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Salary
Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Job grade
Contract type
Type of role
Operational Delivery
Property
Other
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Number of jobs available
Contents
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About the job
Job summary
Defra Group Property (DgP) is part of Defra Group Corporate Services and provides accommodation services to the Defra Group. It also leads significant workplace transformation programme across the corporate property portfolio focused on creating great places to work for Defra Group staff.
Our ambition and goals for the Defra Group estate is to:
- Create sustainable property and workplaces that enhance wellbeing, engagement, and productivity
- Put people in the places they need to be to do their best work and among the communities they serve
- Give choice over where and how people work so that they are empowered to work in the smartest ways
Well do this by:
- Creating working environments and collaboration spaces that people want to use and that make them more productive
- Keeping people safe and enhance their wellbeing
- Connecting people from across the Defra group
- Attracting a diverse and talented workforce
- Achieving sustainable, aspiring to the highest environmental standards
- Meeting the needs of the business and customers it serves now and in the future
To achieve this, we deliver a range of property services and projects on behalf of Defra Group and its partner organisations. These activities range in scale and complexity across 350 property holdings, from offices to laboratories, and projects encompass new builds, refurbishments, refits, life cycle replacement works and everything else in between. Defra Group Property has been rated the best out of all government property functions in the 2021 Annual Functions Quality Survey run by Cabinet Office. We have a strategic workplace and property plan for the next three years with our key projects and works now agreed, so theres never been a more exciting time to join DgP.
Job description
Your role will be to support the efficient and effective management of property interests, and central to that will be the opportunity to use your skills and experience to protect the interests of the Defra group as an owner and occupier of property. The Corporate Property function is both a supervisory and transactional business which combines in-house knowledge and experience with out-sourced market expertise.
You will be involved with and be expected to advise organisations within the Defra Group on the property matters impacting their business area, as well as supporting a Group wide estate transformation programme through the delivery of a property transactions and disposals.
The primary purpose of a Principal Corporate Property Surveyor role is to provide technical leadership, provide clear consistent and reasoned advice on property matters to all parts of the Defra Group as required; commission, manage and assure professional services and facilitate and support the delivery of strategy designed to make workplaces more efficient and to minimise costs.
A value-added service, the post holder will be a technical expert and possess the professional knowledge, skills and experience required to manage the property portfolio and deliver commercial transactions that provide value for money. The post holder may also provide advice to support the delivery of the Strategic Workplace and Property Plan, Capital Investment plan, disposals and acquisitions as well as advising on ownership issues connected with the delivery of FMR (forward maintenance for asset management).
This role will work closely with each team within group property to provide specialist strategic asset management advice, give recommendations and inform decision making to ensure the operational estates is operationally effective, sustainable and efficient. The Corporate Property Surveyors will also be required to mentor, coach and challenge colleagues in order to build wider capability over time.
High quality, transparent outputs will be a key deliverable for the Principle Corporate Property Surveyor role.
For further information about the role please read the candidate information pack which can be found here.
