About the job

Job summary

Facilities Management (FM) is one of the most visible aspects of property work across government. It can have a major impact on how users experience and access public services and how staff experience their workplace. If not successfully delivered it can have wide-ranging impacts including on operational delivery, sustainability and health and safety. For these reasons, the Property Programmes team in the Office of Government Property (OGP) leads the Facilities Management and Better Buildings programmes. These lead work across Government to set the strategy and standards for FM and building condition and safety, and enable property bodies across Government to deliver improvements across the whole Government estate (office and operational). The team is also responsible for the FM Control, providing assurance on FM procurement across Government.

The FM team has established a more consistent and coordinated approach across the Government estate, with the first Government-wide FM Strategy published in 2022 and new standards published in 2021; along with tools to support property bodies to improve performance and build capability. They are responsible for providing the leadership, policies and coordination for this cross-cutting, complex area.

This includes:

• Advising and supporting a senior-level Government-wide FM Taskforce which oversees and provides direction on the development of the FM agenda.
• Driving delivery of the FM Strategy, including development of standards, tools and systems.
• Supporting property bodies to develop robust investment cases based on whole life costs.
• Leading the operation of the Cabinet Office FM Spend Control (cases with a total value of c.£14 billion reviewed annually with individual cases ranging from £500,000 to over £20m) to ensure all Government Departments procure Facilities Management services in line with property standards and strategy - including advising Ministers where cases require Ministerial approval.
• Working with OGP’s Profession team and Government’s Future Profession Board to understand capability and capacity gaps across the FM sector and create a tailored development plan.

Job description

The revised FM Control was established in 2021, as one of a suite of Cabinet Office spend controls. These spend controls apply to all central government departments, executive agencies and certain Arms-Length Bodies (ALBs). The FM Spend Control currently reviews c.70 cases a year with a total value of c.£14 billion. The role’s key responsibility will be to lead and manage a small team within OGP to deliver quality decisions on business cases submitted from across a wide range of Government organisations under the Cabinet Office Facilities Management Control, ensuring that assurance of submissions to the Control is completed to a high standard and within timescales set out in the Control’s Service Level Agreement. This will be achieved by the Head of Governance and Controls ensuring expert advice is provided within all assessments of submissions in order to provide detailed, accurate and clear recommendations to organisations, senior officials and Ministers. Alongside assurance of specific cases, the Head of Governance and Controls is responsible for communication and engagement with Government organisations, building understanding of the FM Control and building capability across Government to improve compliance with the Control over time. The Head of Governance and Controls will report to the Programme Director and directly manage a small team. The team may expand as more public sector organisations are onboarded to be subject to the Control.

The Head of Governance & Controls will:

• Provide strategic leadership and direction on the FM Spend Control across government by leading on the design and management of the assurance regime, in partnership with commercial colleagues in Cabinet Office.
• Coordinate and lead early engagement across all government departments and arms-length bodies in scope of the Control to understand how their investment plans for FM align with property strategy and standards, and advise on areas for improvement.
• Work with key stakeholders across Government Departments, OGP and across Cabinet Office to continue to evolve the FM Control to maintain alignment with other developments such as changes to Property Standards, other Cabinet Office Controls and wider policy areas.
• Work with the Cabinet Office Central Controls Team and other Control teams to ensure a coordinated approach to changes across the portfolio of spend controls, representing the FM Control and advising where a consistent or tailored approach should be adopted.
• Manage and develop a high-performing Governance and Controls team to provide high-quality assurance assessments of FM spend cases.
• Engage with teams across Government to promote and explain the FM Control and how they can best engage with the assurance process.
• Lead the operation of the property assessment element of FM Spend Control which currently reviews c.70 cases a year with a total value of c.£14 billion. The post holder will advise Departments and assess submissions against published Control guidance.
• Lead on advice to Ministers and senior officials on individual Control cases and assessing performance of organisations across Government.
• Work with key stakeholders and other Control teams to develop and implement a new case management system.
• Establish and maintain collaborative working relationships with Government Commercial Function (GCF) and Crown Commercial Services (CCS) who provide the commercial assessment elements of the FM Control including leading case conferences as appropriate.
• Lead work with Departments and OGP teams to capture details of the pipeline of new FM contracts and contract changes planned over the coming years, and use this to support early engagement, constructive challenge, support and guidance as appropriate.
• Lead on reporting and correspondence on the FM control, including on its efficacy and potential areas for improvement.
• Work with the wider FM team, Better Buildings programme and FM Taskforce to ensure FM Control supports wider FM and Government Property policy objectives.

Person specification

Essential Skills:

• Thorough knowledge of FM industry and current / future marketplace risks.
• In-depth knowledge of Facilities and Workplace Management at a strategic and operational level.
• Knowledge of local/national barriers and constraints to delivery of effective FM and understanding of how FM reaches across the property lifecycle.
• Knowledge of FM industry standards adopted/promoted by professional bodies.
• An understanding of cross-Government initiatives impacting or connected to Facilities Management such as Sustainability, Commercial, Smarter Working and Profession.

Desirable Skills:

• Knowledge of Cabinet Office FM Controls and wider Cabinet Office Control measures.
• Knowledge of central Government processes, e.g. Ministerial submissions.
• Knowledge of Government Property Strategy, Facilities Management Strategy and Government Standard for Property.
• Knowledge of current FM service standards across Government Essential Experience.
• Experience of the FM sector.
• Experience of engagement across a wide range of stakeholders and audiences, including senior stakeholders such as Ministers.

Essential Qualifications:

• Suitable for an individual with appropriate skills detailed above gained in an FM environment supported by a FM related professional qualification no lower than IWFM level 4 or equivalent.

Additional information:

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. Although requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,400, Cabinet Office contributes £14,418 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 and Experience.

Application process

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and 750 word personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. 

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the personal statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Selection process

During the blended interview you will be assessed against your experience, behaviours that are contained in this advert and strength based questions, the strength questions are ones in which we wish to gain your initial response. 

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Interview dates - WC 18/03/2024

Interview Location - Online

Further information

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

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

Any move to Cabinet Office 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

Please note that this role requires CTC clearance, which would normally need 3 years UK residency in the past 3 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

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

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 or Disclosure Scotland 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. 

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

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.

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

Reasonable adjustments

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 cabinetofficerecruitment.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.

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

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 counter-terrorist 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.