Principal Consultant - Healthy Homes & Housing Strategy

Make your mark at BRE!

BRE is a world-leading global organisation for innovation, science and data in the built environment. For over 100 years, we have supported governments, businesses and industry with pioneering research, testing and expertise. We are focused on growth, scale and expanding our global impact with products, services, standards and qualifications that address the challenges of a changing world. Driven by our purpose of helping everyone, in every building, everywhere, we are creating a safer, more sustainable built environment for people and planet.

About the Role

As a Principal Consultant, you'll help shape BRE's understanding of the relationship between homes, people, health and place.

Working alongside experts from across BRE, you'll lead and deliver research, analysis and strategic insight projects that help governments, housing providers and industry partners make better-informed decisions. Using large and complex datasets, you'll identify emerging trends, generate evidence-based recommendations and help translate insight into practical solutions that deliver real-world impact.

International growth is a key part of BRE's strategy, and this role will play an important part in that journey. You'll help develop and apply housing insight, healthy homes research and evidence-led solutions across both established and emerging markets, building relationships with international partners and helping extend the reach and impact of BRE's expertise worldwide.

A key aspect of the role is translating research and data into practical insight that informs policy, supports decision-making, strengthens products and services, and helps organisations address real-world housing challenges.

You'll build relationships with stakeholders across government, housing, health, industry and academia, representing BRE externally and helping shape conversations around healthy homes, housing quality and housing outcomes.

Why Join BRE?

This is an opportunity to:

• Work on research and insight that influences housing policy, service delivery and investment decisions.

• Help shape the future of healthy homes and housing strategy within a world-leading built environment organisation.

• Collaborate with experts across housing, building science, sustainability, health and data analytics.

• Contribute to innovative projects that combine evidence, technology and practical implementation.

• Build your profile through engagement with government, industry and academic partners.

• Make a meaningful contribution to healthier homes and stronger communities in the UK and beyond.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver housing research, analytics and strategic insight projects.

• Develop evidence-based recommendations to inform policy, programme and service development.

• Contribute to BRE's healthy homes and housing strategy agenda through research, insight and stakeholder engagement.

• Analyse large and complex datasets to identify trends, risks and opportunities.

• Support the growth and development of BRE's housing insight services, products and partnerships.

• Build and maintain effective relationships with stakeholders across government, housing, health, industry and academia.

• Contribute to bids, proposals and business development activities.

• Produce high-quality reports, briefings, thought leadership and client-facing outputs.

• Present findings and represent BRE at conferences, sector events and stakeholder forums.

• Collaborate with colleagues across research, commercial and operational teams to develop evidence-led solutions.

• Ensure projects are delivered to high standards of quality, governance and integrity.

What We're Looking For

We're looking for someone who combines strong analytical capability with curiosity, strategic thinking and a passion for improving housing outcomes.

You'll bring:

• Experience delivering data-led research, strategy, insight or consultancy projects.

• Strong analytical skills, including experience working with complex datasets and translating findings into practical recommendations.

• Knowledge of housing, the built environment or related social, economic or health challenges.

• Experience engaging external stakeholders and building effective partnerships across government, industry, housing, health or academic sectors.

• An interest in applying housing and healthy homes research in different policy and market contexts, including internationally.

• The ability to communicate complex information clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Experience influencing decisions, programmes, policy development or service improvement through evidence and insight.

• Commercial awareness and experience supporting proposals, partnerships or business development activity.

• Strong relationship-building skills and confidence engaging with senior stakeholders.

• Excellent written, presentation and communication skills.

• The ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively in a collaborative environment.

Nice to Have

It would be advantageous if you have:

• Experience publishing research, technical reports or thought leadership.

• Experience working with international stakeholders, projects or programmes would be advantageous.

• Experience developing evidence-informed products, services or frameworks.

• Familiarity with tools such as SQL, Python, R or GIS.

• Experience mentoring colleagues or supporting project teams.

If you're excited by the opportunity to combine research, data and strategic insight to help tackle some of the most important housing challenges facing society, we'd love to hear from you.

Join BRE and work alongside leading experts to generate evidence, shape thinking and support better housing outcomes for people and communities in the UK and beyond.

BRE Benefits

At BRE, we offer a competitive salary, reviewed annually, along with a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your financial security, well-being, and career development.

Financial & Security Benefits

• Pension scheme – 5% employer-matched contribution

• Life assurance – 4x your basic salary

• Enhanced maternity package

Health & Wellbeing

• HealthPartners cashback scheme – Reclaim costs on prescriptions, physiotherapy, dental care, and more

• Onsite facilities – Restaurant, nursery, and free parking, including at-cost EV charging points

Career Development

• Learning & development – Free access to BRE Academy and our online learning platform

• Professional membership reimbursement

For full details on our benefits, visit: BRE Employee Benefits

Work Location Options

Mostly Remote – This role is primarily home-based, with occasional travel to our head office in Watford for planned meetings (Once per month).

Our Recruitment Process

As part of our recruitment process we will be conducting 10-30 minute phone screening calls via an AI recruiter called Ryan with all shortlisted candidates. The information gathered from this screening will be used to help assess your suitability for the position.

Note to Employment Agencies

At BRE, we value the relationships we have built with our preferred recruitment partners. We do not accept unsolicited CVs from employment agencies. Any CVs submitted directly to a BRE employee or hiring manager without a signed BRE Employment Agency Agreement and an active engagement for the specific role will be considered unsolicited. In such cases, no fees will be payable should the candidate be hired through this or any other means.

Equal Opportunities Statement

BRE is an equal opportunities employer. We assess all qualified applicants based on merit and do not discriminate on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected characteristics.

Department

Housing

Locations

Watford

Remote status

Hybrid

Yearly salary

£55,000 - £60,000

Employment type

Full-time

About BRE

BRE contributes to a thriving and sustainable world by developing science-led solutions to built environment challenges. Our vision is to be the world-leading innovation, science, and data hub for the built environment. We’re ambitious in terms of quality and global scope. We want governments and commercial markets to recognise us and demand our services, products and solutions. We want to be world-class, innovative, science-led and provide solutions.

Founded in 1921

Co-workers 500+