John Downs Email & Phone Number

Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, GB

Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, GB

• Strategic consultancy support to national and regional housing providers, including policy and procedure reviews, contract negotiations, customer engagement and partnership working.
• Recent experience includes reviewing a national provider’s contractual care model at a national Housing Group which affected 6000 vulnerable stakeholders and resulted in 20 regional contracts being converted into a.
• Another project involved leading a service charge review for a newly formed Midlands-based housing group. This included reviewing all existing contract charges, analysing costs around sinking and provision funds..

London, United Kingdom, GB

• In 2007, I joined Mercian Housing Association as Head of Housing Services. Over the next 10 years, the organisation evolved and joined into the larger Circle Group. My role changed within the structure, with promotions.
• Led three restructures of operational teams, including remodelling landlord services to meet customer requirements and achieve greater efficiency delivering a £1M reduction in operating costs.
• Led the transition of board member governance and staff into both the Circle Group and subsequently Clarion Housing Group merger structures. This included responsibility for all due diligence, risk, staff structures.
• Redesigned customer complaints and service offer in partnership with residents, which resulted in complaints being reduced by over 80% in 2015-16
• Designed and implemented a three-year business plan for Mercian to feed into Group efficiencies which resulted in the creation of savings to give capacity for development of more than 300 affordable new build homes.

London, United Kingdom, GB

• In 2007, I joined Mercian Housing Association as Head of Housing Services. Over the next 10 years, the organisation evolved and joined into the larger Circle Group. My role changed within the structure, with promotions.
• In addition to my experience highlighted in my Managing Director section, I Initiated discussions which led to Circle reviewing its customer offer, formalising financial and money advice services to customers and.
• Led regional negotiations with Homes and Communities Agency, National Housing Federation and 14 local authorities to deliver business plan targets and new developments across the Midlands. This included drafting and.
• Devised and implemented Mercian’s business plan and set five-year £55m income budget. Led on board member consultations and all cross team-embedding. Managed housing functions during two short notice inspections and.

London, United Kingdom, GB

• In 2007, I joined Mercian Housing Association as Head of Housing Services. Over the next 10 years, the organisation evolved and joined into the larger Circle Group. My role changed within the structure, with promotions.
• In addition to my experience in my Managing Director section, I devised and delivered specialist projects to support local authorities in delivering health and homelessness reduction strategies. Two of these projects.
• As a member of the National Housing Federation’s regional Housing Policy and Practice Group from 2007 to 2017, I supported lobbying activity and legislative consultation on topics such as rent reductions, homelessness.

Loughborough, Leicestershire, GB

• Acted as Chief Executive Designate and led on the set up of ‘Charnwood Neighbourhood Housing’, a separate housing company. Completed Business Plan and Delivery Plan with Local Authority. Co-wrote the Government funding.
• Managed the set-up of a separate organisation. Created management structure; devised and implemented designate governance structure. Designed and developed Service Improvement Plans assessed by the Audit Commission.

Diploma In Management Studies, Business Administration And Management, General

Postgraduate Certificate In Management Development, Business Administration And Management, General

Postgraduate Diploma, Housing

Ba Hons, City/Urban, Community And Regional Planning