Business Readiness Project Lead

Job summary

The Government Property Agency is the largest property holder in government, with more than £2.1 billion in property assets and over 55% of the government’s office estate.

We are transforming the way the Civil Service works by creating great places to work, leading the largest commercial office programme in the UK, working towards halving carbon emissions from government offices, and achieving greater value for taxpayers. And we are looking for innovative, solutions-focused people to join our team.

Representing the best covenant in the UK – His Majesty’s Government – we are leading significant transformational programmes. We are also delivering cost-effective property services such as asset management, lifecycle replacement and workplace services.

Innovation and progress underpin our behaviours. We foster a culture of lifelong learning, where curiosity and self-improvement are encouraged. Our four core values are at the heart of everything we do. They shape our culture and guide how we work, lead and grow together:

• Striving for excellence- We always aim to deliver great results
• Empowering through respect- We insist on fair treatment for all, always
• Acting with integrity- We consistently do the right thing
• Succeeding together- We rely on each other to achieve success

We are committed to representing the communities we serve by making Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) part of everything we do. Our strong emphasis on EDI is not just about driving inclusion across our organisation, it is also about ensuring our services meet the needs of government departments and the civil servants who use our spaces. To ensure that we are always recruiting and retaining a diverse mix of talent, we are particularly inviting applications from candidates who are disabled, ethnically or gender diverse, and people who identify as being part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Join our dynamic and diverse team that leads with purpose, improving sustainability, nurturing social value, driving inclusivity and flexibility, and kickstarting economic growth. We are driven by purpose, and you can be part of it too: where you make a meaningful impact; where you influence; where your voice really matters; where you help to shape our future direction.

Job description

Manchester Digital Campus

The Manchester Digital Campus (MDC) is part of the Government’s Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP), and is an exciting transformation across multiple Government departments, with significant ministerial, public, industrial and media interest.

A central Manchester brownfield development site will become the vibrant workplace for well over 8,000 people (including ministers) from the digitally focused departments. The new, bespoke buildings will be designed to support the transformation objectives, collaborative working across government and with industry, academia and the community. MDC will strengthen HMG’s skills, innovation and enable multi-department careers, whilst learning from and contributing to the exciting digital/AI sector in Manchester and the North West. It will directly support economic growth, skills, Civil Service reform (PAS) and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It is an exciting vision!

MDC is overseen by its policy sponsors (including Places for Growth and Government Digital/Data – in Cabinet Office and DSIT), together with the Departmental Partners transforming to use the new site. Having completed our Outline Business Case approval, and approaching our RIBA3 milestone (design complete), we are expanding the dedicated MDC team to match the growing workload. The MDC team is multi-disciplinary, matrix-managed from the GPA Directorates, and wider Government, but all dedicated to and passionate about our amazing programme. We pride ourselves on our inclusivity, curiosity to explore and solve problems, our openness to challenge and our commitment to delivering what's needed for the Civil Service’s future. MDC is GPA’s biggest delivery programme yet.

Specific security requirements have been set for MDC, and will be discussed with you during the recruitment process. These posts require Developed Vetting before a candidate can start.

The MDC team are all expected to have a significant presence in Manchester (averaging at least 2-days a week). Regular travel is expected to attend GPA offices, and partner locations, especially London and occasionally Birmingham. The role involves hybrid working with an expectation of office/meeting attendance on three days a week or more as the project demands.

All MDC roles are being offered on a choice of permanent or initial 2 year loan basis to allow you to retain an initial link with your home department if preferable. The programme completes in 2032.

If you are interested at all in this role, but have a question, do please reach out.

As a Business Readiness Project Lead, you will be responsible for leading the Business Readiness workstream for Manchester Digital Campus or a workplace within the wider GPA portfolio.

Working closely with the team, your wider GPA colleagues, delivery partners and clients you will support the delivery of great places to work for Civil Servants across the UK.

You will:

• Work with internal and external stakeholders to manage and support the customers experience during a period of significant refurbishment, relocation and change. Building relationships which result in a clear understanding of client requirements, priorities and ways of working, you will work with GPA colleagues to deliver suitable outcomes.
• Play a key role in determining the feasibility of services and a Community Group across the building.
• Leverage relationships with client departments to ensure GPA customers’ (Civil Servants) needs are being met at every stage of project delivery, and that they are sufficiently informed about the move to their new location and ways of working.

In addition to supporting on the project, you will:

• Support the development and continuous improvement of products and processes for the Business Readiness Framework that will help GPA Clients to transition within the MDC Transformation vision and move to a smarter working environment and realise the full benefits of a great place to work.

Support the Business Readiness team in delivery across project lifecycles. In particular:

• Represent the Business Readiness work-stream in project meetings, providing activity-based progress reports and escalating emerging issues to mitigate project risk.
• Support Project Teams during the engagement process, building strong relationships with clients at an early stage and where necessary educating them on the different aspects of a smarter / hybrid working environment and the customer experience. Lead business readiness related client engagement at various stages throughout the project lifecycle, working very closely with the MDC transformation team.
• Deliver discovery activities to help develop a clear understanding of Client business and current ways of working, using customer insight from satisfaction surveys and Leesman Workplace Experience surveys to challenge the status quo when required.
• Gather and baseline client smarter working and building occupation readiness data to help plan and prepare individual client workplace strategies and transition plans and scope where additional support is required.
• Support and guide clients with their preparation for a smarter working/hybrid environment and building occupation through change management and business readiness activities, where necessary drawing upon the expertise within GPA and the Client organisation.
• Lead on activities to instil and build community amongst client organisations and customers within the workplace and the local community.
• Lead on activity to ensure a great day one experience and that customers are inducted into new spaces and feel informed, comfortable and confident in using those spaces, drawing upon expertise and resources from across GPA, Clients and our delivery partners.
• Support the development of post occupation care processes, using customer insight surveys and post occupation evaluation activities to assess and improve the customer experience offer and standards.

