Justlife’s Vision
Making people's experience of temporary accommodation be short, safe and healthy.
About this role
This is a unique opportunity to lead the delivery of our new Transforming Temporary Accommodation Programme (TTAP), a national initiative aiming to radically reduce the use of Temporary Accommodation (TA), while improving standards for those who depend on it.
We are looking for someone with strong programme management experience, excellent people skills and experience of overseeing regranting. They will be excited about the prospect of working on an innovative project that can bring genuine systemic change within temporary accommodation, and will relish the opportunity to work collaboratively with a wide variety of stakeholders. They will be able to demonstrate their ability to work reflectively, learning as they go and bringing an adaptable approach to their work.
About the Transforming Temporary Accommodation Programme (TTAP):
The Transforming Temporary Accommodation Programme is a strategic initiative led by Justlife to address systemic challenges within temporary accommodation. Building on Justlife's expertise and partnerships, the project seeks to improve the experiences and outcomes for individuals residing in temporary housing. With a focus on collaboration, the programme aims to identify, implement, and evaluate innovative solutions that can be scaled to create lasting change. The project aligns with Justlife's commitment to making stays in temporary accommodation short, safe and healthy.
Why do we exist
Justlife is in existence because we know thousands of people struggle to manage in poor and unsuitable temporary accommodation. Their stay isn’t temporary, they are likely to be suffering with deteriorating mental and physical health, becoming victims of crime, losing control of their life and even dying prematurely. We are working towards making their stays as short, safe and healthy as possible.
How do we operate?
Our values guide our work and are very important to us:
• Collaboration before competition
• People before programmes
• Innovation before Institutions
What do we do?
Justlife delivers impactful services in Greater Manchester and Brighton & Hove, supporting and empowering people experiencing homelessness in temporary accommodation. We also drive positive system change across the national temporary accommodation sector, convening those with a common interest; people with lived experience, landlords, charities, local and national government, and carrying out research and gathering insights.
We aim to grow our impact and reach, supporting more people in temporary accommodation and to build a movement that brings about lasting positive change.
Why work for us?
Here at Justlife, we're committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We want to be an organisation that's representative of the communities we serve, which is why we strive for diversity of age, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, ethnicity and perspective.
Perks of working at Justlife
• Great holiday package! Starting at 27 days annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays (increasing to 29 days after 5 years’ service and 30 days after 10 years’ service)
• Additional 5 days annual leave purchase scheme through salary sacrifice
• Enhanced pension contribution scheme, 5% Justlife contribution (correct at time of print)
• Cycle to work scheme
• 2 Volunteering days per year
Employment Terms and Conditions
Job Title: Transforming Temporary Accommodation Programme Manager
Hours: Full time, but open to part-time hours for the right candidate.
Contract Type/Term: Permanent
Normal hrs. to be worked: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm. This role will also involve some national travel as well as occasional overnight stays, evening and weekend work.
Location: Ideally based in Brighton or Manchester for at least 2 days a week.
Salary: £35,000 - £38,000 per annum.
Closing date for applications: Midnight on Monday 10th February 2025
Application Process
To apply, please email a covering letter addressing how you meet the person specification, together with an up to date CV and an Equal Opportunities form to recruitment@justlife.org.uk . The Equal Opportunities form can be found at https://www.justlife.org.uk/jobs.
We may hold short informal Zoom interviews in the week of 16th February. Final in-person interviews are planned for Wednesday 5th or Thursday 6th March. These are likely to be in London but we will confirm nearer the time - we can cover reasonable travel expenses for those invited to interview.
You will receive an automated email receipt of your submitted forms. If you do not hear from us by the end of Friday 14th February, please assume your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion. We are grateful to you for considering this role but unfortunately we are unable to provide feedback on unsuccessful shortlisting.
If you have any questions about the role please email Dave at dave.perrins@justlife.org.uk
Job Summary
This is a unique opportunity to lead the delivery of our new Transforming Temporary Accommodation Programme (TTAP), a national initiative aiming to radically reduce the use of Temporary Accommodation (TA), while improving standards for those who depend on it.
The successful candidate will work closely with stakeholders to ensure the programme’s vision is achieved, creating replicable best practices and driving systemic change.
