Governance Manager

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 expert functions 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.
This critical role will support the Estates Risk and Governance Lead ensure the continued success of the DWP Estates function by ensuring everything we do is looked at through a compliance and governance lens. Our highly complex and diverse portfolio, coupled with an iterative government agenda means this role is exposed to a variety of activities. You will need to be able to work at pace while helping to ensure every element of guidance, policy and our internal governance frameworks are met. You will be supporting with the delivery and maintenance of our standard governance frameworks but also responsible for the development of frameworks to support various delivery projects. You will need to be an excellent communicator, able to utilise various mediums and confidently communicate to a variety of audiences.,
• Develop and maintain elements of the Estates Governance Framework, supporting the Governance and Risk Lead in managing the framework overall
• Support the Governance and Risk Lead in reviewing and suggesting improvements to the Estates Governance and Control Framework to ensure it supports Estates strategy and remains a value-add tool for Estates (including supporting Estates supply chain governance forums) This includes leading an Estates Governance Network Group to support cross-collaboration and sharing of best practice
• Business management support for various high-level governance meetings (currently the Capital Projects Board), including (as required) coordinating with key stakeholders, chasing and updating action points, agreeing and following up agenda items
• Lead or support the development of new governance processes and frameworks for individual delivery projects and operational teams
• Create and analyse governance MI and feedback to ensure Estates programme governance remains fit for purpose
• Prepare reports on governance MI through various mediums, to a cross section of stakeholders including senior leaders
• Support the drive to ensure that Estates, and the Department, is compliant with cross-government governance and risk management standards and principles (e.g. Corporate Governance in Central Government Departments: Code of Good Practice, Government Functional Standards, etc.)
• Support with governance elements of supplier or internal audits and support the wider Governance and Control Team with compliance related activities
• Lead the development, oversight and management of the Estates Registered File policy and process, including matrix management of the team pool HEO and analysis of the resulting recorded MI
• Working alongside the department's data SME's, ensure all governance related documentation is correctly used and stored in line with DWP policies
• Alongside the Estates Risk Manager, deputise for the Governance and Risk Lead when required
• Support the drive within Estates that seeks to prove that effective and proportionate governance of organisations, programmes and projects reinforces delivery of objectives and achievement of business or programme plans
• Lead the management and oversight of the Estates Personal Property Damage Claim policy and process
• Lead the development and maintenance of the Estates Governance SharePoint site, including alignment with other SharePoint sites on the Estates SharePoint Hub
• Keep aware of regulatory developments within or outside of the Department as well as evolving best practices in governance across Government and the private sector
• Keep aware of the over-all Estates Business Plan and project delivery plans to ensure that relevant and proportionate governance is in place