Contents Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information Location Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, Swindon About the job Job summary 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 transformational programmes such as the Government Hubs Programme, Whitehall Campus Programme and Net Zero Programme, as well as delivering modern, cost-effective real estate service solutions. Innovation and progress are at the heart of our behaviours. We foster a culture of lifelong learning, where curiosity and self-improvement are encouraged. And were dedicated to becoming a leading, inclusive employer both in the external market and throughout the Civil Service. Our strong emphasis on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (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. 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 GPA is committed to representing the communities we serve by making Diversity, Equality and Inclusion part of everything we do. 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. Job description Innovation and Assurance (I&A) determines and sets workspace design standards through authoring of a comprehensive suite of documents comprising the Government Property Agency (GPA) Workplace Design Guide, a range of Technical Annexes and the Employers Requirements. We utilise these, managing the design process and associated design consultants, across the Hubs and Whitehall Campus Programmes to deliver transformative workplaces for Civil Servants across the UK. I&A plays a wider role across both GPA and across Government in the work that we undertake. We are seen as subject matter experts in the individual streams / disciplines, with an aim of ensuring we have access to the best information and advice, but equally in order that we influence across Government departments and into industry. We operate as 4 distinct but intrinsically linked streams: Workplace Design Physical Security Sustainability Technical Assurance We produce and set the technical standards for our buildings and seek assurance that our requirements are delivered, working closely with our supply chain partners, Capital Projects and Workplace Services colleagues. As subject matter experts we support a number of cross government working groups where we share knowledge with both the public and private sector. The Fire Engineering Managers role is part of the Technical Assurance team. This is an assurance role to ensure buildings in design, during construction and at handover comply with the correct technical design and legislative standards set out in GPAs Design Guide and Employer Requirements (ER). This will require regular monitoring and reporting at key project milestones. Key Responsibilities Reporting to the Head of Technical Assurance, the Fire Engineering Manager will be responsible for: Developing the Employers Requirements regarding Fire safety for Capital Projects to ensure compliance with legislative requirements and industry best practice. Conducting periodic site inspections including monitoring site operations to assure works are carried out in accordance with agreed build phase plans. Interpreting the Design Guide, Employer Requirements and exceptions (client specialist requirements) into appropriate briefing material for delivery subcontractors to use for construction and procurement. Providing technical support (advice, assurance and approval) to the integrated project delivery teams and GPAs consultancy partners Reviewing developer and supply chain designs meet relevant standards such as BS 9999, and the building regulations, identifying/reporting any deficiencies. Identifying high-fire risk activities and ensure they are risk assessed. Acting as GPA's subject matter expert supporting both Capital Projects, the wider GPA team and across Government, as required, on all fire and associated building standards and legislation. Providing authoritative expert professional advice on the fire safety strategy, compliance with relevant building regulations, and potential fire safety difficulties with capital projects, plans and proposals for both new builds and for refurbishments. Leadership Lead on Fire Safety Assurance services throughout all RIBA stages on delivery of projects. Person specification Essential Criteria: Demonstrable Fire Safety subject matter leadership experience within a complex customer environment. Must have expertise in Fire Safety in property, preferably in a capital projects/construction context, and experience of implementation and delivery of strategies, policies, guidance and advice within large and complex organisations. Ability to interpret and understand business needs of clients and experience of dealing with and managing contractors and client-side relationships in a multi-client environment Strong stakeholder relationship skills, able to build influential relationships at all levels with clients, suppliers and colleagues. Experience of working within a multi-discipline team in a service delivery environment. Able to work collaboratively and provide valuable insight and support across the team as a whole and across the wider GPA. Ability to work autonomously, prioritising tasks effectively in order to meet deadlines (both internal and external) and communicating progress wherever necessary. Exceptional communication skills including verbally, report writing and business cases with experience of presenting at senior levels within a complex organisation and gaining support to enable solution implementation. Strong analytical skills and technology literate. The ability to interpret data and to analyse as well as create effective management information to support decision-making. Desirable criteria: Commitment to continuous improvement. Practical experience in negotiation skills that have achieved positive outcomes Track record of maintaining continuous learning through CPD Client facing experience Extensive experience of Risk Management Experience dealing with issues arising from the Equality Act Ability to think strategically/analytically Qualifications and Accreditations Essential criteria: CIOB Level 6 Fire Safety Certificate or equivalent Full member status of the Institute of Fire Engineers - MIFireE or FIFireE Desirable criteria: Degree in Fire Engineering Chartered Engineer (CEng) with the Institute of Fire Engineers (IFE) Qualifications Essential criteria: CIOB Level 6 Fire Safety Certificate or equivalent Full member status of the Institute of Fire Engineers - MIFireE or FIFireE Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Seeing the Big Picture Communicating and Influencing Technical skills We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: Customer Perspective Commercial Acumen Property Market Knowledge Innovation Benefits Alongside your salary of £54,285, Government Property Agency contributes £15,726 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. Learning and development tailored to your role An environment with flexible working options A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97% Generous annual leave Things you need to know Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills. This vacancy is to be managed by Miles Advisory. Please apply via gpafireengineeringmanagermiles-advisory.com. We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the communities and wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and well-being and aim to create a sense of belonging in a workplace where everyone feels valued. 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 and the Civil Service D&I Strategy. 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 (RIS) to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy. This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative. The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window). Sift The sift is due to take place week commencing 12th February 2025. As part of the application process, you will be asked to include a CV and a 1000 word personal statement. The personal statement should then align with the person specification. Interview GPA policy is for interviews to be held face to face, with virtual interviews only by absolute exception. The date and location will be confirmed if you are invited to interview. If you feel this will be a problem for you, please contact recruitmentgpa.gov.uk to discuss prior to submitting your application. At interview, applicants will be scored against 2 behaviours - Seeing the Bigger Picture and Communicating and Influencing. Interview questions will be a blend of Behaviour, Experience, Strengths and Technical (core skill) questions. 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 security 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). Apply and further information This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative. The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window). 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 : Miles Advisory Email : gpafireengineeringmanagermiles-advisory.com Recruitment team Email : recruitmentgpa.gov.uk Further information If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact HRgpa.gov.uk If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission Attachments GPA Skills and Specialisms Opens in new window (pdf, 259kB) Share this page Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn GMail