From the design and development of policies to the delivery of services supporting work, welfare, pensions and child maintenance, DWP is the Government’s largest department.
People are at the very heart of what we do. We ensure disabled people can live more independent lives; help tackle poverty and homelessness; provide a financial foundation for a secure old age; and support families ensuring children can fulfil their potential.
DWP has the largest commercial estate in government and our team is committed to being smaller, greener and better – helping people to work, grow and thrive. Our estate provides accommodation for colleagues who support millions of daily customer interactions in Jobcentres and Health Assessment centres, back of house offices delivering frontline services and hub sites housing expert functions such as Policy, Finance, Digital and HR.
The DWP Estates function ensures the smooth and efficient operation of this network on a day-to-day basis. We manage a private sector supply chain that delivers essential services such as security guarding, maintenance, property and leasehold, construction, cleaning and facilities management. Many of these services are business critical and we cannot safely open our offices without them.
Our ambition is to:
* Transition to a smaller, more affordable, and adaptable estate
* Invest in improving DWP’s buildings and infrastructure, conducted mainly through an extensive programme of planned replacement works
* Meet our agreed Government Greening Commitments - creating a culture where sustainability is embedded
* Expertly deliver cost effective services
* Create a professional working culture that is best in class across the Government Property world
This senior role will report to the Principal Programme Manager and work in partnership with the Authority Supply Chain Members (ASCMs) managing and delivering a range of capital and investment projects. The post holder will work closely with the Department’s internal Programme & Project Managers, Finance Business Partners and Cost Management to ensure the robust management and reporting of all project related costs.
The role will be responsible for ensuring adherence to the Department’s finance policies, procedures and processes, whilst driving efficiencies and value for money across Capital Investment projects. You will be responsible and accountable for the overall management of the Cost Management Team, ensuring the costs associated with the services are fully controlled and accurately reported, including the management of change.
Government Property Profession Career Framework (Link)
This role sits within the following:
* Job Family – Property & Construction Projects
* Core Role - Property & Construction Project Management
* Level – Senior Practitioner
Estates has performance and audit management responsibility of key suppliers in the Estates organisational structure including the Integrator (management) level and four key supplier partners across FM, Security, Landlord & Lease Management, as well as Projects to ensure:
* All contract performance obligations are met in a timely and effective manner
* Compliance against specific performance criteria
* Appropriate risk mitigation measures are in place
* The value of the contract remains undiminished
You will ensure the Departments Supply Chain Member(s) managing and delivering the services are paid in a timely manner and in accordance with their contractual terms and conditions, based on accurate / approved applications for payment.
You will also provide and support the Head of Real Estate Service Delivery, Head of Capital Programmes and the Principal Programme Manager with accurate cost / financial data and management information in the development of the annual operating plan / budgets and month end process, working closely with the Department Finance Business Partners to ensure robust and accurate financial management and reporting.
Key accountabilities
* Direct line management of the Departments Quantity Surveyors
* Responsible for the end to end management of costs, from project inception to settlement of final accounts and project close (including the management of retentions, monthly reporting, variances, accruals, requisitions etc.) for a range of capital and investment projects. Ensuring compliance and adherence to the Departments financial business rules, policies, processes, procedures (e.g. cost category codes, DFA levels etc.)
* Responsible for supporting the development of periodic spending review bid documentation through the provision of accurate cost data and management information and reporting, including benchmarking data and other reliable sources
* Responsible for working in collaboration with Estates internal Asset Management function in the preparation of fully costed annual lifecycle works plans
* Responsible for developing fit-for-purpose and compliant procurement strategies to support the planning and delivery of a wide range of capital projects and lifecycle works
* Responsible for providing an independent review and budget challenge for all types of projects and project approval, project estimates, application for payments, and accurate billing, ensuring compliance with the Authority Supply Chain Member(s) contractual terms
* Responsible for the management of change (where there is a change to the contractual value) including the application and tracking of any change
* Responsible for ensuring that the Authority Supply Chain Member(s) are delivering the value for money and to the agreed standard within the contractual approval limits and terms, including the management of change. Review and report on-going performance of the Authority Supply Chain Member(s) against contractual obligations associated with the cost management areas (operational performance to be led by others)
* Takes a lead role in the preparation of Outline, Initial and Full Business Cases, ensuring 3-point estimating and Treasury Green Book standards are implemented
* Have detailed working knowledge and practical experience in the NEC suite of contracts
* Responsible for the reporting, including its accuracy, of cost information to the Departments Finance Business Partners in support of the collation of the financial month-end management and reporting, forecasts and ad hoc cost and financial reports associated with the project services, where required
* Responsible for overall tracking of the Authority Supply Chain Member payment status and amounts. Including but not limited to the purchase order status / value including committed costs / work in progress to ensure PO values are not breached
* Responsible for the development of papers, presentations, reports and any other management information requiring insights and knowledge of all cost and budget related information, associated with the project services
* Provide management information based upon any findings derived from the validation of estimates and application for payments. Highlighting any potential risks / opportunities that require mitigating / further exploration
* Support the Head of Capital Programmes and Principal Programme Manager in driving financial performance to meet in year budget targets and, identify and proactively address opportunities for cost reduction as well as effectively managing financial risks and identifying suitable planning, controls and mitigation
* Encourage collaborative working between teams and directorates to drive innovation and improve the cost and finance management processes and services.
* Maintain awareness of market trends, innovations and legislative changes
* Build strong relationships and collaborate with Other Government Departments (OGDs), Office of Government Property (OGP) and Government Property Agency (GPA), ensuring best practice is optimised
* Work closely with the Supply Chain Manager for the Estates Programme Assurance (EPAS), Professional Services (PS) and Taxi Rank Contractor suppliers to create a professional and collaborative cost management service that delivers best value
* Play a lead role in all stages of the procurement and selection of professional services consultants and works contractors to undertake inspections, detailed design and works delivery where required
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Disability Confident
About Disability Confident
A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident .