Chief Executive
Northern Ireland Housing Executive
Chief Executive
Salary: £147,524 - £165,702 Hours of work: Full-time, permanent Location: NIHE Headquarters, Belfast
We are seeking an exceptional Chief Executive to lead the Housing Executive, which is the strategic housing authority for Northern Ireland and a public sector landlord at scale. With a £1.3bn annual budget, responsibility for 83,000 homes and a range of cross-tenure housing functions, our mission is to ensure that housing helps to resolve society's greatest challenges.
Grounded in our core values of making a difference, fairness, passion, and expertise, we aim to address rising demand for social housing, combat homelessness, deliver housing services and high-quality homes.
We are looking for an exceptional, values-driven leader — someone who can inspire high performance, uphold strong governance, and champion excellent public services.
Our new Chief Executive will bring a strong people focus, professional integrity, and a commitment to improving outcomes for tenants, customers and communities. They will foster excellent external relationships and work collaboratively with our stakeholders.
The successful candidate will:
1. Possess a degree level qualification (Level 6) (or above) or equivalent qualification.
2. Demonstrate a commitment to professional standards and senior leadership development such as membership of a professional body and/or active engagement in professional development.
3. Have at least 3 years’ relevant senior management* level experience (gained within the last 5 years) in a large**, complex, multi-professional performance orientated environment, as a member of the organisation’s senior management team.
4. Demonstrate experience of:
a. Successfully developing and delivering organisational strategy and corporate objectives aligned to Government policy within a challenging fiscal environment.
b. Leading senior teams to foster cross functional collaboration and drive results.
c. Effective partnership working, meeting the expectations of external stakeholders, commanding confidence and building positive working relationships in support of organisational objectives.
d. Leading major organisational change that delivers sustainable improvement and high quality services.
e. Analysing and interpreting complex organisational issues and information, making sound strategic judgements, managing risk and ensuring good governance.
f. Effectively working with, influencing, and advising a Board or a Government Department on complex strategic matters.
5. Can demonstrate a strong understanding of public sector governance and accountability frameworks and the roles and responsibilities of an Accounting Officer,
including how to manage complex budgets effectively, along with the behaviours required to discharge these responsibilities effectively for NIHE.
6. Be available to regularly carry out duties outside of office hours in addition to basic contracted hours.
*Senior management is defined as experience at Director or Chief Executive Level in an organisation with a minimum of 500 employees and a budget of at least £50m.
**NIHE employs in excess of 3,500 staff, and manages a revenue budget of circa £1.3bn.
If you are ready to lead the Housing Executive with purpose and vision, we invite your application.
All of the information you need to apply is available in the relevant Candidate Information Pack, which can be accessed here: https://www.nihe.gov.uk/careers
The closing date for receipt of applications is Thursday 9th April 2026 at 4:30 pm.
The Housing Executive is an equal opportunities employer. All appointments are based solely on merit.
