Water Hygiene Specialist

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

From the design and development of policies to the delivery of services supporting work, welfare, pensions and child maintenance, DWP is the Government’s largest department.

People are at the very heart of what we do. We ensure disabled people can live more independent lives; help tackle poverty and homelessness; provide a financial foundation for a secure old age; and support families ensuring children can fulfil their potential.

DWP has the largest commercial estate in government and our team is committed to being smaller, greener and better – helping people to work, grow and thrive. Our estate provides accommodation for colleagues who support millions of daily customer interactions in Jobcentres and Health Assessment centres, back of house offices delivering frontline services and hub sites housing expertfunctions such as Policy, Finance, Digital and HR.

The DWP Estates function ensures the smooth and efficient operation of this network on a day-to-day basis. We manage a private sector supply chain that delivers essential services such as security guarding, maintenance, property and leasehold, construction, cleaning and facilities management. Many of these services are business critical and we cannot safely open our offices without them.

Our ambitions are to:

• Transition to a smaller, more affordable, and adaptable estate
• Invest in improving DWP’s buildings and infrastructure, conducted mainly through an extensive programme of planned replacement works
• Meet our agreed Government Greening Commitments - creating a culture where sustainability is embedded
• Expertly deliver cost effective services
• Create a professional working culture that is best in class across the Government Property world.

There is no better time to join us as we transform our estate and make our buildings fit for the future.

Your role will be responsible for setting priorities, agreeing targets, and monitoring performance of all activities related to the management of statutory, and mandatory tasks, associated with Water Hygiene (Domain). You will act as the DWP Estates subject matter expert, leading this domain and allocating responsibilities to the wider Asset Management team, supplier management chain, and other DWP Estates operational teams. You will be accountable for outcomes in the management of all aspects related to Water Hygiene. You will provide technical and compliance expertise to ensure the DWP Estate portfolio is managed and controlled, safe and compliant.

Government Property Profession Career Framework(Link)

This role sits within the following:

• Job Family – Strategic Asset Management
• Core Role – Property Data Management
• Level – Senior Practitioner

Key accountabilities

• Act as DWP Estates subject matter expert on the domains of Water Hygiene. To ensure that the DWP Estate division has a complete, relevant, operational, and compliant Water management system to include: plans, registers, drawings, surveys, and risk matrix for its property portfolio.
• You will have a detailed understanding of best practice and legal requirements regarding Water Hygiene compliance, and management, within commercial buildings. Using collaboration and a practical approach to make improvements and innovations. Ultimately, to ensure DWP Estates have all the information and data required to make valued and insightful decisions, and assurance, of a compliant and managed Estate with regards to Water Hygiene management. You will use your strong influencing skills to broker solutions across organisational boundaries.
• Lead collaborative working with the external DWP specialist and/or ‘Carve-out’ consultants in the development and implementation of a performance management system, for the assurance and compliance of statutory maintenance activities related to Water Hygiene.
• Act as the DWP Estates Responsible Person in respect of Water safety.
• Deliver a risk averse property safety service in respect of Water safety.
• Ensure the estates premises portfolio is fully compliant with all legislation within your domain, and develop strategies, policies and procedures surrounding this.
• Ensure an effective system is in place to identify and rectify any incidents where non- compliance is found for your managed domain.
• Management, control and implementation for Water Risk assessments and treatment plans and escalation for non-conforming water systems to the Asset Management team and Compliance team..
• Periodically review survey documentation produced by the specialist and/or ‘Carve-out’ Consultants and appointed TFM contractor, including supply chain, to ensure that all surveys and action plans are documented, tracked and rectification works agreed are closed-out.
• Lead in the capture and interpretation of accurate and relevant asset and maintenance data for Water to ensure correct maintenance, works and investment is in place, and our sites are safe and maintained throughout their life.
• Lead domain site investigations to ensure compliant sites, completed works, capture of complete and correct asset data, and life cycle works, with associated documentation.
• Act as DWP Estates responsible person – subject matter expert – and lead for Water in making recommendations for future works, improvements, maintenance, and investments to ensure best value for money, innovation, and compliance.
• Act as DWP Estates Subject Matter Expert / Responsible Person and lead in the authorization and sign off, of delay requests for maintenance and repairs.
• Lead in the technical assessment of requested / required repairs, improvements and innovations / works to Water Assets and Systems.
• Assist the Asset Intelligence Team and Asset Management section in the gathering and management of asset data, trends analysis and insight.
• Lead in the management and control of the DWP Estates building assets, systems, associated maintenance and works within your domain to ensure a seamless compliance and management process.
• Drive value and compliance and the DWP principles of ‘Smaller, Greener, more affordable, and adaptable estate.
• Assist DWP Estates with data, information, and insight to ensure DWP are meeting our objectives and goals.
• Perform audits and checks of data and compliance practices, maintenance, information, to understand root-causes, close gaps and make improvements.
• Collaborate with DWP Estates and supply chain partners to ensure continues improvement and full compliance.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure full legal and contractual compliance, best practice, and value for money.
• Assist DWP in the acquisition and handover of ‘new’ buildings and projects to ensure water and Asbestos compliance, best practice, and collection and management of all relevant data.
• Drive innovation and new ways of working.
• Deputise for Asset Intelligence team manager / members in meetings.
• Strive for best practice asset management and ISO55000.
• Perform deep-dives, audits, and checks of data and compliance information, to understand root-causes, close gaps and make improvements.
• Collaborate with DWP Estates teams and supply chain partners to ensure continuous improvement and full compliance with legislation, and good practice in the management of fire, Water Hygiene and asbestos maintenance / surveys and inspections.
• Proactive and innovation in compliance service delivery.

