About the job

Job summary

The GPA is committed to representing the communities we serve by making Diversity, Equality and Inclusion part of everything we do.

To ensure that we are always recruiting and retaining a diverse mix of talent, we are particularly inviting applications from candidates who are disabled, ethnically or gender diverse, and people who identify as being part of the LGBTQ+ community.

The Government Property Agency is changing the way the Civil Service works and is at the forefront of the Government's transformation agenda; reshaping the relationship civil servants have with their place of work. The Agency is central to the delivery of key Government policies including moving 22,000 Civil Service roles out of London by 2030 and tackling climate change by contributing to the Net Zero agenda. To do this we are delivering a major change programme across the UK and consolidating our portfolio in order to save £1.4 Bn over 10 years. 

Beyond the bricks and mortar, the GPA is about providing great workplaces for our people. Through programmes like Hubs, Whitehall Campus and Smart Working you will be in the vanguard of creating model working environments and promoting flexible working practices. 

This is an ambitious and exciting task, for which we need innovative people, with strong commercial acumen, who are passionate about visualising and implementing customer needs. Launched as an Executive Agency of the Cabinet Office in 2018, we’re a relatively new department and we are growing fast so we also need people who thrive in ambiguity, can adapt quickly to change and are comfortable stepping outside of their remit to drive outcomes.

Job description

The Area Workplace Services Manager is a pivotal position within the Workplace Service Delivery Team. Supporting the Workplace Services Regional Service Manager the post holder will have responsibility for leading delivery of high quality customer services in an Area within the South and North regions. 

Passionate about customer service excellence, the successful candidates need to be able to build teams of civil servants and GPA’s Supply Partners to deliver excellent workplace experience within their assigned. As we expand our portfolio, we are seeking a diverse team of team leaders.

Key Responsibilities:  

• The face of GPA Workplace Services to GPA clients within the region.
• Embracing the Intelligent Client Principles be responsible for four workplace service delivery contracts and maintaining excellent contract relationships with GPA’s Service Providers.
• Line management responsibility for the Workplace Services Delivery Managers. Responsible for managing a team, leading and inspiring team members to consistently deliver excellent customer service across our client portfolio
• Undertaking site visits required to manage the services
• Required to directly manage properties with more complex issues and stakeholder relationships
• Resolving customer issues and complaints escalated from the Workplace Service Managers or GPA’s Helpdesk. Escalating when appropriate to Regional Workplace Services Manager
• Managing delivery of minor works and churn projects (lower value / less complex projects) and escalation of higher value / more complex projects to GPA Capital Projects Team.
• Reviewing and agreeing Service Partners contractors’ proposals for lifecycle replacement and planned maintenance work at an Area level.
• Managing rechargeable / billable works i.e. work that is requested by end user that is outside the fixed price element of the FM contract, reactive work above agreed thresholds, financial control and reporting to the Area Manager.
• Liaising with GPA teams including seeking advice from experts as required (Property Asset Management, Project/Programme Delivery, Finance and Assurance)
• There will also be the need to travel across the regional portfolio which will include working from various locations when required.

Person specification

• Have practical experience in Workplace Services Management at a Senior level 
• Have experience of managing complex Workplace Services Contracts
• Have experience in people management, specifically remote management of geographically dispersed staff and / or teams.
• Be able to travel within the geography of the Region (and occasionally nationally) to deliver the duties and attend management meetings.
• Have the capability to be an excellent leader and manager, with experience of identifying and implementing improvements and promoting a culture of a high-performance customer service
• Have the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels Creative, innovative and adaptable, and able to evolve as the Agency develops, supporting the Regions Workplace Services Manager with any change that needs to be implemented
• Comfortable working in a fast paced environment, dealing with uncertainty and handling a range of challenges competently as they emerge, and
• Experience of leading workplace-related services (hard and soft FM, operational security, ICT services, hospitality, community engagement) ideally with commercial understanding and awareness and the ability to get the best out of key suppliers

Desirable

• Appropriate professional qualifications and memberships would be desirable, such as IWFM or equivalent and APM Registration or Chartership. Applicants from other sectors with relevant transferable skills and experience such as hospitality or events management are also encouraged.
• Practitioner level for the Government Commercial Function’s Contract Management Capability Programme (the expectation will be that the successful applicant will achieve this accreditation level within 12 months of starting the role)

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the communities and wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a sense of belonging in a workplace where everyone feels valued.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £51,700, Government Property Agency contributes £13,959 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

The sift is due to take place week commencing 15th January 2024.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to include a CV and a 500-word personal statement. The personal statement should then align with the person specification.

Interview

Applicants successful at sift will be invited to interviews, which are due to take place week commencing 22nd January 2024. You must be willing to travel to any of the GPA locations for your interview. If you are unable to attend a face to face interview due to extenuating circumstances, we advise that you reach out to the recruitment admin team to find out if alternative means can be arranged prior to submitting your application.   

At interview, applicants will be scored against 4 behaviours - Managing a Quality Service, Making Effective Decisions, Communicating and Influencing, and Delivering at Pace.

Interview questions will be a blend of Behaviour, Experience, Strength and Technical (core skill) questions.

Candidates successful at stage 1 of the interviews will be invited for stage 2 which will comprise of a presentation. Details of the presentation will be provided to you closer to the time of the stage 2 interviews. 

Please note, this vacancy is specifically advertised to recruit 1 x North and 1 x South, and successful candidates will be posted on merit based on their location preferences. 

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 gparecruitment.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 you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Further Information

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Please note: in addition to the standard pre-employment checks for appointment into the Civil Service, all candidates must also obtain National Security Vetting at Security Check (SC) clearance level for this vacancy. You will normally need to meet the minimum UK residency period as determined by the level of vetting being undertaken, which for SC is 5 years UK residency prior to your vetting application. If you have any questions about this residency requirement, please speak to the vacancy holder for this post.

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to GPA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

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.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

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 applicant’s 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.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.