Head of Operations

Salary: £65,000 - £75,000 Per annum
Hours of work: 35 hours (09:00-17:00, Monday to Friday)
Contract type: Permanent

This is not a Wiltshire Council vacancy therefore please contact Stone Circle direct for further information.

Stone Circle was established by Wiltshire Council in 2019 as a Local Housing Company to complement the Council's housing services and deliver additional housing solutions. Operating on a commercial basis with strong social values, the Group acquires, develops and manages homes across Wiltshire, generating long-term value for the Council.

The Group operates across housing management, property acquisition and limited development activity. It works closely with Wiltshire Council in its role as Shareholder, while maintaining clear commercial discipline and robust governance arrangements.

As the organisation enters its next phase, the focus is on consolidation and financial discipline. For 2026/27, Stone Circle is prioritising the stabilisation of its core housing business, strengthening governance and assurance, and improving operational predictability. Any consideration of future regulated housing options will be tightly scoped and exploratory, with no commitment to expansion.

The Head of Operations is a senior executive role with group-wide accountability for the effective operational leadership of the Stone Circle Group. The role is responsible for translating the Board-approved Business Plan into disciplined delivery across housing operations, governance, risk, assurance and corporate services. Reporting directly to the Board, the role provides the primary operational link between the Board, the Shareholder (Wiltshire Council) and the internal team. It ensures the Group operates within a strong governance framework, maintains financial discipline, manages operational and delivery risk, and remains focused on resident outcomes.

As part of the 2026/27 Business Plan, the Group will invest in additional senior operational capacity to strengthen day-to-day management. The Head of Operations will play a central role in shaping how this support is structured and deployed, leading the design, recruitment and integration of the role in line with their operational approach, while retaining overall accountability for performance, compliance and delivery.

Strategic leadership

• Lead delivery of the Group's operational strategy in line with Board-approved Business Plans.
• Provide clear, evidence-based advice to the Board and Shareholder on operational performance, risk and delivery.
• Support the Chair in maintaining effective governance, assurance and decision-making frameworks.

Housing operations

• Provide executive oversight of housing management functions including lettings, tenancy management, rent collection, compliance, repairs and resident engagement.
• Ensure landlord services meet statutory and regulatory obligations and reflect best practice.
• Oversee performance management frameworks, KPIs and continuous service improvement.
• Lead delivery of the Housing Company's stabilisation strategy, including portfolio performance, void management, re-letting approach, disposals governance and alignment of services with long-term financial sustainability.

Development & asset delivery

• Oversee delivery of single development site, with a focus on completion and handover.
• Ensure appropriate controls around procurement, risk, valuations, warranties and asset handover.

Governance, risk & assurance

• Act as a key liaison with the Shareholder and Council officers on governance, reporting and assurance matters.
• Lead the development and maintenance of robust policies, procedures and internal controls.
• Support Board and Committee structures, including the Risk & Audit Committee.
• Embed the Group's annual governance and assurance cycle, including strategic risk management, incident reporting and early Shareholder engagement on assumptions and sensitivities.

Supported housing/RP exploration

• Lead the Group's tightly scoped exploration of potential Registered Provider acquisition options, ensuring work remains proportionate, risk-aware and subject to explicit Shareholder approval.

Financial & commercial oversight

• Work closely with Finance to ensure strong budgetary control, forecasting and value for money.
• Contribute to business planning, financial modelling and long-term sustainability assessments.
• Oversee operational aspects of contracts and relationships with external advisers.

People & organisational leadership

• Provide leadership to internal team, fostering a high-performance, accountable and values-led culture.
• Lead workforce planning and organisational development as the Group consolidates.
• During 2026/27, lead the recruitment and integration of a senior operational support role to strengthen day-to-day management capacity.
• Responsible for up to five direct reports, with scope to evolve the structure in line with the Business Plan.

Essential

• Senior leadership experience in housing, development, local government or a related regulated environment.
• Experience operating within a stabilisation, consolidation or turnaround context, with emphasis on governance, predictability and risk control.
• Strong understanding of governance, risk management and operating within a council-owned or shareholder-led company structure.
• Proven ability to translate strategy into effective operational delivery.
• Experience working with Boards, Shareholders and senior stakeholders.
• Financial and commercial awareness.
• Excellent judgement, communication and influencing skills.

Desirable

• Experience of affordable housing delivery or Local Housing Company models.
• Experience of acquisitions, asset management or development oversight.
• Familiarity with local authority governance and assurance requirements.
• Exposure to regulated housing environments or Registered Provider interfaces.

This is a highly hands-on senior role within a small and agile organisation. The Head of Operations is expected to operate comfortably at both strategic and delivery levels, personally drafting Board and Shareholder papers, developing policies and procedures, engaging directly with operational detail and progressing work without reliance on large teams or extensive support infrastructure.

This is a rare opportunity to play a senior leadership role within a council-owned housing company at a pivotal stage in its development. The postholder will work closely with the Board and Shareholder, help shape how the organisation operates through its consolidation phase, and leave a tangible legacy across governance, delivery and service quality.

The role offers significant autonomy, visibility and influence, alongside planned investment in senior operational capacity and a visible base at County Hall to support effective governance, assurance and partnership working.

• Senior executive appointment
• Hybrid working arrangement, with attendance at Head Office in Trowbridge 2-3 days per week
• Up to five direct reports
• Regular engagement across Wiltshire required
• 35 hours per week (09:00-17:00)
• Salary and benefits: competitive, dependent on experience

Please contact for further information.

Closing date: 5PM on 20 February 2026

Interview date: week commencing 2 March 2026

Commencement date: ASAP

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