Asset Surveyor (Scotland)

Job summary

Position summary

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is one of the government’s largest public service departments with a sizeable annual budget, serving over 20 million citizens.

The estate spans 1.4 million square metres across 800+ sites and supports around 78,000 colleagues.

Our vision includes DWP colleagues, supply chain, partners and, most fundamentally, the customers the Department exists to serve. They are the reason for our existence.​

We are responsible for the day-to-day operation of our vast Estate by managing a private sector supply chain that delivers essential services such as Security Guarding, Maintenance, Property and Leasehold Management, Construction, Cleaning and Facilities Management.

DWP Estates is not just about maintaining buildings - it’s about transformation. Our strategic goals include:

• Transitioning to a smaller, more affordable, and adaptable estate to meet future needs
• Investing in infrastructure through planned replacement works
• Embedding sustainability in line with Government Greening Commitments (GGCs)
• Delivering cost-effective services while maintaining high standards
• Creating a professional, best-in-class working culture across the Government Property profession

Our Estates strategy ambitions have been refreshed to take us through to 2030:

• OPTIMISE: Continue to transition to a more affordable and adaptable DWP estate that creates productive environments
• INVEST: Investment in an improved environment that better meets the needs of customers and colleagues and minimises service disruption
• SUPPORT the drive for sustainability throughout DWP
• DELIVER: Expertly deliver improving, cost-effective services for DWP
• THRIVE: Continue to develop a working culture for DWP Estates that is best in class across government

There is no better time to join the award winning DWP Estates team.

Supporting the Lead Asset Surveyor and Investment Planning Lead your role will include the delivery of the Life Cycle Works (LCW) strategy, maintenance of the asset condition data, providing lifecycle planning, and providing technical support to operational and projects delivery teams, across a defined geographical region covering circa 100+ sites. The role will include management responsibility for technical review of reactive and remedial works orders, and support to the application and alignment to ISO 55001 with the aim of optimising the asset portfolio for DWP employees, customers and other stakeholders whilst at the same time maintaining the critical requirement of asset compliance.

Job description

You will play a key role in our department’s goal of improving the estate to provide a safer, more productive environment for staff and customers, whilst reducing the Department’s carbon footprint. You will support the delivery of the Department’s asset strategy commitments, working closely with the Service Delivery team and the national Facilities Management (FM) supply chain to optimise asset performance.

Important - This role involves extensive travel, a full UK motor car driving licence is therefore required. The successful applicant will have access to the provision of a fully funded hire car (including fuel costs) for site visits. Visits must be planned in blocks to enable best value for money.

Where your own car is used then it must be insured for business use (proof will be required). Currently the mileage rates when using your own vehicle are those published by HMRC (first 10,000 miles £0.55 pence per mile over this limit the rate drops to £0.25 pence per mile. Rates subject to change.

** The successful candidate will cover the whole of Scotland and a small number of sites just over the border in the North East and North West. You can be based in any location with available space in Scotland ONLY **

Key accountabilities

• Support the Lead Asset Surveyor and Investment Planning Lead (LCW/Surveying) in the delivery of the Asset Management Strategy for the Estates property portfolio.
• Maintains knowledge and understanding of all building fabric and M&E assets and asset condition, through interaction operational estates functions and surveys and site visits.
• Shadow third party surveyors conducting asset collection surveys across the estate to ensure defined protocols for surveying are being followed.
• Review and validate third party asset validation reports and provide technical feedback including submitting asset change requests where applicable.
• Provide technical assurance on maintenance Work Order system, reviewing proposals for maintenance / upgrading works and providing technical advice where applicable.
• Provide Quality Assurance reviews of survey data.
• Provide technical review of Forward Maintenance Register.
• Review contractors proposals for compliance with DWP Design Standards.
• Collaborates with colleagues in the Asset Management team to identify poor performing assets, repeat failures and obsolete assets for review/inclusion in the LCW planning process.
• Maintains asset condition data and LCW maintenance register ‘Demand Plan’ by undertaking periodic condition surveys across a geographical area of responsibility containing circa 100+ sites.
• Undertakes prioritisation of LCW Demand in accordance with predetermined criticality, performance and condition criteria.
• Contributes to the development of the LCW pipeline plan, understanding limitations of budget, portfolio strategy, and delivery capacity.
• Develop project scopes and total budget costs for inclusion in the LCW planning process.
• Supports the DWP Projects Delivery Team in the delivery of the LCW programme, with internal ‘Client’ responsibility for delivery of LCW projects within geographical region.
• Fosters a ‘one team’ culture of quality and continuous improvement across the extended organisation to include the Integrator and supplier partners, on a day to day as well as strategic basis.
• Supports the management of assets and development of asset strategies, within a large portfolio, in support of achieving defined Sustainability and Net Zero Carbon objective.
• Supporting DWP occupation by performing surveying duties as required.
• Supports and deputises for the Lead Surveyor and Investment Planning Lead as required.