This role will include:
- Oversight of the re-granting process, including working closely with partners and ensuring compliance with terms of the funding.
- Working with a diverse range of stakeholders to help manage and develop a project that is truly collaborative and creative.
- Leading on an exciting opportunity to test, trial and innovate new ways of working within, and improving the system of, TA.
- Constantly learning and adapting, the Programme Manager will help develop and spread the learning of the project far and wide, with the aim of sharing new replicable ways to reduce the use of TA and improve the lives of those living in TA.
We are looking for someone with strong programme management experience, excellent people skills and experience of overseeing regranting. They will be excited about the prospect of working on an innovative project that can bring genuine systemic change within TA, and will relish the opportunity to work collaboratively with a wide variety of stakeholders. They will be able to demonstrate their ability to work reflectively, learning as they go and bringing an adaptable approach to their work.
Role Description
Programme Management
● Lead and oversee the implementation of the TTAP.
● Monitor and report on the project plan, ensuring delivery within timeframes and budget.
● Act as the primary point of contact for all programme-related inquiries.
● Maintain a risk register and address emerging challenges proactively.
Regranting
● Manage the strategic regranting process, including developing criteria, overseeing due diligence, and ensuring alignment with programme goals.
● Work with the Finance Manager to assess the financial health of grantees and manage funding distribution.
● Monitor and evaluate grantee activities, maintaining minimal but effective reporting requirements.
Stakeholder Engagement
● Facilitate collaboration between grantees, lived experience groups, and the TA Alliance.
● Work with the Programme Board, which includes a variety of stakeholders, to draw on and build on their wide range of experience, contacts and knowledge.
● Work with the wider research and policy team, as well as our Communications Manager, to engage politicians, staffers and decision-makers as we move towards meaningful change on a policy and implementation level.
● Represent the programme at national and local events.
Evaluation and Learning
● Work with an external evaluator to assess programme impact and share findings to inform national policy and local practice.
● Use data and insights to refine the programme’s approach, ensuring its continued relevance and effectiveness.
● Embed reflective practice into TTAP, taking a test and learn approach to innovative working.
● Work with the Communications Manager and others to disseminate learning from TTAP across the sector and to relevant stakeholders.
Person Specification
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
● Proven experience in project management, including large-scale or multi-year programmes.
● Background in grant-making or regranting, including due diligence and financial oversight.
● Experience working in the homelessness, housing, or social justice sectors.
● Managing a team or individuals.
● Experience of collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders, such as local authorities, community organisations, grantees, and lived experience groups.
● Understanding of temporary accommodation challenges and related systemic issues in England.
● Experience of working in an innovative way, including reflecting and learning as you go, and a willingness to flex and adapt approaches as needed.
Desirable
● Familiarity with innovative approaches to addressing temporary accommodation issues, or problem solving more broadly.
● Experience of working with external evaluators to assess programme impact.
● Understanding of how to build evidence bases that influence policy and practice on a national scale.
● Familiarity with policy advocacy and the political landscape in England.
● Knowledge of systemic change initiatives and participatory approaches.
● Experience of drawing on lived experience to inform your work in a similar setting.
Skills
● Strong organisational and leadership skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
● Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with diverse stakeholders.
● Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, with a particular focus on lived experience engagement.
● Analytical skills to assess programme data and identify learning opportunities.
● Ability to oversee funding distribution, build strong relationships with regranting partners and ensure their compliance with the funding terms.
● Ability to synthesise learning and insights into clear, actionable recommendations and summaries.
● Ability to work with other stakeholders, the Communications Manager and the wider Policy and Research team to present the work and findings of TTAP, with the aim of engaging politicians, staffers, and decision-makers to influence policy or implementation at a systemic level.
Personal attributes
- Proactive and adaptable, with the ability to address emerging challenges effectively.
- Collaborative and innovative thinker, able to balance strategic oversight with practical delivery.
- A strong commitment to drive change for people living in TA.
- Commitment to the values of Justlife - People before Programmes, Collaboration before Competition and Innovation before Institutions.
- Commitment to diversity and anti-oppressive practice in all areas of work.
- Able to travel nationally, and available for occasional work outside normal working hours (could include evenings, weekends or overnights)
