Army - Defence Children Services (DCS) Facilities Manager, Queen Victoria School (QVS)

Job summary

Founded in 1908, Queen Victoria School (QVS) in Dunblane is fully funded for tuition and boarding by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to provide stability and continuity of education, within the Scottish system, for the children of UK Armed Forces personnel. Service personnel who are Scottish, or who have served in Scotland, or who have been part of a Scottish Regiment or Unit are given priority. QVS is a fully boarding, co-educational School with a roll of around 270 pupils from the ages of 10/11 up to 18. QVS is part of MOD Schools, administered by Defence Children Services (DCS).

This position is advertised as full time at 37 hours per week

Defence Children Services (DCS) is a Defence delivery organisation, subordinated under Army Regional Command. Our Vision is that we Educate the Child – Support the Family – Defend the Nation. HQ DCS is UK based at Trenchard Lines, Upavon and has forward deployed staff all over the world. DCS is responsible for the education and care of children of accompanied Service and Defence entitled personnel in MOD schools and settings; provides advice and guidance in respect of education for service families in the United Kingdom and the wider world. DCS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all the children and young people in our care and expect all applicants to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices and hold ourselves to a high standard of effective recruiting practices with specific attention to child protection.

All appointments are subject to an interview, identity checks, criminal record checks and successful references. Where possible references are taken up before interview.

The Ministry of Defence employs over 50,000 Civil Servants. Within that, the Army Top Level Budget (TLB) employs around 7,000 MOD Civil Servants located at over 300 locations. Ours is a diverse workforce, with roles ranging from trainers, human resources, teachers, and psychologists to storekeepers, financiers, project and programme managers, and policy secretariat staff. There are many different functions and professions delivering key outputs for the Army. As such using data to aid understanding of our workforce is vital.

This position is advertised at 37 hours per week.

Job description

The Facilities Manager (FM) reports to the School Business Manager (SBM), but will have direct access, as necessary, to the Headteacher in their capacity as Head of Establishment (HoE). The post requires the job holder to have Security Clearance (SC) and been cleared through the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme prior to taking up post.

The FM is responsible for the day-to-day management of Queen Victoria School’s (QVS) 47-acre estate which encompasses historic buildings – including the School Chapel, a living memorial to Queen Victoria – and four Boarding Houses. The FM is also the School/Establishment Security Officer (ESyO).

This is a busy and demanding role, delivering Hard & Soft FM infrastructure service support; SHEF; School Security; and Income Generation through residential and sports lettings. Every aspect of the role underpins the safe and effective running of QVS. This imposes the need for the FM to be highly agile and flexible in delivering the best quality service to support the staff and pupils in a 24/7 boarding school environment, whilst not losing sight of the bigger picture. Implementation of regulatory policy is paramount but, with a pragmatic approach, should not be a barrier to progress. This, therefore, places a significant burden of risk management on the FM team in meeting the School’s priorities.

To deliver these objectives the FM will work proactively with the following key stakeholders:

• HQ Defence Children Services (DCS) Infrastructure SMEs
• Army Regional Infrastructure Cell (RIC)
• Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO)
• Hard and Soft FM Industry Partners (IP)
• Defence Fire and Rescue (DFR) and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS)
• 51st Infantry Brigade & HQ Scotland (51X)

Key Roles and Responsibilities are:

• Advise the HoE and SBM on all matters relating to the QVS estate/campus.
• Effectively manage Hard & Soft Facilities services in conjunction with Industry Partners (IP).
• Contract Monitoring Officer for Soft FM services.
• Build and maintain a collaborative and effective working relationships.
• Support the School’s Senior Leadership Team with the development and delivery of strategic and operational goals.
• Responsible for leadership of the FM Team.
• Ensure the continuing training and development of your team.
• Maintain the School Business Continuity Plan.
• Develop and implement safety management arrangements including risk assessments.
• Co-ordination and preparation for SHEF and other advisory visits and audits/inspections.
• Secretary to the QVS Health & Safety Committee.
• General Health & Safety, Fire Safety and School Security briefs to staff.
• Manage the FM budget within agreed delegation limits.
• Management of QVS residential accommodation.
• School/Establishment Security Officer (ESyO).
• Stores and Transport

Full details are the role are in the attached Job Description.

Person specification

The ideal candidate will have the following Essential skills, knowledge and behaviours

• Hard and Soft Facilities Management experience
• Experience in customer relationship management and stakeholder engagement.

Desirable Experience

• Knowledge of statutory building processes, regulations, and compliance requirements.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,720, Ministry of Defence contributes £10,927 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).

The Army prides itself on being a supportive employer and where possible encourages flexible working, helping you to maintain a great work/life balance.

Other benefits for Army civil servants include:

• 25 days paid annual leave rising (1 day per year) to 30 days upon completion of 5 years’ service
• Highly competitive pension scheme 28.97%
• Personal and professional development of skills
• Alternative working patterns for many roles
• Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle
• Enhanced parental and adoption leave
• 6 days special leave per year which can be used for volunteering activities
• Learning and Development

Where business needs allow, some roles may be suitable for a combination of office and working from home as part of a non-contractual hybrid working arrangement. All office-based employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in office, subject to site capacity and any required workplace adjustments. Requirements to attend other locations for official business, or work in another MOD workplace, will also count towards this level of office attendance. Applicants can request further information regarding how this and other flexible working arrangements may work in their team from the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details). Defence Business Services cannot respond to any questions about working arrangements.

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.

Please Note: Expenses incurred for travel to interviews will not be reimbursed.

Please be advised that the Department is conducting a review of all pay related allowances which could impact on 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. Determine your 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-hand smoke and supporting those who want to give up smoking. Under the Smoke-Free Working Environment policy, Smoking and the use of all tobacco products (including combustible and chewing tobacco products) will not be permitted anywhere 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, visitors and other non-MOD personnel. All applicants seeking, considering, or accepting employment with the Ministry of Defence should be aware of this policy and that it is already in place at a number of Defence Establishments.

MOD Recruitment Satisfaction Survey – We may contact you regarding your experience to help us improve our customer satisfaction. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. You may however be given the opportunity to provide additional information 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 and Experience.

Candidates will be required to provide CV details to include job history; qualification details and previous skills and experience.

Candidates will be required to provide a Personal Statement. (750 words) this should demonstrate the relevant skills and experience that detail how you meet the essential criteria as detailed in the job specification, including examples of evidence.

At sift you will be assessed against your CV, Personal Statement and the following:

Behaviours:

• Leadership,
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace.

In the event of a high number of applications meeting the threshold for essential criteria we will sift solely on Personal Statement, CV and Managing a Quality Service.

At interview you will be assessed against the following:

Behaviours:

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace.

Further Information:

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.

There may be occasions where it is not practicable or appropriate to interview all DCS candidates that meet the minimum criteria for the job. For example, in certain recruitment situations such as a high volume of applications, seasonal demand, or peak periods, the employer may wish to limit the overall number of interviews offered to both DCS and non-DCS applicants.

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.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo an enhanced (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 theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

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 : Nigel Cunningham
• Email : nigel.cunningham@modschools.org

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSCivPers-Resourcingteam3@mod.gov.uk

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: info@csc.gov.uk.

Attachments

ADR013810_EVP_Booklet_A5 Opens in new window (pdf, 273kB)Defence Civil Service Offer Opens in new window (pdf, 1562kB)Defence Internal Brief notice Opens in new window (docx, 43kB)Candidate Information Opens in new window (docx, 32kB)