Person specification

Essential Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• Significant experience of asset condition surveying within a large commercial property portfolio.
• Extensive and detailed technical knowledge of building pathology and asset lifecycle management within diverse range of portfolios (Corporate, multi occupied, public facing)
• Has surveyed and planned lifecycle work programs on large property portfolios.
• Up to date knowledge of the legislation, best practice and industry standards in relation to providing a safe, sustainable and compliant Estate.
• In depth knowledge of building asset types, their significance on legal compliance and improvements needed to support the Department’s commitment to Net Zero Carbon and Greening Government Commitments.
• Understanding of end-to-end commercial construction project delivery process.
• Commercial awareness and astuteness connected with contractual obligations and interpretation with supply chain partners.
• Extensive experience of defining project scopes, estimating project costs, asset surveying and the use of CIBSE asset condition classifications.
• Ability to analyse significant amounts of data produced by computer aided facilities management systems supporting a large portfolio and identify opportunities or risk for the department.
• Strong project management skills and persuasive in identifying key areas of work required.
• Experienced of working with multiple stakeholders across a multi-site estate.
• Ability to travel frequently to perform site visits and surveying duties across geographical region, including overnight stays where appropriate.

Qualifications/professional memberships

Desirable

• Degree qualified with a core competency in either Building Surveying or Building Services and will be expected to have a good knowledge of the complimentary asset management requirements of each discipline.
• MRICS, CIBSE or similar or working towards certification

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,447, Department for Work and Pensions contributes £12,876 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).

DWP have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:

• Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
• Generous annual leave – at least 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
• Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
• Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
• Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.
• Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
• An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.

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, Strengths and Experience.

STAGE 1 - APPLICATION & SIFT

As part of the application process you will be asked to provide a Personal Statement of no more than 1000 words against the essential criteria as outlined above. You will also be asked to provide a short CV.

Your CV should be fairly short and just evidence very brief details of your work history and Qualifications.

While your CV is not formally scored it will be used to validate the evidence of your Personal Statement.

Please do not submit a speculative application where you do not meet at least 50% of the essential criteria as these applications will be unsuccessful. Do not include Behaviour examples within your application as these will not be assessed in the sift and will only be used at interview stage.

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

There will be an initial sift of applications based on the Personal Statement only, so please ensure you evidence how you meet the Essential Skills, Knowledge & Experience requirement contained in the vacancy in this section. This will form a short list for interview.

STAGE 2 - INTERVIEW

All candidates who are successful at the sift stage will undertake a single virtual video interview.

There, you will be assessed against the experiences listed in the essential criteria.

You will also be asked additional questions to validate your knowledge which will be measured against the essential criteria as specified in the vacancy. Your will also be asked some Behaviour & Strength questions.

Currently the sift is scheduled to take place w/c 10th August 2026 and interview dates w/c 24th August 2026. Interviews are scheduled to take place virtually and dates are subject to change.

Further Information

Important Information – Visa Sponsorship

For these vacancies, we strongly recommend that applicants consult with an immigration specialist or qualified advisor to assess their eligibility for Visa Sponsorship before deciding to apply. Please note that while we consider sponsorship requests in accordance with current DWP guidance and Home Office policy, sponsorship cannot be guaranteed.

Hybrid Working

This role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home. This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work.

If a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for the role and for you, you will normally be required to spend a minimum of 60% of your contracted working hours from your DWP office.

If you have a disability, caring responsibilities, or other circumstances that may affect your ability to meet the minimum office attendance requirement, please discuss this with us using the contact details in this advert.

Successful candidates will be posted in merit order based on your location preferences and the geographical requirements of the business

Location

Applicants should apply for suitable posts where they can travel to and from their home office location daily within a reasonable time.

Further Information

At the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, including those that are underrepresented in our workforce.

Find out more about working for DWP on the DWP Careers Hub.

Reserve List

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

If you are placed on a reserve list but we cannot immediately offer you a post, please note:

• If you are later offered the role you applied for, in a location you have expressed a preference for, and you decline the offer or are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe you will be withdrawn from the campaign and removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances (e.g. a contractual Part Time Working Pattern cannot be accommodated in the initial role offered or in cases of serious ill health).
• If DWP makes an offer of an alternative role or location to that which you originally applied for, and you decline that offer, you will be able to remain on the reserve list.

Disability Confident Scheme

If high application volumes are received, the benchmark for candidates to proceed to the next stage may be raised. In line with our commitment to the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), we aim to advance all candidates applying under the DCS who meet the minimum standard. However, we may only progress those candidates who best meet the required standards.

Reasonable Adjustments

We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should contact the Government Recruitment Service via DWPRecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the “Reasonable Adjustments” 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.

Disclosure and Barring Service and Internal Fraud Database Checks

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to 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

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 successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check will be carried out.

Important

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, allowances. If you are a current employee and are successful you must be able to be released from your current post within four weeks.

Those on protected TUPE/ COSoP terms and conditions applying on promotion or voluntary permanent level move will adopt DWP’s Terms and Conditions and this may have a different impact on pay and allowances. Please review this prior to acceptance of a role.

Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP's terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing. Accepting a post will be taken to mean acceptance of revised terms & conditions.

Civil Servants applying on promotion will usually be appointed to the salary minimum or within 10% of existing salary.

• Any move to DWP 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 the Childcare Choices Website.

Feedback

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.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.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).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 : Matt Pepper
• Email : matt.pepper@dwp.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dwprecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact DWP by email: HR.BUSINESSASSURANCE@DWP.GOV.UK.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission. Click here to visit the Civil Service Commission.

Attachments

DWP Terms and Conditions January 2024 Opens in new window (docx, 17kB)Success-Profiles-Candidate-Overview-Accessible-Version Opens in new window (docx, 220kB)