Job summary
Have you invested significant effort in obtaining a degree and building experience in commercial property?
Do you thrive on managing corporate property portfolios?
Do you want to influence estate strategies?
If so, this could be the job you have been looking for.
Defra Group Property (DgP) is part of Defra Group Corporate Services and provides accommodation services to the Defra Group. It also heads significant workplace transformation programme across the corporate property portfolio focused on creating great places to work for Defra Group staff.
Our ambition and goals for the Defra Group estate is to:
1. Create sustainable property and workplaces that enhance wellbeing, engagement, and productivity.
2. Put people in the places they need to be to do their best work and among the communities they serve.
3. Give choice over where and how people work so that they are empowered to work in the smartest ways.
We�ll do this by:
4. Creating working environments and collaboration spaces that people want to use and that make them more productive.
5. Keeping people safe and enhance their wellbeing.
6. Connecting people from across the Defra group.
7. Attracting a diverse and talented workforce.
8. Achieving sustainable, aspiring to the highest environmental standards.
9. Meeting the needs of the business and customers it serves now and in the future.
To achieve this, we deliver a range of property services and projects on behalf of Defra Group and its partner organisations. These activities range in scale and complexity across circa 300 property holdings, from offices to laboratories, and projects encompass new builds, refurbishments, refits, life cycle replacement works and everything else in between. We have a strategic workplace and property plan with our key projects and works now agreed, so there�s never been a more exciting time to join DgP.
The Corporate Property Team provides property management services, transactional services and property advice to the Defra Group organisations.
Job description
The successful candidate will provide professional property advice, undertake, commission and oversee transactions and estate management issues to ensure the Defra group can deliver its services effectively. You will have experience working in commercial property and a sound knowledge of leases and tenancies.
Working in the Corporate Property Team you will manage your own portfolio of property matters and take responsibility for the administration of the Group�s obligations as an owner and occupier of property, working alongside the Group facilities management function.
You will have involvement with and be expected to advise organisations within the Group on property matters impacting their business area as well as helping a Group wide estate transformation programme through the delivery of property transactions and disposals.
The role is central to ensure Defra Group Property manages it�s portfolio effectively and efficiently, and meets our aims of maximising the business benefits of our property network.
As this is a true corporate real estate role you will also learn about the business and the part property plays in making things happen on the ground. Defra Group Property has a diverse portfolio and this is an excellent opportunity to become involved in an organisation which exercises significant influence over the world we live in and make the UK a great place to live.
General Responsibilities
10. Supporting the Principal Corporate Property Surveyors
11. Managing a defined portfolio of work
12. Delivering property advice, guidance and transactions in support of the property strategy and good estate management.
13. Providing advice and professional help to the Defra Group businesses.
14. Assisting in the provision of specialist advice, guidance and assurance in line with relevant legislation and best practice.
15. Sharing technical expertise to improve knowledge, capability and competence.
16. Collaborating and partnering with colleagues across the Defra Group and other government bodies.
17. Commissioning, supervising and delivering through external property advisors.
Role Specific
18. Take full day to day estate management responsibilities for your allocated portfolio.
19. Provide property advice and recommendations.
20. To deliver property transactions within your portfolio.
Person specification
Essential Criteria
21. Demonstrate significant relevant commercial property and estate management experience.
22. Hold a recognised degree level qualification in a relevant subject.
Licences
Full driving licence
Qualifications
A degree qualification in a relevant property related subject.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
23. Making Effective Decisions
24. Working Together
25. Delivering at Pace
26. Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
27. Property management practice, land law, tenancies and professional conduct
Benefits
Alongside your salary of �39,439, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes �11,425 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
28. Learning and development tailored to your role
29. An environment with flexible working options
30. A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
31. A with an average employer contribution of 27%
Flexi Time Policy -�Our�Flexi-time policy allows you to vary your hours from day to day, within the requirements of your role, to suit your needs and to offer a better work/life balance.
Leave -�If you work full time at Defra you are entitled to 25 days� leave (rising, over 5 years, to 30 days�). If you work part time it will be pro-rated.
Privilege day -�You are also entitled to a privilege day off in May to mark the King�s birthday (date varies), plus time off for the 8 public holidays a year.
Career breaks - We recognise that your work-life balance can extend beyond the short-term to the longer-term, and to support this you are able to apply for career breaks. These are unpaid extended breaks from work, granted at the discretion of the department.�
Volunteering leave - 3 days paid volunteering leave every year (pro-rata). Once you have passed probation.�
Season ticket loan � for an�interest free season ticket loan, if you have worked within the Defra for more than three months. This can be used to purchase train and bus season tickets, as well as station car parking.
Tenancy deposit loan�� for an interest free loan, to assist you in meeting the deposit costs for your privately rented home.
Salary advances and loans for other circumstances�� for salary advances and loans in the following circumstances: for new entrants, for the purchase of bicycles, holidays and religious holidays.
Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) scheme � Since the closure to new entrants of the employer childcare voucher scheme, the government introduced the Tax-Free Childcare (TFC) scheme. In this scheme, working parents open an online childcare account and for every �8 they pay in, the government adds �2, up to a maximum of �2,000 a year for each child or �4,000 for a disabled child. Parents then use the funds to pay for registered childcare.
Support to buy a bicycle�� we run two schemes that can help you buy a bicycle for your commute:
32. The Cycle to Work Scheme��you can apply for a bicycle for your commute, �up to the value of �6,000, which is recovered from you through salary sacrifice, as a tax-free benefit. At the end of the repayment period, you have the option to buy the bike if you wish, saving around 30% of the original cost.
33. Bike loan�� if you are not eligible to apply for the Cycle to Work Scheme, you can apply for a loan of up to �1,000 towards the cost of a bike using the Bike loan Scheme. This however is not a salary sacrifice scheme.
High-street and online discounts - Offers through SmartSpending� which is accessed through the StaR platform. Accessible 24/7, you can save at hundreds of top retailers.�
Maternity leave, paternity leave and shared parental leave - �We offer generous maternity leave, paternity leave and shared parental leave � a total of 52 weeks leave to look after your new baby, regardless of your length of service, Most mothers are entitled to 39 weeks of paid leave, and a further 13 weeks of unpaid leave.� Most partners are entitled to 15 days of paid paternity leave. Shared parental leave arrangements are in place, allowing parents to divide their leave with each other.
Professional Membership -�Defra group will fund one professional membership for each permanent employee which is relevant to their role.
Eye care scheme - If you use a computer screen in connection with your job, we will pay for a regular eyesight test, and you may also be entitled to help towards purchasing new glasses, if they are needed for computer use.
The�Employee Assistance Programme�(EAP) is a free 24/7 confidential telephone advice service, available to all of our staff throughout the year.
Civil Service Sports Council -�The opportunity to join the Civil Services Sports Council.