Person specification
Key Responsibilities
- Provide expert property advice across the diverse property portfolio to a broad spectrum of government bodies each with its own business objectives; matrix managing differing priorities to ensure outcomes consistent with Defra Group objectives: interest management (legal interest on freehold, leasehold, MOTOs (govt lease), disposals and acquisitions; advising on lease compliance; interpreting legal ownership information, titles and leases; and interpreting government policy and strategy in the context of Defra Groups aims and objectives
- Through the commissioning, management and assurance of outsourced property service provider, or directly where appropriate, provide advice and guidance on such activities as rent reviews, lease renewal, landlord/tenant queries, recharging, property acquisition and disposal and land law
- Provide environmental & sustainability advice relevant to commercial property and commercial property transactions (including policy development & consultation across departments, input into project specifications and compliance issues across the estate). For example the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards
- Provide specialist advice/or produce papers for briefing submissions and official correspondence (complex Parliamentary Questions, Freedom of Information, National Audit Office (NAO), Internal Audit (IA), public enquiries)
- Contribute advice/ input into inform Defra Group Workplace Strategy to keep pace with Government Estates Strategy
- Measure, performance against agreed KPIs (key performance indicators) for contracted property advice, taking immediate remedial action where there is failure to achieve agreed standards, widely applying lessons learnt where positive performance is achieved and undertaking deep dive into KPI data to identify trends that can drive and enhance performance for customer benefit
- Contribute to Defra Group workplace planning to define portfolio changes and to develop future strategy implementation, having regard to sustainability, safety and other professional property advice
Provide joined up management:
- Responsible for working within a team and across Defra Group Property to ensure join-up of activities, priorities and shaping strategic thinking
- Personally and through the team, develop and implement improvement and innovation to working practices, processes and systems across Defra Group, driving consistency and best practice, developing a model to do things once and right in a way that customers recognise and appreciate
- Use management information to develop a strong understanding of delivery, portfolio and team across Network Estates using data to drive up performance
Key Criteria
Successful candidates will be able to demonstrate the following qualifications, skills and experience:
- A property professional with management and/or lease advisory experience of a complex estate
- Working within an operational delivery environment
- Producing reports and gathering evidence
- Working with 3rd party contractors / other government departments
- Significant Estate management experience;
- Experience of corporate real estate, estate management and transactional services;
- Transactional and advisory services to the Client using a combination of in-house expertise and external professional advisors;
- Experience of delivering specialist property advice guidance and transactions aligned to the property strategy and good estate management
- Ability to share technical expertise to improve knowledge, capability and competence
- The ability to collaborate with colleagues across organisational boundaries
- Experience of managing property within a complex stakeholder and customer environment
- Experience of commissioning, supervision and delivery through external property advisors
Qualifications
Memberships
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Technical skills
We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- The following Government Property Career Framework technical skill is essential to this post and will be tested at interview: Analytical Decision Making
Benefits
£13,338 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Learning and development tailored to your role
An environment with flexible working options
A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
A Civil Service pension
Blended Working
Defra operates a blended working policy subject to business need, giving people the flexibility to choose when and where they work and collaborate with others.
Individuals are expected to work from one of the office locations stated in the advert to connect with their colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs. There is flexibility to split the working week, spending minimum of 40-60% in the workplace, unless exceptional circumstances apply and/or you are a contractual home worker.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Application Process
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and a 750 word personal statement (Please outline, in your supporting statement how you meet the key criteria and why you are applying for this role).
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Sift
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
Sifting will take place w/c 11 December.
Interviews are currently scheduled to take place w/c 8 January.
Interview
If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on behaviours, technical and experience.
A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.
Interviews will be conducted via Video.
Location
Please be aware that this role(s) will be contractually based in a Defra group workplace/office. The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time. This is a National role, travel across the UK will be required.
Internal (core Defra) employees can apply for this role and choose to remain in their current location or to be based in one of the advertised locations.
All other applicants will be based in one of the advertised locations.
Defra continues to support a blended working model and candidates are currently expected to attend their office base for 40-60% of the week.
Travel and subsistence will not be paid for travel to a base office location.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
Merit Lists
Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be posted in merit order by location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.
Salary
New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.
A specialist pay allowance of up to £6,000 per annum may be available to exceptional candidates who are able to evidence at interview against predetermined criteria.
Visa Sponsorship Statement
Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact Government Recruitment Service via defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the Assistance required section in the Additional requirements page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if youre deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
Criminal Record Check
If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk
Internal Fraud Database Check
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicants details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Higher Security Clearance
Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter.
All of these posts require the successful candidate to hold basic security clearance. Candidates posted to London may be subject to a higher level of clearance because of the security requirements for that location. Job offers to these posts are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer.
Childcare Vouchers
Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Sally-Anne Barber
- Email : hello@twentysevenconsulting.co.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
Government Recruitment Services via email: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission.
