DWP UK Jobs – Planning Manager

About the job

Location

Blackpool, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Sheffield

Job Summary

About the job

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is responsible for welfare, pensions and child maintenance policy. As the UK’s biggest public service department, we operate on a scale that is almost unmatched anywhere in Europe and most people in Britain come into contact with us at some point in their lives.

DWP Estates Directorate are accountable for the delivery of all aspects of real estate services and the work we do is critical in ensuring the vital work that the Department undertakes is enabled effectively. The DWP commercial estate is the largest within Government and our diverse national property portfolio reflects this scale. It is a unique mix ranging from modern corporate centres, multi-occupied Service Centres, to its frontline high street services.

We are responsible for the Department’s 900+ workplaces, that provide workplaces for 90,000 employees and a UK wide presence for all those that visit us. Ultimately, the Department relies on us to provide safe and secure buildings that are fit for purpose and meet the needs of the business.

The Department is also committed to delivering Sustainability and Net Zero Carbon improvements across its estate, demonstrating leadership in making the public estate smaller, better, greener. The work you will be undertaking is therefore crucial in us meeting the needs of all those who use our services.

Leading the strategy planning processes and analysis for a significant portfolio across the DWP Estate, this role will build on core links between our Real Estate Relationship Managers and our Business Intelligence Teams. It will play a critical role in blending data-driven knowledge and insights with strategic customer insights, channelling these to design and drive forward the Portfolio Strategy Plan.

Job Description

Key accountabilities

• Drive evidenced based decision making and shaping into the development of the Estates Strategic Portfolio Plan, analyse and accurately interpret data from various sources and data (incl DWP Estates, the Integrator and wider supplier partner network) to support decisions, in conjunction with the intelligence gathered from our customers to determine our strategic view and optimal use of the estate.
• Analyse all business and portfolio data and insights available, to provide the strategic portfolio lens to translate and apply this information to shape and form an effective strategic portfolio plan, adopting an Authority and Government wide perspective to ensure alignment of activity and policy. Use data science to create benchmarks in performance, identifying trends, KPIs and establish deviations and exceptions that inform further analysis.
• Factor demand, scenario plan and analysis of the options available to optimising the estate, bringing together views, perspectives and diverse needs of stakeholders to gain a broad understanding of the issues surrounding activities and plans to enable effective decision making.. Create frameworks to allow each scenario to be modelled enabling meaningful analysis.
• Manage and optimise the DWP portfolio based on lease events, market opportunities and business requirements based on strategic knowledge and insights, proactively managing risks and identifying solutions.
• Strive to maximise demand and space utilisation and flexibility, minimise costs, support Estates awareness, provide innovative solutions and superior customer service.
• Ensure portfolio plans and strategies are developed which balance business need, pro perty quality & sustainability, total property cost & VFM, lifecycle investment, market cycles & supply, utilisation, etc.
• Identify spaces with potential to accommodate demand, highlighting any requiring re-design, consolidation, space reallocation or relinquishment, whilst considering the full impact of implementing changes and the impact on customers and end user.
• Design, develop and promote use of reporting, dashboard and metrics to provide effective oversight of the portfolio analysis that enables complex issues to be explained in a way that is easy to understand.
• Develop long term strategic space needs in order to proactively address demand and ensure the best use of Portfolio space, whilst maintaining an understanding of economic, social, political, environmental and technological developments to ensure activity is relevant.
• Evaluate properties and assess opportunities for reallocation or disposition, clarifying your understanding and stakeholder needs and expectations, before making decisions.
• Assist project team in the early analysis of real estate needs, challenging assumptions whilst being willing to compromise if beneficial to progress.
• Work in collaboration with internal DWP estates team, Integrator and LLM (Landlord/Lease Management) to facilitate the renewal strategies for properties across the portfolio.
• Analyse business challenges and opportunities that emerge across the Department through the development of feasibility management, financial appraisal and return on investment analysis.
• Drive the One Public Estate strategy through liaison with GPU (Government Property Unit)/GPA (Government Property Agency), other government departments and local authorities for Co-location and MOTO opp ortunities.
• Develop working relationships with strategic third-party vendors, including Dentons and Cushman & Wakefield; accessing key data on the property market.

Person specification

Essential Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• Experience within a Real Estate and property profession discipline, including RE Portfolio and strategy analysis, in particular lease events, market opportunities and business requirements.
• Experience in supporting the development of Estates function strategy and business plans through the analysis of customer insight and data driven decision making.
• Ability to execute strategic portfolio modelling techniques including discounted-cash flow modelling, feasibility analysis and scenario planning.
• Knowledge of industry standards in building design and functionality.
• Ability to understand clients business needs and be solution based in approach.
• Ability to analyse and manipulate data for reporting.
• Ability to create documents and reports including presentations, schedules etc.
• Ability to lead and influence supplier relationships.

Leadership attributes and behaviours

• Strives for continuous improvement, innovation and efficiency, taking responsibility for managing and improving all relevant standards, policies, processes, and governance relating to the role.
• Collaborate with stakeholders across the estates department and wider DWP ensuring that cross functional ways of working and processes are continuously improved and optimised – calling out opportunities for improvement and taking ownership where applicable.
• Prioritize and role-model continuous self-learning and development to the team.

Qualifications/professional Memberships

Desirable

• Working towards RICS (MRICS/FRICS) with a preference if already held, or equivalent.

Behaviours

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using

STAGE 1 – APPLICATION & SIFT

As part of the application process you will be asked to provide a 1000 word Personal Statement against the Essential Skills, Knowledge & Experience as outlined above. You will also be asked to provide a short CV.

Your CV should be fairly short and just evidence very brief details of your work history and experience.

Please do not submit a speculative application where you do not meet at least 50% of the essential criteria as these applications will be unsuccessful. Do not include Behaviour examples within your application as these will not be assessed in the sift and will only be used at interview stage.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

There will be an initial sift of applications based on the Personal Statement only, so please ensure you evidence how you meet the Essential Skills, Knowledge & Experience requirement contained in the vacancy in this section. This will form a short list for interview.

STAGE 2 – INTERVIEW

All candidates who are successful at the sift stage will undertake a single virtual video interview.

The interview will follow a blended approach which will help us assess candidates Behaviours and Strengths.

Currently the sift is scheduled to take place w/c 31 October 2023and interview dates will be w/c 14 November 2023 . Due to the current situation with COVID19 the interviews are scheduled to take place virtually. These dates are subject to change.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Any move to DWP from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Security Information

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/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 stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.

Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, allowances. Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP’s terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing.

Reasonable Adjustment

At DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.

We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the “Reasonable Adjustments” 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.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

People working with government assets must complete

Nationality Requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of the
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

Working for the Civil Service

The

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s

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.

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact

• Name : Matt Pepper
• Email : [email protected]

Recruitment team :

• Email : [email protected]

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DWP by email: [email protected].

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission