DIO - Area Manager

Job description

Job summary

Do you want to play a leading role in managing and improving the Defence estate in support of military capability? The Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) provides the infrastructure, accommodation, operational facilities and specialist assets that Defence people need to live, work, train and deploy across the UK and overseas.

Regional Delivery Scotland and Northern Ireland is seeking an experienced and motivated Area Manager, based in Northern Ireland, to lead estate delivery and hard facilities management services across Northern Ireland and the West of Scotland.This is an exciting opportunity to influence strategic estate decisions, lead high-performing teams and deliver vital infrastructure services across a diverse and operationally critical portfolio which includes operational military establishments, infrastructure assets and accommodation.

This is a varied and visible senior leadership role, offering the opportunity to shape service delivery across a diverse and operationally important Defence estate while supporting customers to deliver their outputs safely, effectively and compliantly.

This post is 37 hours per week. The Ministry of Defence supports flexible working where business needs allow. However, due to the volume, complexity and safety-critical nature of the work, the role is not suitable for reduced hours or job share arrangements.

A full UK driving licence is essential, as many sites across the region are not accessible by public transport. The role is primarily site-based in Northern Ireland, with responsibility for Northern Ireland and the West of Scotland as part of the Scotland and Northern Ireland Area team. Travel will be required across Scotland and Northern Ireland and, occasionally, elsewhere in the UK. Approximately 60% of working time will be spent at your permanent duty station or other MOD sites.

Job description

Defence customers, who include Front Line Commands and wider MOD stakeholders, rely on a safe, compliant and operationally effective estate to deliver their outputs. You will manage hard facilities management services and support soft facilities management enablers across Northern Ireland and the West of Scotland, ensuring buildings, infrastructure and facilities are maintained to appropriate standards.

You will lead a geographically dispersed area team of Facilities Managers based across Northern Ireland and the West of Scotland, ensuring the team works coherently, follows agreed delivery processes, manages local priorities and supports the successful delivery of maintenance, new build and refurbishment programmes.

You will be responsible for developing the area team, improving performance, managing resources and resilience, supporting professional development and creating an inclusive, motivated and delivery-focused working environment in line with DIO leadership expectations.

As a key member of the Scotland and Northern Ireland Senior Management Team, you will contribute to regional priorities, support change and continuous improvement, and help ensure consistent delivery across the Scotland and Northern Ireland Area.

You will make informed decisions, balance competing operational, financial and compliance priorities, provide guidance to DIO personnel, maximise the effective use of resources and ensure budgets are managed in accordance with delegated authority.

You will build effective and trusted relationships with Defence customers, industry suppliers and colleagues across DIO, acting as a professional estate adviser and senior point of contact for the area.

You will hold suppliers to account for safe, effective and value-for-money service delivery, ensuring performance issues, statutory compliance risks, defects and customer concerns are addressed promptly and escalated where required. The role offers the successful candidate the opportunity to make a significant contribution to Defence outputs through the delivery of facilities management contracts and a substantial programme of estate construction projects.

The post places you at the heart of estate management, within DIOs Regional Delivery Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Person specification

Leadership and Management

• Lead, manage and motivate geographically dispersed teams, setting clear direction and maintaining delivery across multiple locations.
• Line manage staff, develop capability, manage performance and ensure consistent delivery of DIO outputs through a dispersed area team.
• Lead change, improve ways of working and embed a culture of continuous improvement aligned to business priorities.
• Plan, prioritise and deploy people, resources and activity effectively to meet operational, compliance and customer requirements.

Communication / Engagement and Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain trusted relationships with Defence customers, Front Line Commands, suppliers, contractors and colleagues across DIO.
• Engage suppliers at regional level to communicate priorities, standards, behaviours and performance expectations.
• Communicate clearly, influence effectively, resolve issues and support effective working relationships across organisational boundaries.
• Act as a trusted estate adviser, providing clear, professional advice and support to customers and stakeholders.

Programme Management

• Manage facilities management and project or programme delivery, including contracts, delivery teams and quality outcomes.
• Prioritise and deliver repair, lifecycle replacement, maintenance and additional works activity.
• Develop prioritised estate management programmes aligned to operational need, compliance requirements and wider estate strategy.
• Support project teams delivering works from minor requirements to complex, multi-million-pound projects.

Budget / Financial Management

• Manage delegated budgets, forecast expenditure and prioritise spend against operational need, compliance, contractual commitments and value for money.
• Maintain robust financial governance, including business cases, approvals, accruals, contract variations and escalation of financial risks or pressures.

Contract Management

• Lead hard FM contract management by assuring service delivery, reviewing performance and applying contract management processes and procedures.
• Hold suppliers to account for service delivery, statutory and mandatory compliance, performance, defects, disputes and non-compliance.
• Identify contractual benefits, support change control and maintain auditable contract management records aligned to regional priorities.

Assurance, Safety and Performance Reporting

• Lead a safety-first culture and ensure the estate remains safe, compliant, legally assured and maintained to the standards required by Defence customers.
• Assure contracted services, maintenance activity and project outputs against agreed standards, statutory duties, mandated requirements and customer outcomes.
• Identify, assess, mitigate and monitor risks across facilities management and estate delivery.
• Use performance data, risk registers, assurance findings and customer insight to drive corrective action, continuous improvement and clear reporting.
• Ensure infrastructure investment, maintenance activity and engineering projects are delivered safely, compliantly and in accordance with Defence and customer requirements.

