Government Property Agency
Head of Platform Engineering (Senior Technical Architect)
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Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, Swindon
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 government’s 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 Majesty’s 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 we’re 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.
Job Description
The role will be responsible for overseeing the contract administration of a number of Workplace Services contracts, ensuring compliance, efficiency, and alignment with organisational objectives.
These contracts include (but are not limited to) Hard FM, Soft FM, Catering, Operational Security and Performance Partner across the national portfolio. The numbers and types of contracts will flex with business needs.
The role requires a proactive approach to, optimising the efficiency and effectiveness of contract administration, working closely with the Operational Contract managers to improve performance, and mitigating risks associated with contractual and service delivery obligations.
Person Specification
You Will Have
- Deep experience in Contract Management gained on large complex multi-site service contracts ideally in the public sector across national and/or regional landscapes.
- The credibility, diplomacy and gravitas to represent the GPA’s interests when dealing with very senior management from suppliers.
- A strong communicator, able to work with a range of audiences and provide strategic and operational performance information that is clear and concise to support the GPAs decision making.
- Able to think creatively and innovatively about problems and explore solutions based on evidence and data to support the goals of the GPA.
- Collaborative in your approach, encouraging challenge and discussion from stakeholders to drive effective negotiation and pragmatic solutions.
- Able to handle a high workload and a wide variety of tasks and take care in prioritising work and managing stakeholder expectations.
- A good written communicator, able to explain complex procedures and policies in clear language for a range of audiences applying consideration to accessibility and diversity.
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Essential Criteria
Experience & Technical Skills
- Management of large, complex, multi-site service contracts across national and/or regional landscapes
- Accredited Expert in Contract Management (Government Commercial College) or prepared to follow a learning path to achieve.
- Excellent strategic and people leadership skills
- Good communication skills
- Organisational skills
Desirable Criteria
- Member of CIPS
- CIWFM or FIWFM
- CCM Advanced Practitioner / CCM Expert
- Experience of delivery under NEC3 and NEC4 contracts.
- Data analysis skills
- Public Sector experience
- Governance & controls experience
- Commercial sector experience
Qualifications And Accreditations
- Gold Standard Accreditations - to hold or be able to demonstrate working towards - CIWFM/FIWFM
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Leadership
Technical Skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Customer Perspective
- Commercial Acumen
- Property Market Knowledge
- Innovation
Salary and Benefits
Alongside your salary of £56,500, Government Property Agency contributes £16,368 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
- 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%
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.
Selection Process Details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
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.
Please note - At this time GPA are unable to offer any Visa Sponsorship to candidates as we do not currently hold a visa sponsorship licence. Please do not apply for permanent roles with GPA if you will require your employer to take on the sponsorship of your current or any future visas.
Sift
As part of the application process, you will be asked to include a CV and a 750-word personal statement. The personal statement should align with the person specification.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
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The sift is due to take place week commencing 2nd and 3rd September 2026.
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 recruitment@gpa.gov.uk to discuss prior to submitting your application.
Interviews will involve an Initial short screening call and then if successful followed by a final in-person interview.
At interview, applicants will be scored against 4 behaviours - Seeing the Big Picture, Making Effective Decisions, Communicating and Influencing and Leadership.
Interview questions will be a blend of Behaviour, Experience, Strength and Technical (core skill).
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
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Contact ddatsupport@gpa.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
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Complete the ‘Assistance required’ 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.
Further Information
- Current Civil Servants (all contract types) will need to ensure that they are still employed as a civil servant at the point of starting in the relevant new post. If their contract ends (e.g., end of FTA contract or resignation) at any point during the recruitment/onboarding process for the advertised role, they will no longer be eligible and may be withdrawn.
Please note: in addition to the standard pre-employment checks for appointment into the Civil Service, all candidates must also obtain National Security Vetting at Security Check level for this vacancy. You will normally need to meet the minimum UK residency period as determined by the level of vetting being undertaken, which for CTC is 3 years UK residency prior to your vetting application. If you have any questions about this residency requirement, please speak to the vacancy holder for this post.
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.
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A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
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Any move to GPA 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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.
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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 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 Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check
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