Deputy Director Innovation and Assurance

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 such as the Government Hubs Programme, Whitehall Campus Programme and Net Zero Programme. 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

The Deputy Director for Innovation and Assurance is a senior leadership role within the GPA’s Capital Projects team. You will lead the design and engineering function, set technical standards, and provide expert advice to ensure government buildings are safe, secure, sustainable, and fit for the future.

You will lead a multi-disciplinary team that supports delivery across GPA’s portfolio. This includes overseeing technical design assurance, guiding secure space protocols in classified environments, and translating complex engineering and risk requirements into practical, cost-effective solutions.

The role will develop the capability of, and lead the I&A team (c28-30 FTE), in ensuring GPA sets appropriate design standards and undertakes assurance that construction and fit- out/refurbishment of all GPA capital projects meets these standards.

You will work closely with senior colleagues across GPA, other government departments (e.g. Cabinet Office, HMRC, DWP), and the UK Intelligence Community to shape safe and secure workplaces that meet both national policy and user needs. Your leadership will be vital in ensuring buildings are compliant, deliverable, and resilient to future risks.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership & Direction: Provide strategic leadership to the Innovation and Assurance team and Capital Projects Senior Leadership Team, fostering collaboration across the organisation, strategic partners, and key enabling functions such as IT, HR, and Legal.
• Strategic Leadership of Design & Engineering: Provide strategic leadership to GPA’s Design & Engineering team, overseeing a multi-disciplinary function that includes Architecture, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (MEP), Fire Safety, CDM, BIM, and Sustainability. Ensure the team operates as a centre of excellence within GPA’s delivery model.
• Technical Standards and Assurance: Set and implement GPA’s technical design and assurance standards, ensuring they drive innovation, regulatory compliance, and value for money across all projects. Apply these standards proportionately and based on risk across a varied and complex portfolio.
• Portfolio Management: Responsible for setting and managing Portfolio governance, control and assurance processes and systems. This includes governance, assurance, risk, reporting, schedule, change control, CDE management, benefits management, lessons learnt and continuous improvement within CP programme of works.
• Ownership and management of Programme and Project templates/products, including setting the reporting cycle and reporting formats
• Support the development and maintenance of the Programme Business Case
• Project Lifecycle Oversight: Lead design and technical assurance across the full lifecycle of capital projects—from initial concept design through delivery, occupancy, and post-occupancy review—ensuring quality, performance, and client satisfaction at every stage.
• Secure Space Advisory: Act as GPA’s senior technical advisor for secure and classified government spaces. Collaborate closely with national security agencies to ensure full compliance with secure space protocols and operational requirements.
• Continuous Improvement and Assurance: Drive continuous improvement through structured assurance reviews, lessons learned exercises, and feedback from stakeholders. Ensure insights are captured and embedded in future design and delivery.
• Strategic Governance Advisory: Provide expert design and engineering advice to internal governance groups, including GPA’s Operations and Security Committees, to inform strategic decision-making and risk management.
• Cross-Government Representation and Influence: Represent GPA in cross- government technical and construction forums, influencing national policy, promoting best practice, and ensuring GPA’s perspective shapes the future of public sector design standards.

• Project Initiation & Business Case Development: Support project initiation and business case development, ensuring robust alignment with senior stakeholders, Programme Boards, and HMT, and securing approvals in line with governance frameworks and policies.
• Responsible for agreeing and setting the outline brief to the project director, along with achievable budget and programme targets. Collaborate with GPA colleagues to support strategic investment planning and the development of compelling business cases.
• Governance, Risk & Compliance: Ensure effective governance, compliance, and risk management, including adherence to procurement, technical, contractual, and health and safety standards throughout the project lifecycle.
• Develop and maintain commercial approaches and financial benchmarks, proactively managing affordability, cost assurance, and value optimisation across a complex supply chain and within allocated budgets. Maintain robust risk management processes.
• Working Across Government & Stakeholder Engagement: Representing GPA in cross-government technical and construction forums.
• Building strong relationships with senior leaders across government and externally.
• Working collaboratively across the GPA including in partnership with the other directorates, putting client experience at the forefront of delivery.
• Sustainability and Lifecycle Planning: Champion sustainability and Greener Government commitments, embedding environmental objectives into project delivery and property management throughout the asset lifecycle. Work with other directorates to ensure that needs of the building lifecycle are considered within the proposals, reducing energy usage and operational/ maintenance costs.
• Technical assurance of design, build and delivery phases across all procurement methodologies, for example Cat A/B/C works.

