About the job

Summary

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is responsible for welfare, pensions and child maintenance policy. As the UK’s biggest public service department, we operate on a scale that is almost unmatched anywhere in Europe and most people in Britain come into contact with us at some point in their lives.

DWP Estates Directorate are accountable for the delivery of all aspects of real estate services and the work we do is critical in ensuring the vital work that the Department undertakes is enabled effectively. The DWP commercial estate is the largest within Government and our diverse national property portfolio reflects this scale. It is a unique mix ranging from modern corporate centers, multi-occupied Service Centers, to its frontline high street services.

We are responsible for the Department’s 900+ workplaces, that provide workplaces for 90,000 employees and a UK wide presence for all those that visit us. Ultimately, the Department relies on us to provide safe and secure buildings that are fit for purpose and meet the needs of the business. The work you will be undertaking is therefore crucial in us meeting the needs of all those who use our services.

You will provide support to the Head of Asset Management in developing the technical and asset intelligence to ensure that the Estate is kept in a safe and compliant condition. The role will include continual assessment of legislative changes and the impact on the Department’s asset strategy and service delivery approach.

You will play a key role in our department’s goal of improving the estate to provide a safer, more productive environment for staff and customers, whilst reducing the Department’s carbon footprint. You will ensure that the Integrator and Supply Chain provide robust and accurate management information, reflecting the intelligence determined by this team.

Job description

Key accountabilities

• Support the Head of Asset Management in the definition and delivery of the Asset Management Strategy for the Estates property portfolio.

• Leading the technical team of specialists, supporting the delivery of the asset strategy and PPM/LCW programs.

• Ensures appropriate technical support for reactive works, identified asset performance issues, Landlord issues and remedial actions.

• Overall responsibility for maintaining a legal requirements/legislation register of statute relevant to the Estate.

• Overall responsibility for interpreting the legislative requirements and ensuring that these are translated appropriately within the asset strategy.

• Overall responsibility for developing, planning and delivering an Estates asset management audit process.

• Ensures that PPM programs and requirements are representative of current legislation and statutory requirements, advising the Asset Management team and the Service Delivery team of future changes in legislative requirements.

• Ensures the team keep abreast of technical advances in the specialist of water hygiene, fire risk, building services and technical security systems.

• Overall responsibility for implementing a routine program of statutory compliance deep dive audits across the Estate, assessing the outputs to identify performance trends and potential issues.

• Liaises with the Integrator and Supply Chain to provide the management information that determines the Statutory Compliance status of the Estate at any point in time.

• Provides technical expertise to address areas of dispute with the Supply Chain related to the need to carry out remedial actions and/or the priority/timeframe of remedial actions.

• Provides the necessary approvals for changes to the PPM schedules.

• Provides periodic asset register audits in relation to the definition and accuracy of related assets (water systems, fire systems, security systems and building services.

• Overall responsible for having an ongoing view of Statutory Compliance status through the audits, endorsing or otherwise the KPIs issued by the Integrator.

• Provides technical expertise and support to the Capital Projects and Investment team, the Field Services team and the tower suppliers.

• Where technical expertise is required that is out with the competencies within the team, obtains such expertise through the supply partners or through additional procurement.

• Drives the management of assets and development of asset strategies, within a large portfolio, in support of achieving defined Sustainability and Net Zero Carbon objective.

• Commitment to Sustainability and Net Zero Carbon improvements across the Authority, demonstrating leadership in making the public estate smaller, greener, better.

• To support and deputise for the Head of Asset Management as required.

Responsibilities

Essential Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• Significant experience of working at senior level management within asset management or technical specialist teams within a large commercial property portfolio

• Extensive experience of more than one of the technical specialism within the team (water hygiene, fire risk, building services and technical security)

• Experience of managing statutory compliance within a large commercial property portfolio, with an in depth understanding of the operational issues impacting on statutory compliance and typical behaviours/practices of service providers

• Experience of asset management and planned preventative maintenance schedules within diverse range of portfolios (Corporate, multi occupied, frontline)

• Up to date knowledge of the legislation and industry standards in relation to providing a safe and compliant Estate

• In depth knowledge of building asset types and their significance on legal compliance

• Ability to analyse significant amounts of data produced by computer aided facilities management systems supporting a large portfolio and identify opportunities or risk for the department.

• Experienced of working with multiple stakeholders across a multi-site and complex estate.

• Extensive use of CAFM systems.

Leadership attributes and behaviours

• Strives for continuous improvement, innovation and efficiency, taking responsibility for managing and improving all relevant standards, policies, processes, and governance relating to the role.

• Collaborate with stakeholders across the estates department and wider DWP ensuring that cross functional ways of working and processes are continuously improved and optimised – calling out opportunities for improvement and taking ownership where applicable.

• Prioritize and role-model continuous self-learning and development to the team.

As a line manager

• Set out clear processes and standards for managing performance at all levels to ensure delivery of timely and high quality outcomes, allowing access to right resources to do the job.

• Ensure clear roles and responsibilities are identified for all team members with defined objectives and clear accountability

• Ensure working practices of team adhere to department standards, policies, and processes and that appropriate governance is followed at all times

• Encourage team to identify improvement opportunities to improve policies, processes and ways of working

• Ensure individuals are taking full advantage of learning and development opportunities available to them, to enable for culture of continuous learning and high performance.

• Ensure everyone clearly understands and owns their roles, responsibilities and business priorities. Give honest, motivating and enthusiastic messages about priorities, objectives and expectations to get the best out of people.

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential

• Degree qualified with a core competency in either Building Services, Mechanical or an Electrical discipline.

Desirable

• NEBOSH Diploma or equivalent (e.g. NVQ Level 4 in Health and Safety Management)

• Chartered Membership of a relevant UK Institution (e.g. IOSH, IET, IWFM, IRM)

Qualifications

Degree qualified with a core competency in either Building Services, Mechanical or an Electrical discipline.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service