Vacancy -- Head of Facilities Management

Working for the Civil Service

The Welsh Government's recruitment processes are underpinned by the principle of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

Vacancy Details

Chief Operating Officer’s Group
Facilities Management
Grade 6 - £67,100 - £76,990
67,100
Full time (applications are welcome from people who work part time, as part of a job share or who work full time)
Permanent
Pan Wales
'Pan Wales' means that the location in which the vacancy can be based is flexible, subject to the needs of the business. Please note it may not always be possible to accommodate a preference for a specific office location, but requests will be taken into consideration.
TBC

Purpose of Post:

Reporting to the Director of Corporate Services, the Head of Facilities Management (FM) has responsibility for the strategic and operational management of Welsh Government’s administrative estate. 

The administrative estate currently comprises the offices and buildings accommodating Welsh Government staff and functions. The portfolio is substantial; a total of 21 properties as at 1 April 2022 with a Net Internal Area of circa 72,000 square metres, housing around 5800 staff. The estate is distributed throughout Wales and includes an office in London. Welsh Government is facing a major shift in the way it operates post pandemic which will include Smart Working and adapting permanently to a blended working structure. The size, shape and location of its estate will be primary considerations going forward.

Responsible for the overall stewardship of the Welsh Government administrative estate asset the post holder will ensure that the estate is strategically aligned, compliant with statutory and safety requirements; environmentally sustainable; supports operational and policy needs; is modern, inclusive, affordable and delivers value for money. 

As an integral part of Welsh Government’s Property Profession the post holder will also be the functional lead for the Facilities Management discipline representing the interests of those who practice FM within Welsh Government.

Key tasks:

Lead on all aspects of the Facilities Management function including the strategic and operational management of the Welsh Government administrative estate asset; intelligent client function; workplace management; environmental performance and progress toward net zero carbon by 2030; estate investment and rationalisation programme and all property related health and safety activities

Develop and implement the Welsh Government Future Workplace Strategy and Portfolio Asset Management Plan, maximising the asset’s potential and providing the best overall fit of the estate with Welsh Government’s operational and policy needs. Undertake location reviews and associated option appraisal exercises

Develop future estate plans in line with workplace strategy principles and informed by Welsh Government’s transition to smarter, blended ways of working. Pursue all opportunities for estate optimisation including sharing space with other public service partners. Future estate planning will be part of a coherent integrated public sector approach. Adapt offices to meet post-pandemic space requirements and blended working styles

Devise and secure delivery of annual capital and maintenance programmes for the estate to ensure that Welsh Government buildings continue to support Welsh Government’s policy and operational objectives, meet legal requirements, and retain their value as key Government property assets.

Manage and improve the carbon, energy and environmental performance of the Welsh Government administrative estate in line with Welsh Government’s net zero carbon objectives and other environmental commitments and targets.

Develop and enhance contract management across the full range of facilities service contracts supporting the estate. Provide expert interface ensuring services are being delivered in line with contract provisions; relationships are open and constructive and formal governance robust. Regularly monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), including Welsh supply chain data. Keep the Facilities Management delivery model under review. Oversee/lead the timely procurement/re-procurement of Facilities contracts

Work with key stakeholders across the organisation ensuring high levels of engagement and partnership working. Clarify plans and strategies and build trust with stakeholders affected by areas of work. Provide briefing for Ministers and senior officials on subject area

Be responsible for the underpinning information and budgetary processes. Keep under regular review, rates of spend and achieve budgetary and expenditure targets. 

Be able to demonstrate the efficiency and performance of the Welsh Government administrative estate ensuring it performs well against recognised benchmarks.

Development opportunities:

Welsh Government encourages staff to pursue opportunities for continuous professional development as well as supporting specific learning and development activities linked to business needs.

Closing Date:

20/02/2023, 16:00

Eligibility

Posts recruited to as part of this recruitment campaign are broadly open to UK nationals, those with right to remain and work in the UK and those that meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules only. Check your eligibility here:

Prior to appointment, all successful applicants will be required to produce original, acceptable documents as part of the pre-employment checks. If it becomes apparent at a later stage in the process that you aren’t eligible to apply, your application will be withdrawn, or offer retracted.

Equality and Diversity

The Welsh Government is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and which promote equality of opportunity. This is underpinned by the Equality Act 2010 and will be adhered to at each stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure that these commitments are also embedded in our day-to-day working practices with all our customers, colleagues and partners.

We are committed to being an anti-racist organisation and increasing diversity in the Welsh Government by removing barriers and supporting all our staff to reach their potential. We are committed to recruiting Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people and disabled people who are currently under-represented in Welsh Government.

