Workplace Design Standards Lead

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.

The Design Standards team works from project inception through post occupancy evaluation to ensure that the DWPs property portfolio is aspirational in its approach to design, inclusivity and sustainability.

Government Property Profession Career Framework (Link)

This role sits within the following:

• Job Family Technical Specialisms & Assurance
• Core Role - Design
• Level Senior Practitioner

Key accountabilities

• Lead the development of technical property standards for various building types across the portfolio ensuring, as a minimum, legal compliance but aspiring to the achievement of a great place to work or engage with the DWP. Propose amendments as required, welcoming and responding to views and challenges from others
• Lead the preparation and implementation of Design Guides and ensuring the products complement and support the Governments wider design strategy. This to include Smart Working principles as outlined in PAS3000 all communicated in a clear and creative way whilst clearly articulating how any changes will benefit the business
• Oversee and assist design consultants directly delivering projects relating to the DWPs requirements. Understand the varying needs of the team and ensure they are supported and their experiences utilised
• Owner of all Furniture Fixtures and Equipment product design standards, welcoming and responding to views and challenges from others despite any conflicting pressures to ignore or give in to them
• Support and integrate branding, working with peers and Project Managers and supplier partners to ensure compliance, creating an inclusive working environment where all challenges and options are taking into account
• Oversee the resolution of technical issues with significant legal or commercial risk
• Lead on all aspects of Workplace planning for the diverse workforce, e.g. disability, age, PAS3000 Smart Working, sustainability etc along with linked initiatives and policies. Working in partnership with the supply chain, in particular the Integrator, being receptive to innovative solutions and proposal
• Lead on space optimisation developing standards methodologies and guidelines, in partnership with the Strategy and Portfolio Planning team
• Approve design compliance with, or justifiable variance from, the standards for all Real Estate projects across all DWP business departments. All Business Cases will require approval of their technical strategy and design as part of the governance process
• Take the lead ensuringthe integrity of DWPs Estate portfolio, confirming that new and upgraded properties are fit for purpose and comply with the standards necessary to maintain a robust, consistent, integrated technical infrastructure to support business continuity
• Validate changes to technical standards recommended by subject matter experts and either pass the recommendation back to the supplier partner or project manager for revision or, where validated, pass the recommendation to the relevant approval process
• Lead and play key driving role in the full change management aspect of initiatives and policy change impact, across the Estates organisation and portfolio
• Lead the team managing all areas of workplace, architectural and technical design guides and assets, promoting or defending the teams actions and decisions where neede
• Setting and delivery of the programme for the maintenance and development of a BIM technical standards librar
• Setting and delivering the teams continuous improvement programme, based on the collection and analysis of data, and the provision of training and support as require
• Overseeing Post-Occupancy Evaluation and stakeholder engagement sessions and converting feedback into changes required in the Design Standards documentatio
• Running regular training sessions with the various supporting teams and consultants to improve performance and understanding of key areas for development
• Representing the Estates team and wider DWP with other Government Departments on technical and performance improvement matters. Sharing best practice and attending cross government workshops, working groups or conferences as appropriate

Essential Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• Extensive knowledge of statutory processes, Building Regulations and construction related legislation able to evidence involvement in complex estate change in either office/ retail/ banking or educational environments
• In depth understanding of construction methods and materials and fully conversant with CDM Regulations
• Experience of dealing with technical, legal or regulatory design issues at a policy and practical level
• Experienced in new build, conversions, extensions and major refurbishments developments
• Proven experience of managing design and Furniture Fixings & Equipment specification experience.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to use evidence alongside analytical thinking to make decisions
• Strong analytical skills including research and investigatio
• Ability to present at a senior level, sometimes in larger forums, in a clear and concise style varying the presentation according to the target audience with an ability to work collaboratively with mixed teams, consultants and stakeholders
• Comfortable challenging the status-quo to achieve a better outcome

Qualifications/professional memberships

Desirable

• Interior Architecture, Interior Design or Architecture Degree
• Working towards RIBA with a preference if already held
• Working towards RICS (MRICS/FRICS) with a preference if already held