Head of Workplace Design
Summary
Leads the Government Property Agency's Workplace Design Team, setting and assuring design guidance, standards and specifications for the Government Hubs and Whitehall Campus office programmes. A senior architecture/property role covering RIBA-stage design assurance, procurement, supplier management and stakeholder leadership.
- Job grade: Grade 6
- Contract type: Permanent
- Business area: GPA - Capital Projects - Innovation & Assurance
- Type of role: Project Delivery
- Working pattern: Full-time
- Number of jobs available: 1
Location
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 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 ignificant transformational programmes such as the Government Hubs Programme, Whitehall Campus Programme and Net Zero Programme. We are also delivering cost-effective property services such as asset management, lifecycle replacement and workplace services.
Innovation and progress underpin our behaviours. We foster a culture of lifelong learning, where curiosity and self-improvement are encouraged. Our four core values are at the heart of everything we do. They shape our culture and guide how we work, lead and grow together:
- Striving for excellence- We always aim to deliver great results
- Empowering through respect- We insist on fair treatment for all, always
- Acting with integrity- We consistently do the right thing
- Succeeding together- We rely on each other to achieve success
We are committed to representing the communities we serve by making Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) part of everything we do. Our strong emphasis on 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. 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.
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 Capital Projects team delivers the Government Hubs and Whitehall Campus property programme that sits within the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP). Supporting these programmes is Innovation & Assurance, which leads innovation in the design of workspace and sets guidance and standards for GPA buildings, to assure healthy, sustainable and inclusive buildings for a modern civil service.
The Head of Workplace Design is responsible for determining the guidance and standards against which our strategic partners design, construct and fit out our buildings, and where applicable maintain throughout the life of the building. This would also include the Employers Requirements and Requests for Proposals used to procure new buildings /sites, whether freehold or leasehold.
In addition, the role is responsible for assuring that the guidance and standards are correctly utilised / applied across the Capital Projects Government Hubs and Whitehall Campus programme. This requires an understanding and articulation of GPA’s risk appetite, proposing mitigation options where available and appropriate.
Note the role will require an ability to travel nationally to all UK sites/facilities.
Key Responsibilities
Key deliverables:
- Lead the Workplace Design Team
- Lead the evolution of the Workplace Design Guide and Workplace design policies and specifications - for example our upcoming Inclusive Design annex.
- Seek assurance from stakeholders that designs for new build offices and renovations are compliant with GPAs standards, policies and guidance in respect of Workplace Design - throughout each RIBA stage of a project’s lifecycle. In addition to test this assurance via an evidence based approach.
- Work collaboratively with a range of specialist staff across GPA, the Integrated Delivery Team and wider Government.
They will be responsible for:
- Ensuring the development and maintenance of the Design Guide and associated Workplace Technical Annexes, setting the look and feel for our buildings - including: test fits and space plans, furniture and fittings, décor, themes and specialist facilities.
- Working with Workplace Services to ensure the best workplace experience.
- Applying design lessons learned from other programmes, colleagues and consulting partners.
- Working with public sector subject matter experts (SME) in design-related areas across government, and private sector professionals including the property industry.
- Ensuring the future office estate embraces advances in digital and technological innovation to maximise performance effectiveness and efficiency, working in partnership with CO CDIO.
- Providing advice, assurance and acceptance where necessary on designs and specifications, representing the interests of the client in the project procurement process, eg framework selection, individual project tender exercises and contract management.
- Leading development and implementation of workplace showcases to test office environments, facilities and ways of working, providing direction and impetus to GPA’s consulting partners and clients, monitoring performance, reviewing results and learning lessons to guide development of Hubs.
- Acting as the principal design point of contact for designers, contractors, consultant partners and their supply chains across all projects and programmes.
- Testing design proposals to ensure technical standards are being adhered to.
- Submitting and/or reviewing design change requests as part of the Workplace Design Board(WDB), escalating where workplace experience may be compromised or lessons not being learned.
- Supporting the D&E DD and other D&E colleagues in workplace design briefing and communications across a range of internal and external audiences and stakeholders.
- Ensuring the Workplace Design team resources are appropriately skilled and deployed effectively and efficiently, ensuring appropriate levels of performance and continuous improvement
- Coaching and mentoring colleagues in D&E team on design.
- Managing external professional services contractors/consulting partners.
- Defining Furniture, fixtures and equipment requirements.
- Supporting procurement of suppliers, together with contract management (performance / SRM etc.).
Person specification
Have a strong track record of delivering large-scale projects or programmes, managing governance within complex business environments, and successfully leading end-to-end change projects.
Possess expertise in building technical specifications, workspace design, and procurement processes, alongside proficiency in standard business software (Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint).
Exhibit strong interpersonal skills, a proven ability to influence senior leadership and key stakeholders, and the capability to make value-based decisions and drive continuous improvement. They need to be autonomous and collaborative, capable of leading a multidisciplinary team and working effectively across diverse stakeholder groups.
Experience & Technical Skills
We are looking for an experienced technical professional who can demonstrate knowledge, skill and experience in:
Essential Skills in:
Ability to manage effective relationships with senior management/ stakeholders.
Effective team engagement and strong leadership.
Commercial acumen delivering value and continuous improvement.
Advising on construction projects/programmes.
Essential Experience of:
A key role working on large property construction and fit-out projects, preferably in the public office estate
Experience within an engineering/property consultancy or client organisation at a senior level.
Construction designs, materials, building systems and processes
Leading multi-disciplinary project teams and building strong relationships across team/business area/ departmental/ boundaries
Effective governance controls and project management methodologies in a complex business environment.
Supplier/customer relationship management.
Developing project-specific employer requirements for building systems.
Desirable Experience
Background of working in or with the public sector property.
Experience of an architectural, engineering or construction-based role.
Qualifications and Accreditations
Essential criteria:
Gold Standard - To hold full membership of RIBA and be registered with RIBA and ARB as an Architect.
Desirable Criteria:
Relevant project management qualification (for example MAPM, ChPP, MSP)
Qualifications
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- 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
Benefits
- 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%
Things you need to know
Artificial intelligence
Selection process details
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).
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.
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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Sift
The sift is due to take place week commencing 08th December 2026.
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 recruitment@gpa.gov.uk to discuss prior to submitting your application.
At interview, applicants will be scored against 3 behaviours - Making effective decisions, Communicating and Influencing and Leadership
Interview questions will be a blend of Behaviour, Experience and Technical (core skill) questions.
Further Information
A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.
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.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
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:
Contact Government Recruitment Service via GPArecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
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.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
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.
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 (SC) clearance 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 SC is 5 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.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
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
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Karol McCusker
- Email : karol.mccusker@gpa.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : gparecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
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
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