Head of Shared Estate

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UK Research and Innovation

Salary: £65,262
Hours: Full time
Contract Type: Open Ended.
Location: Polaris House, Swindon. Office based with occasional Hybrid Working available

Closing date: Sunday 17th November 2024

Proposed interview date: Early December 2024

About the Role

You will manage and oversee the shared estates team and will ensure that the team is configured, skilled and supported to ensure the successful delivery of the required services. You will possess exceptional commercial and strategic skills to join UK Research and Innovation and lead the infrastructure, estate, environmental and commercial development activities across the entire property portfolio, alongside responsibility for the operational delivery of all facilities management within the Estate. With experience of managing a complex estates and facilities portfolio in an organisation of equal complexity and familiarity with organisations such as the Government Property Agency (GPA), you will play a pivotal role in developing organisation's estate utilisation ensuring all facilities offer an environment of excellence and satisfaction for the workforce.

Purpose

The Head of Shared Estate will be a strategically minded individual, skilled in leading change and continuous development, with experience in a senior management post holding responsibility and accountability for the delivery of an Estates service, across the whole of UKRI's Shared Estate, working with colleagues who have similar responsibilities for UKRI's various Science Estates. Experience of managing senior stakeholders is essential. This is a high-profile role that requires tact and diplomacy.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the shared estate function across the organisation, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective services that align with the strategic and operational priorities of UKRI.
• Develop and implement the shared estate strategy in conjunction with the Head of Operations, engaging with senior stakeholders to shape strategic direction and deliver operational excellence.
• Provide expert advice on all aspects of property management, facilities, office services, and capital development to ensure the estate's safety, functionality, and sustainability.
• Drive improvements in workplace quality, standards, and services, overseeing facilities management, disaster recovery, business continuity, local physical security and health & safety compliance.
• Accountable for the management and maintenance of UKRI properties, ensuring they remain safe environments for staff and service users, and support Greening Government commitments concerning sustainability.
• Oversee hard and soft facilities management functions, including cleaning services, mechanical and electrical maintenance, catering, car parking, meeting rooms, and printing services.
• Lead major capital projects, refurbishments, and expansion initiatives, ensuring they are delivered on time, within budget, and aligned with strategic goals.
• Build and manage multi-disciplinary teams, promoting innovation, cultural change, and continuous improvement across all shared estate services.
• Work closely with senior-level stakeholders to ensure high levels of customer satisfaction and the effective delivery of service level agreements (SLAs) and performance objectives.
• Responsible for financial and commercial management, including budgeting, procurement, and cost improvement projects, to ensure that all shared estate functions operate efficiently and deliver best value.
• Work with other estate colleagues as a member of UKRI's Technical Estates Management Group, ensuring alignment in approach and maximising opportunities where possible for optimisation of services.
• Work closely with the GPA Agency and associated central Government bodies in support of UKRI's property needs.
• Work closely with the Trade Union representatives and other public bodies eg. Borough Councils and regional or national development bodies.

Shortlisting and Interview criteria

Shortlisting

• Qualification in a programme management methodology, masters or post graduate degree in Building Services or Surveying or equivalent experience, ideally a qualified Quantity Surveyor
• A property professional who has experience of managing a large portfolio of buildings and associated facilities management services at a senior level
• Experience of negotiation and the procurement of Estates and Facilities Management service contracts based upon PM best practice principles including risk transfer, use of output specifications and key performance indicators.

Interview

• Solid project and programme management skills with the ability to produce compelling business cases and/or delivering a series of projects where required.
• Excellent leadership, management, communication, presentational and influencing skills.
• A keen team member who works collaboratively across the organisation with proven ability to develop a motivated, engaged and high performing workforce and a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Possess a high level of political acumen/astuteness -notably having a high level of credibility with peers and key players in stakeholder organisations.
• Able to professionally and sensitively engage and challenge stakeholders and colleagues in problem solving and achieving successful outcomes.
• Able to consistently achieve targets, meet deadlines and produce high quality outputs.
• Able to manage competing priorities in a balanced, risk based manner.

About UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI launched in April 2018, UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

Our organisation brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England, which is responsible for supporting research and knowledge exchange at higher education institutions in England, and the UK's innovation agency, Innovate UK. Together we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. More information can be found at www.ukri.org.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit Benefits of working for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit 'How we support EDI in the workforce'.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the 'experience' section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion - a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.