Head of Facilities Management Policy

We are seeking an experienced policy professional to take up the role of Head of FM Policy. This is a critical role that will support the Programme Directors for FM and Resilient Estates in shaping and delivering multiple facets of the government’s approach to facilities management and resilience, driving delivery in the near term while innovating for the long term.

The role will offer you autonomy and stretch in a supportive environment. You will harness the programme team’s extensive network and experience to evidence, shape and lead policy and system change across a broad agenda. Importantly, the Head of FM Policy will also play a crucial role in helping the Programme Directors to build strong business cases and spending review bids, whilst leading and supporting aspects of change management and implementation.

You will work across a range of internal and external stakeholders, including local and central government, wider public sector partners, industry experts and professional bodies to design and implement solutions to bring about improved outcomes

The post holder will lead policy and system change across a broad FM agenda, drawing on the programme’s broad network, deep experience and unique insight as well as maximising the tool and platforms that we have. Specific responsibilities of the role include:

• Policy Development: Acting as the lead for FM policy development, working in conjunction with internal teams and external stakeholders to identify, develop and embed system change opportunities.
• Business Case Support: Supporting work on in-year business cases and spending review bids in conjunction with the Programme Director and wider OGP teams.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Engaging at senior levels, bringing partners together to understand barriers to delivery, test approaches and develop different ways of working. Utilising a range of policy tools and techniques to do so, including workshops and roundtable discussions.
• Building Evidence: Building evidence to inform recommendations on policy change to maximise better outcomes across the public sector estate
• Strategic Influence: Influencing a broad range of senior stakeholders in central and local government, and joining-up work across key stakeholders on common agendas. Key to this will be development of the recently formed FM & Resilience Taskforce to be a catalyst for delivering change.
• Programme Contribution: Leading the programme’s contribution to OGP and Property Function-wide strategy and policy, including Strategic Asset Management Plans and the Government Property Strategy.

Candidates must possess the relevant skills outlined for this role within a Facilities Management environment, accompanied by (or currently pursuing) an FM-related professional credential at IWFM Level 4 or higher (or equivalent qualification).

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)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Application process

As part of the application process, we will assess your skills and experience. Behaviours and Strengths will be tested at interview.

To apply, please submit a CV and personal statement of no more than 1,250 words, clearly demonstrating how your skills, career history, experience and qualifications meet the essential criteria requested.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Selection process

The interview will consist of questions based on the Success Profiles:

• Seeing the Big Picture (Behaviours)
• Making Effective Decisions (Behaviours)
• Communicating and Influencing (Behaviours)
• Working Together (Behaviours)

There will also be two questions to assess your Strengths.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected sift date – week commencing 28th September 2026

Expected interview date/s – week commencing 12th October 2026

Interview location - Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Cabinet Office 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.

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 cabinetofficerecruitment.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 an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

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/Disclosure Scotland 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.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

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.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.