About the job

Job summary

Working at the heart of government as Government Deputy Head of Profession, you will support both the Government Chief Property Officer and Government Head of Property Profession in providing professional leadership to the 7000+ property professionals working in the property & estates function right across government departments, agencies, and arms-length bodies.

Job description

Our ambition is for the Government Property Profession to be a world-leading community of experts, and a career destination of choice, and it is the work of our Property Profession team that enables this. This role leads the team, and is a real opportunity for you to build on the great strides made so far, driving more progress in developing our Profession.

 We are looking for a senior property professional who is passionate about developing the capability of property peers and colleagues; someone who can combine this passion with strong property expertise, a network of influential senior stakeholders, and an ambitious future-focus for the Profession, to lead the team in ensuring that Government Property:

●    leads the way across Government and wider industry in developing a diverse and truly representative property workforce, which feels supported in an inclusive   professional community
●    is able to identify, attract and retain people with the right skills and capability from all backgrounds both within and outside of Government
●    drives professionalisation, encouraging and enabling professional accreditation across Government
●    provides development opportunities and broad career pathways for property talent at all grades
●    is future focused, developing the right skills for the emerging and future demands of the Property Function

Creating the right culture, attracting and developing the best people, and building capability through accreditation and talent programmes, you will empower the team to make a real difference to our Government Property Community, and contribute to better delivery of public services across the UK. 

Responsibilities

Ultimately delivering Professional Excellence (Mission 3 of the Government Property Strategy), the post-holder will support the Government Head of Property Profession, providing ambitious, supportive leadership and expert guidance to the Profession team and departmental Heads of Profession, including:

• Champion an ambitious Equality, Diversity & Inclusion agenda, ensuring all Profession work contributes to an inclusive, representative Property workforce
• Review and monitor the composition and capability of the Property workforce within government, ensuring the Profession’s continued ability to deliver the Government Property Strategy
• Oversee the delivery of future-focused, strategic workforce plans for Government Property, championing a Profession-led approach to: Professional L&D; Property talent attraction, development and reward; and emerging talent programmes (including Fast Stream and Apprenticeships) to strengthen succession pipelines to critical roles and promote accessible career paths for all grades
• Build collaborative networks across OGP, with other Government Functions, industry accrediting bodies, and private sector Property organisations to raise the profile of the Government Property Profession as a career destination of choice
• Support wider OGP teams with Property Expertise as required, contributing to an agile, flexible and collaborative organisation that drives the Function forward

Person specification

It is important through your CV and Statement of Suitability that you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the selection criteria detailed. Please also take this opportunity to explain your motivations for applying.

Cabinet Office and OGP are committed to being an inclusive workplace with a sense of belonging for all. We actively encourage applications from people from all backgrounds, aiming to be truly representative of the communities we serve. In terms of your professional background, we are looking for:

• A relevant property professional qualification and / or membership of a professional body g. RICS, IWFM, CIOB;
• Proven ability to deliver through others in a property context, building a wide network of senior stakeholders and building coalitions and collective drive around the ambitions of the Government Property Profession - both within and outside central government;
• Demonstrable experience of providing strategic leadership and professional oversight to capability development initiatives (such as talent, recruitment and/or development programmes);
• Knowledge of property in the public sector; and
• Strong leadership skills and an excellent communicator to inspire and empower colleagues to deliver across organisational

This is a brilliant, unique career opportunity for a property professional. Your passion for developing property talent and commitment to professional excellence will form a solid foundation for success, allowing you to leave a legacy for the future of the profession.

Please email scsrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk if you wish to have an informal chat with Lynda Rawsthorne.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £80,000, Cabinet Office contributes £21,600 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

Application process

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process accessed via the advertisement listed for this role. This should be completed no later than 7th January 2024 and will involve uploading the two documents outlined below:

1. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years
2. A Statement of Suitability (no longer than 1000 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria in the person specification

Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification.

Please ensure that both documents contain your full name.

As part of the online application process, you will be asked a number of diversity-related questions. If you do not wish to provide a declaration on any of the particular characteristics, you will have the option to select 'prefer not to say'. The information you provide when submitting your application will help us monitor our progress towards the Civil Service becoming a more inclusive employer. See the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy for more information.

Should you encounter any issues with your online application please get in touch with us via: scsrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Selection process

Shortlist

You will receive an acknowledgment of your application through the online process.

The panel will then assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the ‘Person Specification’ section. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.

The timeline later in this pack indicates the date by which decisions are expected to be made, and all shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter.

Assessment

If you are shortlisted, you may be asked to take part in a series of assessments which could include psychometric tests and a staff engagement exercise. These assessments will not result in a pass or fail decision. Rather, they are designed to support the panel’s decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview.

You may also have the opportunity to speak to Lynda Rawsthorne prior to the final interview to learn more about the role and the organisation. Please note this is not part of the formal assessment process.

Interview

You may also have the opportunity to speak to Mark Chivers prior to the final interview to learn more about the role and the organisation. Please note this is not part of the formal assessment process.

You will be asked to attend a panel interview where you may be asked to deliver a presentation and have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification.

Full details of the assessment and interview process will be made available to shortlisted candidates.

Panel members will be:

• Lynda Rawsthorne, Government Head of Property Profession;
• Ravi Chand, Director, Civil Service People and Places, CabinetOffice; and
• Jennie Cronin, Chief Operating Officer, OGP/Cabinet

Offer

Regardless of the outcome, we will notify all candidates as soon as possible after the final interview.

Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – W/C 15/01/24
Expected interview date/s – W/C 12/02/24

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.