Deputy Legionella & Water Hygiene Subject Matter Expert

For jobs located in Wales, the ability to speak Welsh is desirable.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is one of the governments largest public service departments with a sizeable annual budget, serving over 20 million citizens.

The estate spans 1.4 million square metres across 800+ sites and supports around 78,000 colleagues.

Our vision includes DWP colleagues, supply chain, partners and, most fundamentally, the customers the Department exists to serve. They are the reason for our existence.

We are responsible for the day-to-day operation of our vast Estate by managing a private sector supply chain that delivers essential services such as Security Guarding, Maintenance, Property and Leasehold Management, Construction, Cleaning and Facilities Management.

DWP Estates is not just about maintaining buildings - its about transformation. Our strategic goals include:

• Transitioning to a smaller, more affordable, and adaptable estate to meet future needs
• Investing in infrastructure through planned replacement works
• Embedding sustainability in line with Government Greening Commitments (GGCs)
• Delivering cost-effective services while maintaining high standards
• Creating a professional, best-in-class working culture across the Government Property profession

Our Estates strategy ambitions have been refreshed to take us through to 2030:

OPTIMISE: Continue to transition to a more affordable and adaptable DWP estate that creates productive environments

INVEST: Investment in an improved environment that better meets the needs of customers and colleagues and minimises service disruption

SUPPORT the drive for sustainability throughout DWP

DELIVER: Expertly deliver improving, cost-effective services for DWP

THRIVE: Continue to develop a working culture for DWP Estates that is best in class across government

There is no better time to join the award winning DWP Estates team.

** Location While a Corporate Hub in the locations specified is preferred other locations nationally can be considered **

Government Property Profession Career Framework (Link)

This role sits within the following:

• Job Family Strategic Asset Management
• Core Role Property Data Management
• Level Practitioner

Job Summary

DWP Estates is expanding its national water safety function and is seeking an additional Legionella & Water Hygiene Subject Matter Expert (SME) to work collaboratively across a complex UK-wide estate.

The post holder will work alongside a fellow Water Hygiene SME as part of an integrated national technical function. Both SMEs will operate at the same technical level, with equivalent professional standing, competence, authority and accountability across DWP's water safety arrangements.

Together, the Water Hygiene SMEs will provide national technical leadership, oversight, assurance and challenge across Business As Usual (BAU) water hygiene activity, Water Risk Assessments (WRAs), Written Schemes of Control, planned preventative maintenance (PPM), remedial activity, water sampling, projects, asset information, investigations, compliance evidence, contractor performance and governance.

Both SMEs will work collaboratively across the full water safety portfolio to ensure that risks identified through WRAs, BAU activity, operational data, projects, incidents and technical investigations are collectively understood and translated into proportionate, coordinated and effective controls. This approach will strengthen assurance, support efficient use of technical resource, reduce duplication and ensure attention is focused on the areas of greatest risk and operational priority.

The post holder will act as a DWP Estates Responsible Person for Water Safety, with responsibilities exercised in accordance with the DWP Water Safety Plan and established governance arrangements.

DWP retains duty-holder responsibility for the effective management of water safety. While services are delivered through the FM contractor, specialist water hygiene providers and other delivery partners, accountability for effective control cannot be contracted out. The Water Hygiene SMEs provide the competent technical oversight, assurance and challenge necessary to support DWP in demonstrating that appropriate controls are established, implemented and effective.

The role is central to maintaining effective water safety arrangements across diverse building types, system configurations and operational environments and contributes directly to reducing risk, improving operational effectiveness and protecting people, assets and organisational reputation.

What we are looking for

If youre someone who can use your technical expertise to strengthen Legionella risk control and provide clear, evidence-based assurance at a national level, we want to hear from you. Most importantly, we are looking for individuals who are motivated by delivering effective, proportionate and sustainable water safety management that protects people, assets and organisational reputation.

Drawing upon your mechanical engineering knowledge and Legionella risk management experience, you will play a key role in supporting the National Water Hygiene SME by leading Business As Usual (BAU) technical activity. You will provide day-to-day oversight of Legionella control arrangements, ensuring risks are identified early, control failures are understood, and corrective actions are progressed through the appropriate governance and operational routes.

Working across a complex, multi-site estate, you will engage routinely with operational stakeholders, providing clear technical direction, assurance and challenge to support compliant outcomes. You will review and quality assure Water Risk Assessments (WRAs), written schemes of control and CAFM-based compliance evidence, ensuring that Legionella control measures are technically correct, practical and aligned with ACOP L8 and HSG274.

The role requires strong analytical and communication skills, translating operational performance data into clear national risk narratives, reports and governance packs. Through structured BAU reporting, weekly operational engagement and targeted escalation, you will support informed decision-making, prioritisation of risk and continual improvement in Legionella control.

This role is not a contract or commercial management position; instead, it provides independent technical assurance and risk-based recommendations that enable delivery teams to act with confidence. Your work will have a direct and tangible impact on national water safety assurance, helping to maintain safe environments and demonstrate robust statutory compliance.

Duties and Responsibilities

• the role holder will play a key part in national water hygiene risk management and assurance, working collaboratively with the other Water Hygiene SME, operational stakeholders, contractors and assurance functions to:
• act as a DWP Estates Responsible Person for Water Safety and Water Hygiene Subject Matter Expert;
• maintain an effective, relevant and compliant water management system across the estate;
• maintain effective oversight of water hygiene and Legionella risk across a complex, multi-site portfolio;
• ensure risks are identified, assessed, controlled, monitored, rectified and escalated appropriately;
• provide independent, evidence-based technical advice, ...