Desired Criteria

• Qualifications - either a degree (BSc) in construction, facilities management or engineering related subject relevant to the maintenance of the MOD estate. Alternatively, BTEC, SQA HNVQ or SCOTVEC HNC / HND in a construction, facilities management or engineering related discipline.
• Memberships - appropriate membership of a relevant professional body e.g. Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), Institute for Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) or Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE)

Licences
Full, valid UK Driving Licence.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Government Property Career Framework: 9 Property Programme and Project Management (Practitioner level).
• Government Property Career Framework: 10. Health and Safety, Compliance and Inclusion: Property Leadership (Practitioner level)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of 61,630, Ministry of Defence contributes 17,854 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).

• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• An environment with flexible working options.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• The opportunity to join one of our several D&I Networks. We value diversity and are committed to being an equal opportunities employer.
• 25 days annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years service.
• Additional 5 days Stress and Strain leave.
• Enhanced Parental Leave.
• Most sites have free car parking, Sports & Social Clubs, Gym, on site shops and subsidised canteens.

Please Note:

• The post does not offer relocation expenses.
• External recruits who join the MOD who are new to the Civil Service will be subject to a six-month probation period.
• Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.
• Please be advised that theDepartment is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which couldimpacton those allowances that the post currently being advertised attracts.
• Any move to MOD 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.Determineyour eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/ .

The Ministry of Defence is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for its staff which includes educating them on the benefits of not smoking, protecting them from the harmful effects of second-handsmokeand supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy,Smokingand the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not bepermittedanywhere in the Defence working environment however some exemptions are in place, please refer to local guidance. The policy is Whole Force and includes all Defence personnel, contractors,visitorsand other non-MOD personnel. All applicantsseeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place ata number ofDefence Establishments.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey We may contact youregardingyour experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provideadditionalinformation to help us improve our service which includes the collection of some personal data as defined by the United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR). The MOD Privacy Policy Notice sets out how we will use your personal data and your rights.

Things you need to know

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.

Your suitability for the role will be assessed using specific elements which have been chosen for this campaign. Each element will be scored accordingly, and the successful candidate will be appointed on merit.

For the Technical skills, please use The Government Property Profession career framework to assist you in the demonstration of your technical skills.

Atapplicationyou will be assessed against the following:

Experience:

• CV detailing your job history, qualifications and previous skills and experience.
• Personal statement demonstrating your experience as a property or facilities management professional, with responsibility for a large and complex portfolio of buildings, infrastructure assets and associated facilities management services.

Atinterview you will be assessed against the above along with the following:

Behaviours:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing A Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace

Technical:

• Government Property Career Framework: 9 Property Programme and Project Management (Practitioner level).
• Government Property Career Framework: 10. Health and Safety, Compliance and Inclusion: Property Leadership (Practitioner level)

To assist with your application please find attached:

1. DIO Candidate Information Guide

Further information:

Interviews will be conducted in person at Thiepval Barracks, Lisburn and are anticipated to be held in the forth week of October, subject to change.

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.

As a result of the changes to the UK immigration rules which came into effect on 1 January 2021, the Ministry of Defence will only offer sponsorship for a skilled worker visa under the points-based system, where a role has been deemed to be business critical. This role does not meet that category, and we will not sponsor a visa. It is therefore NOT open to applications from those who will require sponsorship under the points-based system.
Should you apply for this role and be found to require sponsorship, your application will be rejected and any provisional offer of employment withdrawn.

The Ministry of Defence requires all candidates who are successful at interview to declare any outside interests. These declarations will be discussed with successful candidates following the interview process and before a formal offer of employment is made, as some outside interests may not be compatible with MOD civilian roles. This will not, in the majority of cases, prevent employment in MOD, but it is a measure that must be taken to ensure that appropriate mitigations can be put in place to manage any potential, perceived or actual conflicts of interest from the first day of employment.

The Ministry of Defence adopts a zero-tolerance approach to unacceptable behaviours, which includes bullying, harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. You will not be eligible and will not be considered for this post if you have been dismissed from a role for such unacceptable behaviours within the last five years. This will also apply if you resign or otherwise leave a role but, because of an adverse decision, would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had you continued in that employment. Pre-employment checks will be carried out.

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

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

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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) .

Northern Ireland

For jobs based in Northern Ireland, applications are welcome from all sectors of the community, but members from the Roman Catholic community are particularly welcomed, as this group is currently underrepresented in our workforce.

Apply and further information

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 : Regional Delivery Manager
• Email : [email protected]

Recruitment team

• Email : [email protected]

Further information

Please ensure you read the attached candidate information document prior to completing your application.If you are dissatisfied with the service you have received from DBS, or believe that DBS has failed to follow the recruitment process in line with the Civil Service Commission principles of selection for appointment on merit on the basis of Fair and Open competition, you can raise a formal complaint by writing to DBS at the following address: Defence Business Services, Scanning Hub, Room 6124, Tomlinson House, Norcross Lane, Blackpool, FY5 3WP. If after raising your complaint with DBS you remain dissatisfied you can complain directly to the Civil Service Commission at the following address: Civil Service commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road, London, SW1A 2HQ Or by email: [email protected].

Attachments Candidate Information Opens in new window (docx, 32kB) Defence Internal Brief Notice Opens in new window (docx, 39kB) Defence Civil Service Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB) DIO Candidate Information Guide Opens in new window (pdf, 1963kB)