We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, marriage and civil partnership (both same sex and opposite sex), impairment or health condition, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, gender identity or gender expression.

We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion and a Disability Confident Level 3 (Leader) organisation. Key to supporting this work and providing peer support are five Board sponsored Staff Networks (Disability Awareness and Support (DAAS); Minority Ethnic Support Network (MESN); Mind Matters (Mental health and well-being); PRISM (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex +) and Women Together.

Disability Confident

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

Welsh Language Requirements

The Welsh Government is a bilingual organisation and Welsh language skills are considered an asset to the organisation. We encourage and support staff to learn, develop and use their Welsh language skills in the workplace. 

The following list of language requirements represents an objective assessment by the line manager on behalf of the Welsh Government of the Welsh language skills required to undertake the duties of this particular post.

Not necessary to undertake the duties of this post

Social Partnership

In Welsh Government, the relationship between the employer and trade unions is based on social partnership. We believe our goals can best be achieved by management and trade unions working together.

Our 3 recognised trade unions are:
•         PCS
•         Prospect
•         FDA

This relationship is underpinned by a partnership agreement. This sets out how our unions work with Welsh Government on issues such as:
•         pay
•         terms and conditions
•         policies and procedures
•         organisational change.

Our Welsh Government trade union colleagues work together to give their members a real say in the workplace. They make sure that the interests of their members are promoted and protected. They also help reduce inequalities and improve terms and conditions.

The Welsh Government has an excellent track record of working in partnership with its trade unions. We encourage staff to get involved. We support you to join a recognised trade union, to ensure your voice is heard in the workplace. and to learn more about trade unions and partnership working.

Competencies / Job Specific Criteria

Competencies: 

Seeing the Big Picture: Anticipate economic, social, political, environmental and technological developments to keep activity relevant and targeted

Leading and Communicating - Confidently engage with stakeholders and colleagues at all levels to generate commitment to goals 

Collaborating and Partnering - Actively involve partners to deliver a business outcome through collaboration that achieves better results for citizens 

Delivering Value for Money - Achieve the best return on investment and deliver more for less on specific budgets by managing resources and maximising the use of assets 


Job Specific Criteria: 

  1. Must have demonstrable knowledge and experience in facilities/property management for multi-site operations, including the procurement and performance management of contractors.
  2. Experience of embedding Welsh Government environmental policies and encouraging a strong focus on sustainability, wellbeing and smart buildings. 
  3. Experience of building strong relationships with a range of internal stakeholders including working in partnership with Trade Unions, and/or other groups representing the workforce, to develop inclusive practices and resolve complex issues. 

Assessment Process

Applications will be sifted, successful candidates will then be invited to interview where they will be asked to do a presentation.

Other Information

  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘actual starting salary’, all candidates will start at the minimum of the pay scale being appointed to (this includes existing civil servants).This is not negotiable.
  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘type of opportunity’, this recruitment advert is not open on a Loan or Secondment basis.
  • For more information on the eligibility criteria and terms and conditions for Loan and Secondment positions in Welsh Government, please see external recruitment candidate guidance.
  • Unless stated otherwise in ‘Location of Post’ the role/s recruited to via this campaign can only be worked in the UK, not overseas.
Paul Sullivan 0300 0255949

How to apply

All applications for this vacancy should be made online via the Welsh Government's online application system.  If you have an impairment which would prevent you from applying on-line, please e-mail SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales to request an application pack in an alternative format, or to request a reasonable adjustment related to an impairment in order to submit your application.

To apply, you'll need to have an account on our online application system.  Click the 'Apply' button below, and you'll be asked to 'Log in' if you already have an account, or 'Register' if you don't yet have an account.  Registration takes just a few minutes to complete.  You'll need an e-mail address to be able to register.  Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form, which you'll need to fully complete and submit before the deadline on the closing date.  

If you’d like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the ‘Newid Iaith / Change Language’ link at the top of this page, to take you to the Welsh version of this advert, from which you can apply in Welsh.

For further information regarding the Welsh Government recruitment process, please see the Recruitment Guidance for External Candidates (link).

When evidencing your suitability for the post, it is recommended that you refer to the Civil Service Competency Framework (link)

Grievance and Complaints

Anyone who believes they have been treated unfairly, or has a grievance or complaint, about how the process was conducted should either write to the Head of Resourcing, Welsh Government, Cathays Park 2, Cardiff CF10 3NQ or email SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales.  If you are unhappy with the outcome of the complaint raised with the Welsh Government and feel that the principles of appointment on merit through fair and open competition have not been met you have the right to pursue your grievance with the Civil Service Commission.

This vacancy is closed to applications.