Scottish Empty Homes Policy Manager

Do you have a passion for housing, a strategic mindset, and experience in shaping impactful policy? Join the Scottish Empty Homes Partnership (SEHP) team as our Empty Homes Policy Manager and play a key role in bringing empty homes back into use across Scotland. Hosted by Shelter Scotland, this senior role offers the opportunity to work closely with Scottish Government and sector partners, develop policies, and drive forward the Housing to 2040 strategy. If you re looking to make a real difference in Scotland s housing sector and help unlock the potential of empty homes, we d love to hear from you.

About the role

This a senior role within the SEHP team and will play an integral part in helping the team achieve their strategic aims. This role will work closely with another manager and provide cover for the National Manager.

Role specifics

We are seeking a strategic and proactive individual to manage a team and lead on the development and communication of SEHP s policy positions to support the regeneration of empty homes. You ll use your expertise to ensure policies are evidence-based and compelling, driving key objectives to bring privately owned empty homes back into use, ideally as affordable housing. A key part of your role will be leading on the publication of the Partnership s impact report and collaborating with the Scottish Government, sector partners, and local authorities. You ll work closely with senior stakeholders, offering consultation and guidance to local authorities, while developing practical strategies to increase affordable housing supply by bringing empty homes back into use.

Your leadership will also extend to supporting your team, providing management cover in the absence of the National Manager, and contributing to media opportunities. Strong communication, project management, and policy analysis skills are essential, alongside an ability to work collaboratively with both internal and external partners. If you're looking to make a significant impact in housing in Scotland, we d love to hear from you.

Apply to be part of our team and be the change you want to see in society.

Benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits, including 30 days of annual leave, enhanced family friendly policies, pension and interest free travel loans. Our employees also have access to a tenancy deposit loan, payroll giving, cycle to work scheme and an employee assistance programme.

Shelter Scotland helps thousands of people every year struggling with bad housing or homelessness through our advice, support and legal services. And we campaign to make sure that, one day, no one will have to turn to us for help. We re here so no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.

We are happy to talk about flexible working, personal growth, and to promote a workplace where you can be yourself and achieve success based only on your merit.

About the team

The Scottish Empty Homes Partnership is hosted by Shelter Scotland and has been funded by the Scottish Government since 2010. The current funding commitment runs until end of March 2026.

Part of an award-winning Communication & Policy Department, our SEHP is a Scottish Government funded project aimed at enabling private sector empty homes to be brought back into use across Scotland. The Partnership achieves this via a mix of policy work, capacity building, training, best practice sharing and awareness raising with councils, community groups and others. It s also home to the national Empty Homes Advice Service - a public facing advice line that anyone can call for help or to report an empty home.

About Shelter Scotland

Shelter Scotland is Scotland s national housing and homelessness charity. Our vision is of a home for everyone in Scotland. For over 50 years, the way we drive change has remained the same. We advise and support people in housing need today and use the insight we gain to inform our campaigns to change tomorrow. We also raise professional standards for those working in Scotland s housing and homelessness sector by offering a broad range of training courses.

Home is a human right. It s our foundation and where we thrive. Yet everyday thousands of people are being devastated by the housing emergency.

We exist to defend the right to a safe home. Because home is everything.

We need ambitious, passionate people to join us. This is your chance to play a part in the fundamental change we are striving to achieve.

Our enemy is the social injustice at the core of the escalating housing emergency. To win this fight, we must be representative of the people we are here to help and those who support our movement. In all our people decisions, we take pride in being inclusive, equitable and transparent. We are committed to combating racism both within and outside Shelter Scotland. We welcome you on our journey to becoming truly anti-racist.

Safeguarding statement

Safeguarding is everyone's business. Shelter Scotland is committed to protecting the health, wellbeing and human rights of those we support, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect. All our staff will be expected to observe professional standards of behaviour and conduct their work in line with our Safeguarding Policies.

Shelter Scotland does not accept unsolicited CVs from external recruitment agencies nor accept the fees associated with them.