Workplace Design Standards Manager


Company:	Government Recruitment Service
Salary:	£44,447 to £46,547 a year
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Sheffield
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	26 Oct 2026
Closing date:	15 Nov 2026

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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.

The Design Standards team works from project inception through post occupancy evaluation to ensure that the DWP’s property portfolio is aspirational in its approach to design, inclusivity and sustainability.

Government Property Profession Career Framework (Link)

This role sits within the following:

Job Family – Technical Specialism and Assurance
Core Role - Design
Level - Practitioner

Key accountabilities

Supporting the Workplace Design Standards Lead in the preparation and implementation of Design Guides and ensuring the products complement and support the Governments wider design strategy
Inspiring innovation in design, introducing sustainable alternatives to improve the workplace environment and contributing actively towards Net Zero Carbon 2050 targets and Greening Government Commitments
Ensuring the integrity of DWP’s Estate portfolio, confirming that new and upgraded properties are fit for purpose and comply with the standards necessary to maintain a robust, consistent, integrated technical infrastructure to support business continuity
Ensuring all projects comply with the agreed DWP brand, colour palette and signage/ wayfinding requirements
Providing timely direction and technical advice to external designers and supply chain consultants to ensure the developing proposals meet quality standards and the operational requirements of the Department
Managing and resolving technical issues with significant legal or commercial risk
Advising senior business stakeholders, throughout the RIBA project stages, to demonstrate advocacy of smart working and the creation of effective and inclusive workspaces
Reviewing and commenting on floor plans, test fits and schedules at key project stages
Approving compliance with or justifiable variance from the standards for all Real Estate projects. All Business Cases will require approval of their technical strategy and architectural design by the team before submission for approval
Playing a key role in the team’s continuous improvement programme, based on the collection and analysis of data. Attending site to review live projects to capture lessons learned and avoid repeated mistakes or missed opportunities in the future
Carrying out Post-Occupancy Evaluation and stakeholder engagement sessions and converting feedback into changes required in the Design Standards documentation
Running regular training sessions with the various supporting teams and consultants to improve performance and understanding of key areas for development
Providing a link between the Estates team and wider DWP, as well as with other Government Departments on technical and performance improvement matters. Sharing best practice and attending cross government workshops, working groups or conferences as appropriate

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