Workplace Design Standards Manager

Government Recruitment Service; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 44,000 - 47,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Disability Confident employer scheme

Job summary

Government Recruitment Service is seeking a Workplace Design Standards Manager in Sheffield to lead the development and implementation of Design Guides, ensuring projects meet the Government Property standard for quality, accessibility and sustainability across the DWP estate.

You will collaborate with external designers and the supply chain, review floor plans and test fits, advise stakeholders through RIBA stages, and drive continuous improvement through data, training and post-occupancy

Job description

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 spans1.4 million square metresacross800+ sitesand supports around78,000 colleagues.

Our vision includes DWPcolleagues,supply chain, partners and,most fundamentally, the customers theDepartment exists to serve. They are the reasonfor our existence.

We are responsible for theday-to-day operationof 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 estateto meet future needs
• Investing in infrastructurethrough planned replacement works
• Embedding sustainabilityin line with Government Greening Commitments (GGCs)
• Delivering cost-effective serviceswhile maintaining high standards
• Creating a professional, best-in-class working cultureacross 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

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

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

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 spans1.4 million square metresacross800+ sitesand supports around78,000 colleagues.

Our vision includes DWPcolleagues,supply chain, partners and,most fundamentally, the customers theDepartment exists to serve. They are the reasonfor our existence.

We are responsible for theday-to-day operationof 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 estateto meet future needs
• Investing in infrastructurethrough planned replacement works
• Embedding sustainabilityin line with Government Greening Commitments (GGCs)
• Delivering cost-effective serviceswhile maintaining high standards
• Creating a professional, best-in-class working cultureacross 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

Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme

About Disability Confident Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.