Field Managers (Central, Scotland, Southern (South East (excluding London) or South West & North West)

From the design and development of policies to the delivery of services supporting work, welfare, pensions and child maintenance, DWP is the Government’s largest department.

People are at the very heart of what we do. We ensure disabled people can live more independent lives; help tackle poverty and homelessness; provide a financial foundation for a secure old age; and support families ensuring children can fulfil their potential.

DWP has the largest commercial estate in government and our team is committed to being smaller, greener and better – helping people to work, grow and thrive. Our estate provides accommodation for colleagues who support millions of daily customer interactions in Jobcentres and Health Assessment centres, back of house offices delivering frontline services and hub sites housing expert functions such as Policy, Finance, Digital and HR.

The DWP Estates function ensures the smooth and efficient operation of this network on a day-to-day basis. We manage a private sector supply chain that delivers essential services such as security guarding, maintenance, property and leasehold, construction, cleaning and facilities management. Many of these services are business critical and we cannot safely open our offices without them. 

 Our ambitions are to:

• Transition to a smaller, more affordable, and adaptable estate
• Invest in improving DWP’s buildings and infrastructure, conducted mainly through an extensive programme of planned replacement works 
• Meet our agreed Government Greening Commitments – creating a culture where sustainability is embedded
• Expertly deliver cost effective services
• Create a professional working culture that is best in class across the Government Property world.

There is no better time to join us as we transform our estate and make our buildings fit for the future.

This role will support as the Estates customer interface in the Regional Area, working closely with local stakeholders and customers to ensure high quality day to day delivery of services. It will support a One Team approach of high quality customer care and strong stakeholder management, through a supplier partner environment, building the reputation of Estates as an effective enabler to the wider business and its customers. This role will manage  c. 50 properties within designated region.

The preferred locations for the roles are Scotland – Glasgow, Central – Birmingham, North West – Manchester & Southern (any location in South East or South West except London which has available space. Other locations within the specified regions only can be considered subject to available space. 

Government Property Profession Career Framework (Link)

This role sits within the following:

• Job Family – Workplace & FM
• Core Role – Facilities Management
• Level – Practitioner

Key accountabilities

• Ensure supply chain are delivering services to enable a fit for purpose portfolio that is safe and able to support DWP business functions. Undertake ad-hoc visits across the designated portfolio to activities such as, reviewing assets, undertaking audits, identifying health and safety issues, compliance, checking risk assessments, assisting service issue resolution – drawing upon subject matter expertise within the wider team as required. Attend regular supply chain governance meetings as required.
• As the face of DWPE, manage SRO customer engagement across designated portfolio. Manage escalations and complaints from customers and suppliers where it has cross-supply chain implications and is beyond the scope of FM supply chain Building Manager. Demonstrate positive customer service by understanding the complexity and diversity of customer needs and expectations
• Manage allocation and co-ordination of multiple supply chain on site (e.g. incident response, projects, LCW, moves & churn (including FF&E), compliance and H&S)
• Understand the strategic drivers for Service Delivery and Estates, remaining alert to emerging issues and trends and undertaking regular reviews of priorities, risks, concerns, focus and proactive planning for your designated portfolio, supporting local, regional and national level planning.
• Support implementation of operational strategies, policies and procedures in line with the operational, H&S and compliance requirements to ensure a well managed and maintained portfolio in partnership with the supply chain. Ensure business continuity and adherence to H&S and compliance requirements.
• Work in partnership with the supply chain to encouraging ideas for change, identify areas for improvement, simplifying processes, establishing clear hand-off’s and responsibilities, ensuring value for money and reducing bureaucracy.
• Act as Initial point of contact for service change on site. Review requirements for site with customers and engage with Supply Chain Mgmt and Category Management team who will determine service changes and execute relevant contract changes. Ensure service change matrix on site are reflection of site requirements
• Act as operational knowledgeable rep, articulating site requirement to ensure effective project planning, prioritisation and scoping. Support project approval processes from an operational perspective, working closely with DWP Projects team. Coordination of supplier partners during project delivery, mobilisation and hand over for seamless transition to BAU.
• Understand incident management processes across designated portfolio, ensure there are appropriate procedures and processes in place to deal with required remedial action. Raise work orders in line with financial controls to support rectification of any issues.
• Raise where necessary and manage work orders within Delegated Financial Authority, seeking savings and value for money and adhering to Financial Accounting rules at all times. Support the embedded Cost Management team in validating and auditing estimates, application for payments and invoices where applicable.

Essential Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• Management of external suppliers/contractors who deliver a wide range of project activities
• Experienced in the understanding and knowledge of health & safety provision
• High level management of key suppliers in supporting negotiations, managing/escalating issues, and engaging in key decision making with strategic consequences
• Interpretation and analysis of data to inform decision making
• Willingness to understand and comply with Real Estate and related Statutory, Regulatory and Professional requirements

Desirable Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• Experience in a Property, Facilities Management or similar complex function within a large, matrix organisation would be desirable
• Commercial experience gained within the Property/FM division of a complex, matrix organisation is desirable
• Understanding of building condition and performance, and related contract and clause management or a willingness to learn

Qualifications/professional memberships

Desirable

• Working towards AssocRICS with a preference if already held, or
• Working towards IWFM (Levels 4-5) with a preference if already held

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Working Together

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

This role is suitable for a hybrid working arrangement, a type of flexible working arrangement, blending a combination of all workplace options (including home) with an office identified as a base and which remains the contractual place of work.  Hybrid working means an employee working part of the week in their DWP office and, part of the week from home.

Hybrid workers will spend a minimum of 40% of their time in the office over a four-week period. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business need but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account. This means that colleagues’ experiences of hybrid working will differ.  Also, any employee’s experience of hybrid working could change over time as role requirements and possibly personal circumstances change.

Appointments may be made to candidates in merit order based on location preferences

Job contact :

• Name : Lorraine Arnett
• Email : LORRAINE.ARNETT@DWP.GOV.UK

Recruitment team

• Email : dwprecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk