Head of Workplace Design

The Government Property Agency is the largest property holder in government, with more than 2.1 billion in property assets and over 55% of the governments office estate.

We are transforming the way the Civil Service works by creating great places to work, leading the largest commercial office programme in the UK, working towards halving carbon emissions from government offices, and achieving greater value for taxpayers. And we are looking for innovative, solutions-focused people to join our team.

Representing the best covenant in the UK His Majestys Government we are leading ignificant transformational programmes such as the Government Hubs Programme, Whitehall Campus Programme and Net Zero Programme. We are also delivering cost- effective property services such as asset management, lifecycle replacement and workplace services.

Innovation and progress underpin our behaviours. We foster a culture of lifelong learning, where curiosity and self-improvement are encouraged. Our four core values are at the heart of everything we do. They shape our culture and guide how we work, lead and grow together:

• Striving for excellence- We always aim to deliver great results
• Empowering through respect- We insist on fair treatment for all, always
• Acting with integrity- We consistently do the right thing
• Succeeding together- We rely on each other to achieve success

We are committed to representing the communities we serve by making Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) part of everything we do. Our strong emphasis on EDI is not just about driving inclusion across our organisation, it is also about ensuring our services meet the needs of government departments and the civil servants who use our spaces. To ensure that we are always recruiting and retaining a diverse mix of talent, we are particularly inviting applications from candidates who are disabled, ethnically or gender diverse, and people who identify as being part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Join our dynamic and diverse team that leads with purpose, improving sustainability, nurturing social value, driving inclusivity and flexibility, and kickstarting economic growth.

We are driven by purpose, and you can be part of it too: where you make a meaningful impact; where you influence; where your voice really matters; where you help to shape our future direction.

The Capital Projects team delivers the Government Hubs and Whitehall Campus property programme that sits within the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP). Supporting these programmes is Innovation & Assurance, which leads innovation in the design of workspace and sets guidance and standards for GPA buildings, to assure healthy, sustainable and inclusive buildings for a modern civil service.

The Head of Workplace Design is responsible for determining the guidance and standards against which our strategic partners design, construct and fit out our buildings, and where applicable maintain throughout the life of the building. This would also include the Employers Requirements and Requests for Proposals used to procure new buildings /sites, whether freehold or leasehold.

In addition, the role is responsible for assuring that the guidance and standards are correctly utilised / applied across the Capital Projects Government Hubs and Whitehall Campus programme. This requires an understanding and articulation of GPAs risk appetite, proposing mitigation options where available and appropriate.

Note the role will require an ability to travel nationally to all UK sites/facilities.

Key Responsibilities

Key deliverables:

• Lead the Workplace Design Team
• Lead the evolution of the Workplace Design Guide and Workplace design policies and specifications - for example our upcoming Inclusive Design annex.
• Seek assurance from stakeholders that designs for new build offices and renovations are compliant with GPAs standards, policies and guidance in respect of Workplace Design - throughout each RIBA stage of a projects lifecycle. In addition to test this assurance via an evidence based approach.
• Work collaboratively with a range of specialist staff across GPA, the Integrated Delivery Team and wider Government.

They will be responsible for:

• Ensuring the development and maintenance of the Design Guide and associated Workplace Technical Annexes, setting the look and feel for our buildings - including: test fits and space plans, furniture and fittings, décor, themes and specialist facilities.
• Working with Workplace Services to ensure the best workplace experience.
• Applying design lessons learned from other programmes, colleagues and consulting partners.
• Working with public sector subject matter experts (SME) in design-related areas across government, and private sector professionals including the property industry.
• Ensuring the future office estate embraces advances in digital and technological innovation to maximise performance effectiveness and efficiency, working in partnership with CO CDIO.
• Providing advice, assurance and acceptance where necessary on designs and specifications, representing the interests of the client in the project procurement process, eg framework selection, individual project tender exercises and contract management.
• Leading development and implementation of workplace showcases to test office environments, facilities and ways of working, providing direction and impetus to GPAs consulting partners and clients, monitoring performance, reviewing results and learning lessons to guide development of Hubs.
• Acting as the principal design point of contact for designers, contractors, consultant partners and their supply chains across all projects and programmes.
• Testing design proposals to ensure technical standards are being adhered to.
• Submitting and/or reviewing design change requests as part of the Workplace Design Board(WDB), escalating where workplace experience may be compromised or lessons not being learned.
• Supporting the D&E DD and other D&E colleagues in workplace design briefing and communications across a range of internal and external audiences and stakeholders.
• Ensuring the Workplace Design team resources are appropriately skilled and deployed effectively and efficiently, ensuring appropriate levels of performance and continuous improvement
• Coaching and mentoring colleagues in D&E team on design.
• Managing external professional services contractors/consulting partners.
• Defining Furniture, fixtures and equipment requirements.
• Supporting procurement of suppliers, together with contract management (performance / SRM etc.).

Have a strong track record of delivering large-scale projects or programmes, managing governance within complex business environments, and successfully leading end-to-end change projects.

Possess expertise in building technical specifications, workspace design, and procurement processes, alongside proficiency in standard business software (Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint).

Exhibit strong interpersonal skills, a proven ability to influence senior leadership and key stakeholders, and the capability to make value-based decisions and drive continuous improvement. They need to be autonomous and collaborative, capable of leading a multidisciplinary team and working effectively across diverse stakeholder groups.

Experience & Technical Skills

We are looking for an experienced technical professional who can demonstrate knowledge, skill and experience in:

Essential Skills in:

Ability to manage effective relationships with senior ...