About the job

Job summary

Defra Group Property (DgP) manages the provision of facilities management services to Defra’s executive agency; the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). APHA uses a wide range of specialist facilities as part of its aims to safeguard animal and plant health for the benefit of people, the environment and the economy. 

These specialist facilities include biocontainment laboratories across the UK with the main laboratory campus being located at Weybridge. The Defra Weybridge site is the largest facility in terms of size and complexity across the Defra network and is currently going through a process of major investment (over £1b) and redevelopment in order to enhance its scientific capability. 

The site is at the forefront of research and diagnostic testing for animal and zoonotic diseases and leads on disease outbreak response for Defra.

The DgP Technical Services team at Weybridge fulfil the role of Intelligent Client Function (ICF) for FM services across DgP’s Science Estate.

We are looking for an experienced Maintenance Manager to manage the asset management/maintenance program for all non-containment facilities across the Weybridge and Regional Laboratory science estate including agreement and scheduling with the business.

The priority of the role will be to improve Defra's current approach to maintenance by developing a client driven asset management system and working with the Facilities Management (FM) supplier to provide assurance that assets comply with applicable standards and best industry practice. Moreover, such maintenance systems shall improve asset performance and reduce downtime to the business through more efficient/effective planning and delivery.

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Working in partnership with the User (APHA) and the FM service provider to agree a long term plan for scheduled maintenance for all buildings, facilities and supporting infrastructure at Weybridge and the Regional Laboratories
• Developing building and facility specific maintenance regimes that cover all of the assets in each, linking to the asset register and to condition surveys
• Managing and coordinating a comprehensive set of SOPs for the operation and maintenance of building assets
• Managing the development and implementation of a quality assured asset management system, including the maintenance of all assets
• Ensuring that maintenance work is planned in advance, that the right amount of time is set aside for it and that issues that come up during maintenance are dealt with effectively, escalating any issues that affect the business
• Ensuring that plans are in place to resolve any issues found during maintenance (known as PMCs), either during the maintenance periods or scheduling as appropriate
• Attending the pre-maintenance, during maintenance and post-maintenance meetings with FM Service Provider and the business to ensure that communication is maintained, standards are in place and the work is comprehensively planned
• Integrating maintenance with the Forward Maintenance Register (FMR) to ensure that assets either outside, or imminently outside their support life, are identified and plans can be established
• Acting as escalation point outside hours (on a prearranged schedule) in the event of critical incident impacting containment or life and limb
• Developing and implementing strategies for reducing equipment downtime and increase reliability
• Acting as a lead on various working groups for utilities provided to science such as Water and Steam to ensure that systems are managed effectively across site
• Conducting Regular inspections of the facilities to identify maintenance needs, hazards and potential risks
• Liaising with other departments, contractors and suppliers to ensure the smooth running of maintenance operations
• Managing the budget for maintenance activities and ensure that costs are kept within budget
• Ensuring that all maintenance activities are carried out in compliance with health and safety regulations and industry standards and HSE
• Keeping up-to-date with new maintenance technologies and techniques; and
• Acting as an Operations lead/Senior end users for the site wide infrastructure of the Critical works program at Weybridge providing technical advice and guidance to projects

For further information about the role please read the candidate information pack which can be found here

Person specification

Key Criteria

Successful candidates will be able to demonstrate the following skills & experience;

• Operational experience in managing/delivering a comprehensive industrial maintenance regime across one or more sites, e.g., utility, pharmaceutical, science or similar
• Experienced with setting up and implementing asset management standards, reliability centred maintenance;
• Practical, hands-on experience in managing/operating/maintaining/installing/commissioning systems such as generators, UPS, boilers, CHP, incinerators, chillers, biocontainment lab equipment etc.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Stakeholder management skills
• A degree in Building Services or Maintenance Engineering or equivalent level relevant experience; and
• Member of an Engineering Institute, eg CIBSE or IMechE.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £57,316, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £15,475 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.

Application Process

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, and Personal Statement on how you meet the essential experience/key criteria required for this role and why you are applying for the role. (max 750 words).

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Sift

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the CV.

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview. 

Sifting will take place w/c 15 January 2024.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on Behaviours, Technical Skills and Strengths.

Interviews will held in person at Weybridge and are expected to take place w/c 22 January 2024, but may be subject to change. 

A presentation or additional exercise may also be assessed.

Location

Please be aware that this role(s) will be contractually based in a Defra group workplace/office. The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.

The position will be located in Weybridge, you would be expected to be on site in Weybridge 4 days a week.  Travel to other sites may be required.

Travel and subsistence will not be paid for travel to a base office location.

Reserve List

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

Salary 

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

A specialist pay allowance of up to £6,000 per annum may be available to exceptional candidates who are able to evidence at interview against predetermined criteria.

Visa Sponsorship Statement

Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.

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 defrarecruitment.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. 

Accessibility

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

Criminal Record Check

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. 

Internal Fraud Database Check

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 offenses. 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.

Childcare Vouchers 

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

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.