Key Responsibilities

Working closely with the team, your wider GPA colleagues, delivery partners and clients you will lead on the delivery of your portfolio. You will:

• Lead the Business Readiness work-stream across Government Hub project lifecycles, part of the Transition To Service Line of Development. Establish, deliver and embed the Business Readiness Framework.
• Represent the Business Readiness (BR) work-stream as a member of the project Integrated Delivery Team (IDT). Deliver the BR elements of the project structure appropriate to stage, set relevant controls, select and apply appropriate delivery methodologies. Provide key reports, risk and issues management/escalation, benefits realisation and assurance to support effective governance and decision making and mitigate project risk.
• Identify key stakeholders and support the project team with engagement; managing and building strong relationships with clients at an early stage. Lead client engagement to promote a positive customer experience.
• Represent the voice of the customer in the development of customer facing services, products and processes within the project. Lead on BR messaging and communications, working closely with the project Communications Lead. Provide content for communications relating to Business Readiness, Workplace Experience and related Business Change.
• Coordinate workplace change management activities to support clients in establishing effective change management processes to transition to a new workplace. Agree and document these with stakeholders, establish and maintain the change plan for BR elements of the project, lead the creation of related products and provide input into the overall Project Plan.
• Coordinate and support customer insights activities in relation to the project to establish data driven project decisions. Agree and document these with stakeholders.
• Support the development and continuous improvement of products and processes enhancing the customer experience: The Business Readiness Framework and Customer Service Excellence, that will help GPA Clients and Customers to transition to a smarter working environment and realise the full benefits of a great place to work.
• Seek appropriate support, guidance and coaching from the project community, Workplace Experience and the broader GPA. Show commitment to personal development. Promote effective individual and team performance.

Person specification

• Excellent influencing and communication skills (both written and verbal) across multiple stakeholders.
• Strong presentation and facilitation skills

Experience & Technical Skills

• Knowledge of Smarter / hybrid ways of working and related factors.
• Experience of a project management environment: Day-to-day management and leadership of a specific project function.
• Exposure to the role and processes of governance: Providing key reports, risk and issues management/escalation, benefits realisation and assurance to support effective project governance and decision making.
• Awareness of the role of transformation or business change activity.
• Awareness of data and insights analysis, evaluation and evidence-based solution planning, such as Leesman.

Qualifications and Accreditations

Essential criteria:

• APM PMQ or willingness to work towards accreditation

Desirable criteria:

• Change Management Practitioner or willingness to work towards accreditation
• Customer Service qualifications
• The GPA Gold Standard for this role is CIWFM

Behaviours

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Changing and Improving
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

• Customer Perspective
• Commercial Acumen
• Property Market Knowledge
• Innovation

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £43,936, Government Property Agency contributes £12,728 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).

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

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, Experience and Technical skills.

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the communities and wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and well-being and aim to create a sense of belonging in a workplace where everyone feels valued. 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 and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.

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 (RIS) to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

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).

Please note - At this time GPA are unable to offer any Visa Sponsorship to candidates as we do not currently hold a visa sponsorship licence. Please do not apply for permanent roles with GPA if you will require your employer to take on the sponsorship of your current or any future visas.

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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Sift

The sift is due to take place week commencing 04th September 2026.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to include a CV and a 500-word personal statement. The personal statement should then align with the person specification.

Interview

The date and location will be confirmed if you are invited to interview. If you feel this will be a problem for you, please contact recruitment@gpa.gov.uk to discuss prior to submitting your application. While we have provisionally set the interview for 10/09/2026, we can confirm the exact details closer to the date.

At interview, applicants will be scored against 3 behaviours - Managing a Quality Service, Changing & improving, and Delivering at Pace.

Interview questions will be a blend of Behaviour, Experience, Strength and Technical (core skill) questions.

GPA policy is for interviews to be held face to face, with virtual interviews only by absolute exception. The date and location will be confirmed if you are invited to interview. If you feel this will be a problem for you, please contact recruitment@gpa.gov.uk to discuss prior to submitting your application.

Further Information

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

Any move to GPA 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.

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 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.

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

Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

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 gparecruitment.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 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.

Please note: in addition to the standard pre-employment checks for appointment into the Civil Service, all candidates must also obtain National Security Vetting at Developed Vetting (DV) clearance level for this vacancy. You will normally need to meet the minimum UK residency period as determined by the level of vetting being undertaken, which for DV is 10 years UK residency prior to your vetting application. If you have any questions about this residency requirement, please speak to the vacancy holder for this post.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Feedback

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 developed vetting (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.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 : Rosie Renton
• Email : rosie.renton@gpa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact HR@gpa.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 Civil Service Commission