• Define employer requirements, including sustainability/BREEAM/Nabers UK thresholds.

Person specification

• Experience of managing teams and developing/mentoring staff.

• Proven ability to develop and communicate best practice.

• Excellent stakeholder management and an ability to rapidly establish confidence and influence effectively.

• Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to work collaboratively and forge effective strategic partnerships in demanding circumstances (where affordability, deliverability and credibility may be questioned).

• An ability to build networks of influence, formal resource management and direction of teams.

• Able to build effective teams, balancing restrictions on appointment routes and budgets, to flex and deploy appropriate resources, underpinned by the development and individual and team performance.

Experience and Technical Skills

Essential criteria:

• Extensive experience in setting design standards, managing the design process and assuring delivery of complex capital projects.

• Experience of operating at a senior level within a programme delivery environment with personal responsibility for team leadership, senior-level supplier and stakeholder relations.

• Broad and current technical knowledge in delivering buildings in the property sector with an awareness and an understanding of:

• Building design and information modelling to meet the employer’s requirements

• Security architectures, standards and assurance

• Compliance, test and acceptance, and records management

• Sustainability in the built environment

• Experience of design management and delivery of permanent works.

• Proven ability in leading or supporting the successful delivery of high-profile, large-scale and complex delivery and change programmes.

• A proven track record of building stakeholder confidence through design reviews, tests, trials and pilot events.

• A proven track record of seeking out opportunities for innovation and driving a culture that emphasises continuous improvement, efficiency and value for money.
• Leading a multidisciplinary team working in a matrix environment and building strong relationships across team/business area/ departmental/ boundaries with clear evidence of the ability to deliver through others.
• Deep understanding of STRAP environments and secure operational delivery.
• Experience of acting as Service Manager for the management of sub-consultants under PSC (or similar) contracts.
• Experience in commercial cost assessment of construction and professional services.
• Experience in Project Management of large complex projects.

Desirable criteria:

• Senior leadership in a complex/regulatory environment; public-sector/Civil Service preferred.
• Holds I&A Gold Standard or demonstrable evidence of working towards - CEng, RIBA/ARB, CEnv, RSES.

Qualifications and Accreditations

Essential criteria:

• Qualifications - Full (e.g. Chartered) professional membership/accreditation of a recognised property or construction professional body, for example but (not limited to) RICS and/or an equivalent programme qualification for example ChPP / FAPM / MPLA, or the experience and willingness to seek such membership/accreditation.

Desirable criteria:

• Degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction, or related discipline
• CSCS Card Holder (Management/Professional)
• NEC Accredited Project Manager
• Experience with project‑based delivery, e.g. PRINCE2, MSP or equivalent

Qualifications

Full (e.g. Chartered) professional membership/accreditation of a recognised property or construction professional body, for example but (not limited to) RICS and/or an equivalent programme qualification for example ChPP / FAPM / MPLA, or the experience and willingness to seek such membership/accreditation.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership

Technical skills

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

• Customer Perspective
• Commercial Accumen
• Property Market Knowledge
• Innovation
• Presentation

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £81,000, Government Property Agency contributes £23,465 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• 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%
• Generous annual leave

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).

We promote 60% office attendance for this role. You will be required to spend 3 days in the office and 2 days remote working.

Sift

The sift is due to take place week commencing 2nd February 2026.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to include a CV and a -750 word personal statement. The personal statement should then align with the person specification.

If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to take part in a virtual staff engagement exercise and potentially a technical assessment/
conversation. These assessments will not result in a pass or fail decision. Rather, they are designed to support the panel’s decision-
making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview.

Interview

GPA policy is for interviews to be held face to face, with virtual interviews only by absolute exception. The date of interview will be week commencing the 23rd February 2026 and the location will in a London office. If you feel this will be a problem for you, please contact recruitment@gpa.gov.uk to discuss prior to submitting your application.

At interview, applicants will be scored against 2 behaviours - Communicating and Influencing and Leadership.

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

This may also require a presentation focusing on your skills and experience, which we will confirm before the interview stage.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a 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 : Mike Lewis
• Email : michael.lewis@gpa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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

Further information

The Department’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the requirement of selection for appointment based on merit, open and fair competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles, details of which can be found at http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact the GPA People Team by email at HR@gpa.gov.uk, in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can further contact the Civil Service Commission at: Email: civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk or in writing to: Civil Service Commission Room G/8 1 Horse Guards Road London SW1A 2HQ.