Deputy Legionella & Water Hygiene Subject Matter Expert

Job summary

For jobs located in Wales, the ability to speak Welsh is desirable.

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.

Job description

Government Property Profession Career Framework (Link)

This role sits within the following:

Job Family – Strategic Asset Management

Core Role – Property Data Management

Level – Practitioner

An exciting national opportunity exists for a Deputy Legionella & Water Hygiene Subject Matter Expert (SME) to support robust, proportionate Legionella risk management across a complex UK-wide estate. The role is central to Business As Usual (BAU) Legionella governance, providing the technical oversight, assurance and reporting required to protect people, assets and organisational reputation.

Operating under the technical direction and governance of the National Water Hygiene SME, the post holder leads BAU technical activity, ensuring Legionella risks are identified early, controlled effectively and escalated appropriately. The role maintains national visibility of the risk position, emerging issues and systemic weaknesses, translating operational and CAFM data into clear, evidence-based risk narratives to inform governance-level decisions.

The Deputy SME provides assurance that Legionella control regimes remain effective across diverse building types and system configurations, including oversight of Water Risk Assessments, written schemes of control and control-measure delivery, ensuring continuous alignment with ACOP L8 and HSG274.

Independent of commercial and contractual management, the role delivers proportionate engineering challenge, ensuring remedial works and system modifications are technically sound, risk-led and represent best value for money. Through structured BAU reporting, weekly operational engagement and clear escalation, the post holder supports effective governance, sustained risk reduction and continual improvement in Legionella control at a national scale.

What we are looking for

If you’re someone who can use your technical expertise to strengthen Legionella risk control and provide clear, evidence-based assurance at a national level, we want to hear from you. Most importantly, we are looking for individuals who are motivated by delivering effective, proportionate and sustainable water safety management that protects people, assets and organisational reputation.

Drawing upon your mechanical engineering knowledge and Legionella risk management experience, you will play a key role in supporting the National Water Hygiene SME by leading Business As Usual (BAU) technical activity. You will provide day-to-day oversight of Legionella control arrangements, ensuring risks are identified early, control failures are understood, and corrective actions are progressed through the appropriate governance and operational routes.

Working across a complex, multi-site estate, you will engage routinely with operational stakeholders, providing clear technical direction, assurance and challenge to support compliant outcomes. You will review and quality assure Water Risk Assessments (WRAs), written schemes of control and CAFM-based compliance evidence, ensuring that Legionella control measures are technically correct, practical and aligned with ACOP L8 and HSG274.

The role requires strong analytical and communication skills, translating operational performance data into clear national risk narratives, reports and governance packs. Through structured BAU reporting, weekly operational engagement and targeted escalation, you will support informed decision-making, prioritisation of risk and continual improvement in Legionella control.

This role is not a contract or commercial management position; instead, it provides independent technical assurance and risk-based recommendations that enable delivery teams to act with confidence. Your work will have a direct and tangible impact on national water safety assurance, helping to maintain safe environments and demonstrate robust statutory compliance.

Duties and Responsibilities

The role holder will play a key role in the delivery of national Business As Usual (BAU) Legionella risk management and assurance. They will work closely with the National Water Hygiene SME, operational stakeholders and assurance functions to:

Maintain effective oversight of Legionella risk control across a complex, multi-site estate;

Ensure that Legionella risks are identified, assessed, controlled and escalated appropriately;

Provide clear, evidence-based technical assurance to support compliant outcomes; and

Support governance arrangements through accurate reporting, escalation and risk-based recommendations.

Key responsibilities

Maintain a detailed understanding of Legionella risk management requirements, ensuring control arrangements remain aligned with ACOP L8 and HSG274 and are applied consistently across the estate.

Provide day-to-day BAU technical oversight of Legionella control, including review of compliance evidence, validation of control delivery and identification of emerging or sustained risk issues.

Collate, review and present Legionella risk and performance information to support governance forums, operational meetings and technical oversight, translating operational data into clear risk-based narratives.

In conjunction with key stakeholders, review and quality assure Legionella Water Risk Assessments (WRAs), written schemes of control and associated action plans, ensuring they are technically accurate, practical and reflective of system configuration.

Work closely with operational teams and assurance functions to support the definition, tracking and closure of corrective actions, ensuring actions are prioritised based on risk and supported by appropriate evidence.

