Head of Facilities Management Operations

The Home Office works to build a safe, fair and prosperous UK. We achieve this through our work on counter-terrorism, policing, fire, crime, drugs policy, immigration and passports.
Corporate and Delivery Directorate works closely with the Home Office’s policy and operational commands to enable us together to deliver the department’s priorities. The directorate is comprised of different teams and professional functions, including Commercial, Finance, People, Portfolio and Project Delivery, Security, Estates and Information and Digital, Data and Technology.
The Grade 6 Head of FM Operations role is available in the Home Office Property Services (HOPS) team, reporting into the Deputy Director for Workplace Services and Projects. The post holder will be responsible for operational delivery of FM services to the Home Office estate through our outsourced FM service providers. This includes hard and soft FM services, minor works, Forward Maintenance Register (FMR) projects, supplier management, and estate fire, health and safety compliance and assurance.
This is an exciting opportunity to join the HOPS team and work on a varied and exciting government property estate, supporting the Home Office in delivering our strategic property ambitions of a smaller, better, greener estate, aligned to the Government Property Strategy, and operational and political priorities., HOPS are responsible for providing expert property services to the department. The estate comprises of office, Border Force, warehouse, residential, detention and public access properties. Our property teams work with a variety of stakeholders within the department, across Government and with a range of external suppliers to deliver a range of construction projects, change and improvement projects, estate management and facilities management to support the Department in delivering our strategic ambitions of a smaller, better, greener estate in line with the Government Property Strategy, and operational and political priorities.
The Grade 6 Head of FM Operations role is responsible for operational delivery of FM services, leading the FM Operational team and will have line management responsibilities. Working closely with the Head of FM Contracts and Technical Management and our FM supply chain, the post holder will ensure wider estates priorities are met, that FM services are delivered as required to meet business needs and that the estate remains safe and compliant with all relevant legislation and guidance. Relationship management and communication are critical components of this role., + Operational compliance oversight and management. Ensuring estate and service delivery compliance with all applicable legislation and best practice for fire, health and safety. Supporting the discharging of Duty Holder responsibilities. Overseeing and supporting audit and assurance activity.
+ Effective and timely performance reporting, monitoring and assurance measures. Ensuring that all information reporting cycles are met and the accuracy, consistency and quality of information provided. Ensure that FM risk management strategies and procedures are in place and outputs are actioned appropriately.
+ Management and maintenance of various complex stakeholder relationships, providing a responsive, visible and customer focussed FM service.
+ Oversee FM contract service delivery, providing strategic leadership and ensuring the contracted services are delivered well, performance is managed, and the contracts continue to meet business needs, ensuring services are delivered efficiently and effectively.
+ Develop and prioritise the FMR and deliver FMR projects achieving value for money, sustainability targets and building estate resilience. Manage asset lifecycle replacement and compliance effectively, improving the condition of the estate and considering business needs.
+ The post holder is accountable for the budget for their team and ensuring appropriate spend controls are in place, managing budgets supporting and forecasting activities.
Working pattern
Due to the business requirements of this role, it is only available on a full-time basis. However, compressed hours are available.
Travel
This role will require travel nationally to Home Office sites and may include some overnight stays. Frequency will vary depending on business requirements but could be up to weekly., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Managing a Quality Service
+ Seeing the Big Picture
+ Leadership

Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
+ Stakeholder Engagement - E
+ Health and Safety, Compliance and Inclusion - E, For guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV, Personal Statement), you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers website.
2. Sift – week commencing 25th November 2024.
The sift will be held on the CV and Personal Statement.
Should a high volume of applications be received, the sift will be conducted only on the Personal Statement.
3. Interview – week commencing 9th December 2024.
If you are successful at sift stage, you will be invited to an interview that will be:
+ Behaviours, Strength, and Technical Skills based questions.
For guidance on the Technical skills, please refer to the GPP Career Framework: Government Property Profession career framework - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
In addition, candidates will be asked to prepare a presentation that will be delivered at interview. The presentation will be assessed against 'Behaviours' on the 'Success Profiles' and will be specifically assessed against the Behaviour Managing a Quality Service. The presentation question/scenario will be disclosed closer to the interviews.
The interview will be carried out via video. Candidates will be required to have access to:
• A laptop (personal or work) with a working webcam
• Good internet connection
• Microsoft Teams
For guidance and information on what to expect and how to prepare for an interview, you are encouraged to visit Civil Service Careers.
Problems during the application process
If you experience problems accessing this advert, or you think you’ve made a mistake on an initial application, please contact hocandidates.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk, including the vacancy reference, at least two working days before the vacancy closes. Further information can be found on our website.
You can select up to three locations in order of preference. Please ensure that these are locations you are prepared to travel to. If you are offered a role at one of your preferred location(s) and you decline, your application will be withdrawn.
Reserve List
A reserve list may be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made. There is no guarantee that being held on a reserve list will lead to a job offer. Further information can be found on our website.
Reserve lists will be held for each location and profession. Candidates will be appointed in merit order by location.
Candidates judged to be a near miss at interview may be offered a post at the grade below the one advertised without the need to go through a further selection process, providing the role has the same Success Profiles elements and essential skills. There is no guarantee that further such vacancies will arise.
All Civil Servants are expected to comply with the Civil Service Code, and its core values of integrity, honesty, objectivity and impartiality.
Additional Security Checks
As well as successfully obtaining UK Security Vetting clearance, candidates will be subject to a range of additional checks. The range of checks carried out will depend on whether you are a current Home Office employee, existing civil servant or an external new entrant as well as the role requirements. Further details are included in the Notes to Candidates.
Further information
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
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
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service / Disclosure Scotland, if location is in England it will be DBS and Scotland will be 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.
If you are invited to an interview, you will be required to bring documentation for the purposes of establishing your identity.
You will need to meet the nationality requirements for this role and obtain the necessary security clearance to take it up.
For meaningful security checks to be carried out, individuals need to have lived in the UK for a sufficient period of time. Learn more on our website. Security Checks - Home Office Careers
Visa sponsorship
We do not sponsor individuals via Skilled Worker Sponsorship / Tier 2 (General) work visas.
Reasonable Adjustments
If a person with disabilities is 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 HOrecruitment.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
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.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window)., If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment
principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance
HORecruitment.GRS@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission.

+ An appropriate property professional qualification, e.g. CIWFM, MRICS or CEng or willingness to work towards it.
+ You should be an experienced senior FM professional, with a strong understanding of real estate and related statutory, regulatory and professional requirements and the ability to manage these alongside business needs.
+ Supplier management skills and experience, managing and escalating issues, and engaging in key decision making with strategic consequence. Monitoring and managing performance matters, ensuring contracts deliver desired outcomes.
+ Experience of FM project delivery, asset management and maintenance to ensure value for money is achieved, high quality FM services are delivered, opportunities are maximised to drive estate condition improvements and estate resilience.
+ Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to build and maintain great relationships supporting service delivery.
+ Proven experience of strategically leading a customer facing FM team. Highly developed leadership skills, including direction setting, motivation and change management for staff and supply chains.
+ A practical working knowledge of the use of relevant software, e.g. MS Office, Computer Aided Facilities Management (CAFM) systems.
Desirable criteria
+ Experience of managing FM at various stages of the contract lifecycle.
+ Experience of providing board level oral and written briefings., Due to the nature of the work and the geographical area, driving is a key requirement for this role. Applicants must have a full valid UK manual driving licence.

In addition to your salary, a career with the Home Office offers a range of benefits, including:
+ A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
+ Learning and development tailored to your role.
+ In-year reward scheme for one-off or sustained exceptional personal or team achievements.
+ 25 days annual leave on appointment, rising with service to 30 days.
+ Eight days of public holidays, plus one additional privilege day.
+ Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement where all employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office.
+ See more of our benefits on our careers website.