Assistant Workplace Service Manager (South)
Summary
Location
About the job
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
As Assistant Workplace Manager, you will play a pivotal role within the Workplace Service Delivery Team, supporting the Workplace Manager in delivering a high-quality operation. Based at our Norwich office, you will be the visible face of Workplace Services for GPA stakeholders, customers, and suppliers, with opportunities for wider exposure at other GPA properties in the region.
In this role, you will champion our Great Place to Work agenda by overseeing supplier and contractor delivery, resolving customer enquiries, and managing issues raised directly by clients or escalated through the GPA helpdesk. You will also take the lead on small to medium BAU workplace projects while providing vital local operational insight for larger capital schemes across the estate.
Key Responsibilities
- Supplier & Service Monitoring: Support the Workplace Service Manager by monitoring day-to-day supplier performance across cleaning, security, and maintenance, ensuring agreed service standards, health and safety, and GPA guidelines are met.
- Service Assurance & Audits: Carry out regular visual inspections, supplier audits, and targeted spot-checks using performance data and helpdesk trends to drive high standards on-site.
- Customer & Incident Resolution: Act as the primary on-site GPA contact for enquiries, complaints, incident and reporting.
- Maintenance & Small Works: oversee supplier reactive and planned maintenance tasks and manage customer-requested rechargeable works outside the core contract.
- Change & Project Support: Coordinate small-to-medium BAU workplace improvement projects and provide vital local operational insight for larger capital schemes and office churn.
- Landlord & Site Liaison: Act as the local point of contact for landlord services and managing agents, collaborating with GPA Asset Management to resolve day-to-day building issues.
- Team Support: Deputise for the Workplace Service Manager where required on routine operational matters.
Person specification
We are seeking a proactive, approachable, customer-focused individual to join the Workplace Service Delivery Team at our Norwich site. You will be the visible daily face of workplace services, working closely with suppliers and client leads to keep our building running smoothly and welcoming for civil servants every day.
You are likely someone with practical experience in facilities, building operations, or front-of-house customer service who is ready to take the next step in their career. As a natural problem solver and clear communicator, you enjoy interacting with people, taking pride in high standards, and working with on-site contractors to resolve issues promptly.
Essential Criteria:
- Customer Service & Operational Delivery: Experience working in a customer-facing facilities, office services, or property environment, dealing with enquiries, resolving complaints, and managing day-to-day service requests (in person or via a helpdesk system).
- Supplier & Contractor Coordination: Experience liaising with contractors or suppliers (such as cleaning, security, or maintenance teams) and conducting physical checks to ensure agreed service standards are maintained.
- Problem Solving & Prioritisation: Ability to act on own initiative to troubleshoot day-to-day workplace issues, manage routine incidents, and balance competing priorities in a busy operational setting.
- Compliance Awareness: A good understanding of basic workplace health and safety principles and a willingness to ensure building safety guidelines are followed.
Desirable Criteria:
- Exposure to small office improvement projects or minor churn works.
- Familiarity with computer-aided facilities management (CAFM) systems or reviewing service delivery reports/KPIs.
- Experience in a public sector, corporate, or multi-tenanted building environment.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Working Together
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
Technical skills
We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Customer Perspective
- Commercial Acumen
- Property Market Knowledge
- Innovation
Benefits
- 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
Selection process details
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).
Please note – At this time GPA are unable to offer any Visa Sponsorship to candidates as we do not currently hold a visa sponsorship licence. Please do not apply for permanent roles with GPA if you will require your employer to take on the sponsorship of your current or any future visas.
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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Sift
The sift is due to take place week commencing 16th November 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.
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 4 behaviours – Managing a Quality Service, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together, and Delivering at Pace.
Interview questions will be a blend of Behaviour, Experience, Strength and Technical (core skill) questions.
Further Information
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.
If 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.
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.
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.
Vetting
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.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
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).
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name :Louis Simeonidis
- Email :louis.simeonidis@gpa.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email :gparecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If 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