
Capital Portfolio Planning and Initiation 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 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 Investment Directorate leads on Capital property portfolio investment on behalf of the GPA. The Capital Portfolio Planning & Initiation Lead will create and maintain a portfolio road map and an up to date list of projects and investments to feed into the portfolio prioritisation. They lead on a regular prioritising, and presenting this information for decision making in a clear format highlighting risks and advantages of options. The role completes the Investment directorate steps of the project initiation process, working with Capital Projects directorate. They participate in the Spending Review process as required.
Key Responsibilities
Project Pipeline - Works within the Investment directorate and other business areas to identify and categorise new projects for a decision on inclusion in the portfolio and provide regular updates on the pipeline to the Portfolio Board. Collect information to enable portfolio prioritisation and initiation processes and leads on effective project initiation by collaborating with Capital Projects and GPA front door.
Governance and reporting - Supports a clear governance framework and reporting system aligned with portfolio best practice. Support coordination of reporting from projects/portfolio plans and analyses performance at the portfolio level for review by governance bodies.
Business cases and assurance - Supports and inputs into the production of business cases, ensuring that business case production remains aligned with portfolio planning and wider property considerations.
People and leadership - Communicates and builds commitment to a shared vision and sense of purpose. Supports GPA in portfolio pipeline decision making and leads in their area of expertise.
Planning, scheduling and resourcing - Maintains the portfolio delivery map and critical path to monitor project progress, working with the Capital Projects directorate. Provides input into Spending Review decision making. Identifies and tracks interdependencies across change projects. Recommends the allocation of financial and other resources across initiatives to optimise the organisation’s return on investment. Develops strategies to address resource gaps.
Risk and opportunity management- Identifies and monitors portfolio risks, threats and opportunities, and plans and implements responses to them.
Stakeholder management - Maps stakeholder interest and influences to set priorities for engagement and communication. Communicates regularly and gathers input on issues such as communication methods. Engages in discussions to resolve issues and differences between stakeholders and challenge assumptions.
Benefits management - Works as part of the wider team of experts to support the business in developing data-driven mechanisms for measuring benefits and ensures this is incorporated into the portfolio prioritisation decision making.
Digital and data - Oversees governance and management of the data standard across the portfolio of projects and property. Uses digital tools to analyse data to support allocation of resources efficiently across projects, ensuring optimal use of personnel, budget, and time.
Person specification
This role will suit an individual with a background in portfolio planning, or in a complex project or portfolio environment. As funding is subject to Spending Reviews, the individual must be comfortable working in an ambiguous environment.
The individual should have some team/matrix management and leadership experience and be able to engage a variety of stakeholders at any level of seniority, and to credibly engage and put across a well supported argument of portfolio priority projects.
They should have a good level of competence in all aspects of portfolio planning and prioritisation as well as a working level of business cases and the associated processes, including multi-criteria decision analysis, estimating/forecasting, investment appraisal and benefits.
Essential criteria:
- Experience of working in a complex project environment and understanding of complex project information
- Experience in portfolio prioritisation against strategic objectives and working with uncertainty
- Experience in portfolio planning, utilising prioritisation techniques such as multi-criteria decision analysis
- Working knowledge or experience of business cases and the associated processes, including estimating/forecasting, investment appraisal and benefits.
- Some experience of team or matrix management
- Excellent communication and engagement skills
Desirable criteria:
- Working in a property or construction environment
Essential criteria:
The successful candidate must have at least one of the following:
- Managing Successful Programmes Practitioner
- Management of Portfolios Practitioner
- Managing Successful Programmes Advanced Practitioner
- APM Chartered Project Professional
- Project Leadership Programme
- Managing Projects and Leading Workstreams
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Working Together
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Leadership
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 £56,500, Government Property Agency contributes £16,368 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, 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.
Sift
As part of the application process, you will be asked to include a CV and a 500-word personal statement. The personal statement should align with the person specification.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
The sift is due to take place week commencing 24th August 2026.
Interview
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.
At interview, applicants will be scored against 5 behaviours - Working Together, Seeing the big picture, Making effective decisions, Communicating & influencing and Leadership.
Interview questions will be a blend of Behaviour, Experience and Technical (core skill).
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.
Further Information
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 Security Check (SC) 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 SC is 5 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.
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.
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.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
f 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.
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.
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 security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
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 : Miska Eatough
- Email : miska.eatough@gpa.gov.uk
Recruitment team
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.ukIf 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
Attachments
GPA Skills and Specialisms Opens in new window (pdf, 259kB)Salary range
- £56,500 - £62,554 per year






