CLOSED: Programme Manager, National Community Land Trust Network

Salary: £35,000–£42,000 (3 days, pro rata, with possibility of full-time subject to fundraising)

Location: London SE1

Why join us

Would you like join a dynamic organisation that is behind a growing movement of people building genuinely and permanently affordable homes?

Community Land Trusts (CLTs) are a vital force for social good. They are local organisations set up and run by local people to develop and manage homes as well as other assets important to that community, like community enterprises, food growing or workspaces. The CLT’s main task is to make sure the homes are genuinely affordable, based on what people actually earn in their area, not just for now but for every future occupier. The CLT movement is growing fast as more and more people are feeling the impact of the housing crisis and are deciding to take matters into their own hands.

CLTs and the wider community-led housing movement have gained momentum over recent years, particularly following the commitment from Government to invest £300 million in the sector. The sector is now on the cusp of significant expansion and there is real potential to move it from a niche emerging market into the mainstream. Our goal is for anyone, anywhere, to be able to set up a CLT. Central to achieving that is ensuring CLTs get access to technical and peer support to set up and run their project. We run two programmes to deliver that support and have also recently been awarded a grant by the EU as part of a collaborative project to support the growth of CLTs in cities in North West Europe, including in France, Belgium, Holland and parts of Germany.

About the National CLT Network

The National CLT Network was established in 2010. As the national Charity for CLTs in England and Wales, it represents and supports 240 CLTs nationwide and is a membership body. The National CLT Network provides funding, resources, training and advice for CLTs and works with Government, local authorities, lenders and funders to establish the best conditions for CLTs to grow and flourish. In the short time that the organisation has been around it has achieved a significant amount and it is known as one of the most effective lobbying organisations in Westminster.

Comprising a small, dedicated and ambitious team, the National CLT Network is now poised to begin a period of growth. We have an ambitious strategy to scale up the CLT sector and to develop the National CLT Network into a strong, viable and resilient social business. We have recently secured funding from two major trusts to help achieve that goal.

About the role

Working closely with a small and ambitious team, this role will work at a senior level to ensure the National CLT Network delivers its programmes and projects to a high standard, working effectively and efficiently but also collaboratively with partners, including in North West Europe. Given the prominence of the National CLT Network in the wider affordable and community housing sector, this role offers the opportunity to develop leadership qualities both within the organisation and externally.

The challenges and opportunities are manifold, including:

Overseeing the delivery and development of the grant and support programmes to ensure CLTs in England and Wales are getting the right support;
Leading, driving and managing our participation in an exciting new EU-funded project to scale up CLTs in cities across North West Europe, working with the Director;
Leading on the delivery of a collaborative project to grow the support infrastructure for the wider community-led housing sector.

About you

In order to achieve the National CLT Network’s vision and goals the Network needs to recruit a team player who will bring first rate project management skills to their own role but also champion excellent project management across the organisation. This is an exciting and career-enhancing role. It could be the right opportunity for a range of potential candidates. Your motivations might be many and varied – from wanting to develop your career in programme and project management, to having a passion for housing or communities, or because you want more responsibility and leadership. Whatever your motivations the National CLT Network would like to hear from you. Particularly if you: enjoy a variety of tasks and challenges, have good attention to detail, like to drive projects, and can deliver projects to a high standard. You will also feel strongly about the importance of social justice and the difference that CLTs can make.