Assistant Head of Accommodation

About the Role

Jigsaw Conferences Ltd offers temporary, emergency, and planned accommodation solutions to housing organisations across the UK. We are seeking a skilled accommodation specialist to provide leadership support to our Head of Accommodation. This senior operational role requires both people management and direct involvement in handling complex bookings, resident relocations, supplier relations, quality assurance, and service enhancement. Join a knowledgeable team where you can significantly influence our service evolution.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist in managing the Accommodation Team daily and act as deputy to the Head of Accommodation when needed.
• Offer practical and visible guidance to both the daytime and Out of Hours teams, making decisive choices during challenges.
• Coach and mentor team members to enhance their skills and promote career progression.
• Oversee complex accommodation needs including emergency placements, major incidents, group moves, and scheduled resident relocations.
• Coordinate phased relocation projects, ensuring timely and clear communication with residents, clients, suppliers, and internal departments.
• Efficiently resolve complaints from residents, clients, and suppliers with professionalism.
• Perform routine quality assurance inspections to verify accuracy and compliance of bookings with company and client standards.
• Assist with onboarding and managing accommodation suppliers such as hotels, serviced apartments, landlords, and private rental providers.
• Analyze service performance, monitor KPIs, identify trends, and suggest practical service improvements.
• Support tenders, onboarding of new clients, business initiatives, and the implementation of enhanced systems and operational approaches.

Qualifications and Experience

• Operational experience in temporary, emergency, or another relevant accommodation setting.
• Proven ability in coordinating planned or phased resident relocations, complex decants, group moves, or large multi-household accommodation projects.
• Hands-on experience with accommodation bookings, placements, or operational accommodation service delivery.
• Previous experience in supervisory or team leadership roles with the capacity to support and develop staff.
• Good judgment to manage operational escalations and make effective decisions under pressure while balancing priorities.
• Strong communication and relationship management skills for working with residents, clients, suppliers, and colleagues.
• Attention to detail and a quality-oriented attitude with proficiency in Microsoft Office and relevant booking, reservation, or case-management systems.

Additional Benefits

• Experience in social housing, relocation, or private rented sectors is advantageous.
• Background supporting Out of Hours operations or managing major operational escalations is useful.
• Experience in client account management, contract relationship handling, supplier onboarding, performance management, procurement, or tender support is beneficial.

Working Hours and On-Call

The normal weekly hours are 37.5, Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, with flexibility to meet operational needs. The role includes participation in a 24/7 service rota providing escalation support to the Out of Hours team on a two weeks on/two weeks off schedule, covering emergency accommodation inquiries and large-scale moves. An additional payment of £3,000 annually is awarded for on-call duties.

Compensation and Perks

• Fully remote, home-based work setting.
• 28 days of annual leave including bank holidays.
• Access to employee assistance programs and wellbeing support.
• Annual salary of £32,000 plus a £3,000 on-call supplement.
• Opportunities for leadership development and to influence service growth.

Application Note

Applicants meeting most criteria with relevant experience are encouraged to apply, including a cover letter describing suitability for the position.