Essential Skills, Knowledge & Experience

• Experience of holding Responsible Person / Subject Matter Expert status for Water Hygiene management.
• Experience of working with outsourced teams (and specialist contractors) in delivering works associated with Water Safety & legionella compliance.
• Experience of working collaboratively with specialist consultants managing and Water Hygiene delivery, assurance, and oversight functions.
• Expert knowledge in subject matter for legislative and mandatory standards for Water System management.
• Fully experienced and qualified in supporting delivery of a high performing Water Safety function for a large premises portfolio.
• Experience of presenting, analysing and interpretation of Water data.
• Knowledge of Water acceptance criteria and developing non-conformance rectification plans.
• Excellent communication and customer centric skills and a great team leader who offers support to the wider business.
• Experience of managing technical audit processes and Deep Dive Technical Audits.
• High level of organisational skills, being able to balance competing priorities to meet strict deadlines and schedules.
• Excellent knowledge of ACoP L8 ‘Legionnaires’ disease and HSG 274 and excellent Technical knowledge of Water Systems and the impact these have on the control of legionella.
• Experience in supporting teams and being the IC expert in respect of Water Safety.
• Understanding of Landlords Duties in line with ACoP L8 ‘Legionnaires’ disease: The control of legionella bacteria in water systems.

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential

• An accredited Higher National Certificate (HNC) or higher in HVAC Engineering, Mechanical Engineering or Building Services Engineering, or equivalent demonstratable experience in an equivalent Technical Role for Water Systems.
• Hold BOHS P901 – Management and control of building hot and cold water services or the HABC Level 2 Award in Legionella Awareness (or equivalent).

Desirable

• NEBOSH Certificate (or equivalent)
• L8 Legionella Approved Person Trained
• Degree qualified with a core competency in Building Services,
• Chartered Membership of a relevant institution (e.g., IMechE or CIBSE)

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

• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together

• 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 average employer contribution of 27%

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 job 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. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business need but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.

Job contact :

Name :
Matt Pepper
Email :
matt.pepper@dwp.gov.uk

Recruitment team

Email :
dwprecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk