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 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

As a member of the GPA Workplace Service Delivery Senior Leadership Team the Head of Critical Environments & Technical Services will be responsible for business management related to the Critical Environments (CE) portfolio as well as aspects of strategic account development for GPA supplier partners.  Also influencing wider strategies across the delivery of services into our estate.

Additionally, they will oversee through operational leadership, the compliance, health and safety standards, providing risk management and assurance while acting as a subject matter expert leading O&M and FM suppliers. 

The post holder will be responsible for ensuring service provision to the Critical Environments (CE) so that they can operate 7 days per week, 365 days per year and that any potential risks are identified and mitigated in accordance with legislation and controls. They will ensure that the GPA has the right suppliers, demonstrates value for money and operates on a cost neutral basis. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Oversee management of the Critical Environments (CE) which includes both district heating and emergency standby power systems. 
• Manage the Critical Environments business to ensure that users connected to the systems achieve full service provision and value for money from the schemes. 
• Responsible for the management of all CE service contracts - develop key stakeholder relationships ensuring that fit for purpose services are in place and maintained in line with best practice and pertaining legislation / guidance.
• Provide technical and commercial knowledge to support the Critical Environments, the central Government Estate and it’s interdepartmental agreements, advising on investment opportunities. 
• Ensure all stakeholders and customers are appraised regularly through face to face, user group and project meetings and that issues and requests for data are managed effectively and resolved in a timely manner.
• Lead Technical Engineering assurance across GPA’s workplace services contracts, including National District Heating and Technical Engineering strategy through the supplier contracts.
• Collaborate with local councils on heat network connection opportunities and driving strategic alignment and improvement in the supplier Hard Services Contracts.

Person specification

• Demonstrable experience of managing budgets in a commercial environment with the ability to ensure effective cost control, while delivering value for money and identifying further commercial opportunities for the business. 
• Track record of high-quality service provision in a client facing capacity, gained in the FM, R&M, Engineering, Building Services or construction environments; takes account of diverse customer needs and requirements and is organised to deliver service objectives.
• Evidence of creating and maintaining positive, professional and trusting working relationships. Has collaborated with a wide range of people across organisational boundaries to help get business done.
• Able to lead suppliers, customers and junior colleagues from the front, communicating a strong sense of mission and purpose with clarity, conviction and enthusiasm; tailors and adapts own communication style and approach to suit different audiences.  
• Evidence of delivering high quality, timely programmatic and project based performance outcomes successfully. Experience of assuming responsibility and accountability for service delivery through an extended team and supply chain.
• Exhibits a strong focus on continuous learning for oneself, others and the organisation with a track record of actively contributing to continuous improvement initiatives.

Essential Criteria:

• Previous experience of working in an engineering/ critical environments space. Knowledge of mechanical and electrical systems. 
• Must have experience of managing suppliers and developing strategies for improving technical service delivery

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £62,900, Government Property Agency contributes £16,983 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, Experience and Technical skills.

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 well-being and aim to create a sense of belonging in a workplace where everyone feels valued.

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 (RIS) to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

How to Apply

If you wish to apply for this position, please supply the following:

A comprehensive CV setting out your career history, with responsibilities and achievements.

A supporting statement (maximum 750 words) highlighting your suitability and setting out how you meet the person specification. Please note that the supporting statement is an important part of your application and is as much the means by which you will be assessed as your CV.

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.

If you are unable to apply online, or have any issues with the online application process, please

contact devon.coates@gatenbysanderson.com

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

Interview

Applicants successful at sift will be invited to preliminary interviews with Gatenby Sanderson weeks commencing the 18th and 25th March 2024, followed by shortlisted interviews on the 11th April 2024 in either the London or Birmingham office. This is subject to change dependent upon where most successful candidates are based. 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, Communicating and Influencing, Leadership, and Delivering at Pace.

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

Further Information

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.

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

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.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

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.

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 devon.coates@gatenbysanderson.com as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 

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.