Support the definition, implementation and monitoring of key performance indicators and assurance metrics relating to Legionella control, using CAFM data and other compliance information as the evidence base.

Use the CAFM system on a daily basis to review work order evidence, interrogate PPM compliance, identify exceptions and track corrective actions to closure.

Provide technical challenge and assurance on proposed remedial works, system modifications and engineering solutions, ensuring they are proportionate to risk, technically correct and represent best value for money.

Support investigations into control failures, adverse trends or suspected Legionella-related incidents, contributing to root cause analysis and the definition of effective corrective actions.

Play an active role in weekly operational water safety and Legionella meetings, providing the BAU technical position, escalating key risks and supporting clear ownership and timescales for action.

Person specification

Essential Skills, Knowledge & Experience

Demonstrable experience of applying Legionella risk management principles across complex or multi-site estates, with a clear understanding of how statutory guidance and technical standards are embedded into day-to-day operational delivery, governance and assurance arrangements (Lead Criteria).

A self-motivated and effective organiser, able to use initiative to manage national Business As Usual (BAU) workloads, prioritise risk, identify emerging issues and drive timely escalation and resolution of Legionella control failures.

Proven experience supporting the development, implementation and maintenance of Legionella risk management frameworks, including Water Risk Assessments (WRAs), written schemes of control, action tracking and assurance processes.

Demonstrable experience of supporting and influencing organisational behavioural and cultural change to improve compliance, consistency and ownership of Legionella control measures across operational teams and stakeholders.

Effective stakeholder management skills, including experience of working with a wide range of stakeholders at different levels, across diverse building types and operational settings, to influence outcomes through technical authority and evidence-based assurance.

A strong understanding of mechanical engineering and water system design principles, and how these are applied to deliver proportionate, compliant and practical Legionella control regimes aligned with ACOP L8 and HSG274

Strong analytical skills, with experience interrogating CAFM and compliance data to identify trends, hotspots and systemic issues, and using this insight to inform risk-based reporting, prioritisation and decision-making.

Essential Qualifications/professional memberships

Candidates must have served a recognised apprenticeship in a mechanical discipline, preferably within a commercial or complex mechanical engineering environment

Must hold a minimum of an HNC in Mechanical Engineering (or a closely related discipline)

Candidates must hold a Responsible Person (Water) qualification and demonstrate a clear commitment to ongoing professional development to support effective technical assurance, statutory compliance and best practice in Legionella risk control.

Qualifications

•Candidates must have served a recognised apprenticeship in a mechanical discipline, preferably within a commercial or complex mechanical engineering environment
•Must hold a minimum of an HNC in Mechanical Engineering (or a closely related discipline)
•Candidates must hold a Responsible Person (Water) qualification and demonstrate a clear commitment to ongoing professional development to support effective technical assurance, statutory compliance and best practice in Legionella risk control.

Technical skills

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

• Legionella Risk Management and Technical Assurance
• Mechanical Engineering and Water Systems Expertise
• Water Risk Assessment (WRA) Review and Quality Assurance
• Control Measure and WSoC Compliance Assurance
• CAFM-Based Compliance Management and Data Analysis
• Technical Reporting, Presentation and Governance Support

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.

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.

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.

Location

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

Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas. Relocation costs will not be reimbursed

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

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 Experience and Technical skills.

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.

If we receive a large number of applications we will conduct an initial sift on the Lead Criteria of Strong leadership capabilities, with demonstrable experience of leading a team. If you pass the initial sift you will be progressed to full sift or directly to interview.

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.

This role will be recruited through a technical interview, reflecting its specialist assurance and decision-making remit.

While leadership attributes are an essential requirement of the post, they will be assessed through the candidate’s technical responses, professional judgement, and approach to risk-based decision-making rather than through standalone behavioural questions.

Candidates will be expected to demonstrate leadership through the delivery of high-quality technical outcomes, ownership of decisions, constructive challenge, and the ability to provide clear technical direction within Legionella risk management and compliance scenarios.

Currently the sift is scheduled to take place w/c 2nd February 2026 and interview dates either w/c 16th February 2026 . Interviews are scheduled to take place virtually and dates are subject to change.

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.

Integrity, plagiarism, Civil Service Principles and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles.

Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words.

Examples of plagiarism can include:

• Presenting the work, ideas and experience of others as your own
• Copying content or answers from an online or published source that is not your own

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 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

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 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)