Dstl
Estate Senior Technical Services Manager– HVAC and Mechanical
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Dstl Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JQ or Dstl Portsdown West, Fareham, PO17 6AD
There will also be a requirement to carry out inspections outside across the estate. Full PPE provided by Dstl.
At Dstl, our vision is to have a modern way of working efficiently, accommodating and enabling our people to create, collaborate and deliver. To do this successfully in this job will require attendance at a Dstl location; Government Departments including wider MoD or Delivery and Mission Partner’s premises for 60% of your working time. Where business needs allow, and with the agreement of your line manager, there may be the option for a combination of workplace and home-based working. This is a non-contractual arrangement.
Job Summary
This senior role provides technical leadership and strategic oversight for HVAC and mechanical services across the Dstl estate. You will ensure all hard facilities management services are delivered safely, efficiently, and in compliance with statutory, regulatory, and organisational requirements.
Dstl recognises the importance of diversity and inclusion as people from diverse backgrounds bring fresh ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive working environment in which each employee fulfils their potential and maximises their contribution.
Job Description
In this role you will contribute to the defining of strategies for the Dstl estate, as well as reviewing requirements and interacting with the facilities manager and workplace manager community across the Dstl Estate. You will provide Technical Assurance & Compliance across the group and specifically into the Estates Technical Lead.
- Leading HVAC and mechanical strategy, standards, and compliance across multiple sites.
- Working closely with Facilities Managers, FM providers, DIO, and other stakeholders to maintain a safe and compliant estate.
- Providing technical assurance, governance, and expert advice on maintenance, asset condition, and infrastructure improvements.
- Managing compliance reporting, identifying risks and non-conformities, and implementing corrective actions.
- Supporting project delivery, change management, budget planning, and supplier performance.
- Acting as the subject matter expert (SME) for mechanical and HVAC systems and driving continuous improvement and best practice.
As a Dstl Leader You Will:
- Confidently lead, with the ability to adapt quickly to changing direction and priorities
- Positively, motivating, inspiring, encouraging and influencing others through effective communication and engagement
- Maintain and Manage strong, effective relationships with peers, role modelling Enterprise Leadership to deliver the One Dstl vision ensuring collaboration on delivery outcomes and strategic direction
- Create a positive working environment, aligned with Dstl Principles and Civil Service Behaviours, which supports diversity and inclusion, and enables people to excel
- Consistently demonstrate and role model Dstl’s leadership behaviours to ensure our Dstl culture is maintained at all levels
- Foster an inclusive working environment where open communication and psychological safety are prioritised to encourage constructive feedback and continuous improvement
- Ensure that all team members understand and meet their defined accountabilities, regularly reviewing performance and providing necessary support and training to uphold Dstl’s standards, culture and values which aligns with the Civil Service Code and values
- Actively endorse the Civil Service Line Management Standards to improve Line Management skills across the organisation.
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Person specification
Essential Requirements
- Relevant mechanical engineering qualifications (NVQ Level 5 or higher preferred).
- Industry-recognised HVAC, gas, refrigeration, and F-Gas certifications.
- Strong knowledge of health, safety, compliance, and facilities management standards.
- Experience managing contracts, suppliers, technical risk, and stakeholder relationships in a complex estate environment.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications.
Overall, this is a strategic leadership role focused on ensuring Dstl's mechanical and HVAC infrastructure remains safe, compliant, reliable, and fit for future operational needs.
Qualifications
- Essential:
- IWFM Level 5 - Member; RICS FM Pathway or MRICS, with a preference if already held.
- Qualification to NVQ Level 5 or higher in a construction or infrastructure related discipline.
- Mechanical industry qualifications: Trade/HNC/HND
- NVQ Level 3 – Commercial and Industrial Gas Engineering or equivalent
- NVQ Level 3 - Heating & Ventilation or equivalent
- NVQ Level 3 – Refrigeration & Air Conditioning
- ACS Gas – COCN, CIGA, CORT, ICPN, CDGA, TPCP1, TPCP1A
- City & Guilds 2079 F-Gas Category 1
Memberships
- Membership of relevant professional bodies ie: RICS / IWFM.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Managing a Quality Service
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
- Leadership
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Leadership
Benefits
- Financial: An excellent pension scheme starting from 26% employer contribution (find out more here). In Year Rewarding Achievement bonuses and thank you vouchers. Rental deposit scheme and cycle to work scheme.
- Flexible working: Options include alternative working patterns such as; compressed hours, job shares and annualised hours (agreed number of hours per annum paid monthly i.e. working term-time only).
- Working hours: Flexibility around your working day (e.g. start time, finish time). Ability to bank hours in a 12 month reference period including the ability to accrue and use 3 days per calendar month.
- Where you work: Depending on your role, blended working may be available including remote working to suit you and your team. This can be discussed at interview.
- Annual leave: 25 days pro rata (rising to 30 after 5 years) plus 8 public holidays with the ability to buy/sell 5 additional days per annum.
- Family: Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks with full pay, an additional 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid
- Learning and Development: Dstl encourages and supports charterships, accreditations and provides employees access to fully funded apprenticeships up to level 7 (Masters Degree). Dstl will pay for 2 memberships with relevant bodies/institutions. Employees also have access to Civil Service Learning.
- Facilities: Onsite parking, EV Charging points, restaurants, cafés and gyms.
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
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Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
We want you to have your best chance of success in our recruitment process, so If at any stage of the application process you would like help or assistance please contact the Dstl Recruitment Team dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk and we will do all we can to support you.
At the application stage we will be assessing the essential criteria against your submitted application against the essential criteria outlined in the job profile.
Sifting will take place week commencing the 12th October 2026 with interviews to be arranged from 2nd November 2026.
Your interview will consist of a behavioural and technical interview and will include a 10 minute presentation entitled -
‘Describe how you would ensure plans and activities across Estates reflect wider strategic priorities and communicate effectively with senior leaders to influence future strategies.’
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) 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
Open to UK nationals only.
This job is not open to candidates who hold a dual nationality.
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).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
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: Dstl Recruitment Team
- Email: dstlrecruitment
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