Housing Policy Officer

Job Description:

Housing policy officers research and develop policies for local authorities and housing associations.

Job Category:
Government & Public Services

What you will do:

In your day-to-day duties you may:

  • research housing issues and identify good practice
  • collect data relevant to housing, like health, employment and demographics
  • represent housing services on corporate working groups
  • produce reports, policy briefings and factsheets
  • make recommendations as a result of government initiatives and new legislation
  • give presentations to groups, both inside and outside your organisation

Skills:

You’ll need:

  • legal knowledge including court procedures and government regulations
  • knowledge of systems analysis and development
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

As well as:

  • the ability to use your judgement and make decisions
  • analytical thinking skills
  • business management skills
  • the ability to work well with others (teamwork skills)
  • excellent verbal communication skills (leadership skills)
  • persistence and determination
Illustration of employee looking at workspace

Entry Requirements:

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • an apprenticeship
  • working towards this role
  • a trainee scheme

University

You can do a foundation degree or degree in:

  • housing studies
  • social policy
  • town planning

Apprenticeship

You could work your way up from a housing and property management advanced apprenticeship. With experience and successful completion of a qualification you could apply for trainee policy officer roles.

With high qualifications you could do a policy officer higher apprenticeship.

Work

You can start as an office assistant or housing officer with a housing organisation.

With further training and experience, you could work your way up to become a housing policy officer.

Other Routes

You can apply for a training scheme. This is open to graduates of any subject and non graduates who are already working in housing.

Working Hours and Environment:

A typical week consists of 37-39 hours of work. You could be required to work 9am to 5pm attending events or appointments.

You could work in an office.

Career Path & Progression:

You could specialise in a particular policy area, like equality issues, regeneration or research and data collection.

With experience you could move into supervisory or management roles.