Board team.

Final interviews:

Tuesday 14th June 2016

You will be asked to prepare a presentation in advance, and deliver this at your final interview, to a panel of HouseMark Board members.


KEY DATES AND THE SELECTION PROCESS

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The following can be downloaded from the HouseMark website:

Business Connect:

https://www.housemarkbusinessintelligence.co.uk/Documents/BusinessConnect2016.pdf

Future Leaders:

https://www.housemarkbusinessintelligence.co.uk/Documents/FutureLeaders2016brochure.pdf

HouseMark Innovation Accelerator:

http://www.housemarkinnovation.io/

Efficiency in direct services:

https://www.housemarkbusinessintelligence.co.uk/Events_pdf/BC_DSO%20final.pdf

Benchmarking – the repairs storyboard:

https://www.housemarkbusinessintelligence.co.uk/data/benchmarking-repairs

Shared services – a HouseMark publication:

https://www.housemarkbusinessintelligence.co.uk/SiteAssets/Site%20attachments/Make,%20buy%20or%20share.pdf

To find out more please visit the HouseMark website:

www.housemarkbusinessintelligence.co.uk/home


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

https://www.housemarkbusinessintelligence.co.uk/Documents/BusinessConnect2016.pdf

https://www.housemarkbusinessintelligence.co.uk/Documents/FutureLeaders2016brochure.pdf

http://www.housemarkinnovation.io/

https://www.housemarkbusinessintelligence.co.uk/Events_pdf/BC_DSO%20final.pdf

https://www.housemarkbusinessintelligence.co.uk/data/benchmarking-repairs



http://www.housemarkbusinessintelligence.co.uk/home

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MEDIA ADVERTISEMENT


Campbell Tickell Ltd Incorporated in Cardiff (England & Wales) Registration number 4713939 Registered office 14 Accommodation Road, London NW11 8EP VAT number 743 6943 08

Third Floor Olympic Office Centre 8 Fulton Road Wembley Middlesex HA9 0NU 020 8830 6777 020 3434 0990 (Recruitment) [email protected] www.campbelltickell.com