Quantity Surveyor in Leeds

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. Professionally responsible for supporting the end to end delivery process for the commercial and financial management of a portfolio of projects from inception to completion. You will be accountable to challenge and approve how projects are budgeted, procured and cost managed whilst still achieving the required standards and quality and delivery on programme.

This specialist role will work closely with the supplier partner network, in particular the Integrator, Framework Contractors and Professional Services Consultants to ensure management of all costs and drive enhanced value for money across all types and complex projects, including Lifecycle; Capital (change the Estate) and FF&E.

Key accountabilities:

• Provide support in the development of a full independent cost management and review process, from project inception to settlement of final account and project close.
• Analyse and use a range of relevant, credible information from varied internal and external sources to support decisions.
• Evaluate and approval of all costs incorporated in project feasibility reports, consulting with others to ensure the potential impacts on end users have been considered.
• Presenting strong recommendations in a timely manner outlining the consideration of other options, costs, benefits and risks.
• Provide an independent review and budget challenge for all types of major projects - providing cost assurance to support change management/control and displaying confidence when making difficult decisions.
• Works with Estates colleagues to ensure a holistic portfolio approach is taken across all projects to ensure the most efficient and effective management of DWP Estates assets understanding the strategic drivers for Estates and the customer, aligning activities to contribute to the wider organisational priorities.
• Develop, implement and manage project procurement policies and procedures for projects and programmes of work, communicated to all stakeholders to understand their role in the process.
• Supports the EPMS and project supply chain team in developing cost plans, encouraging joined up team work collaborating to share information, resources and support.
• Evaluation and approval of tender reports and recommendations relating to Contractor and Consultant appointments for projects and services.
• Undertake full independent Cost Audits, providing assurance in appropriateness, effectiveness and efficiency.
• Providing cost estimates for strategic programmes and projects to support Departmental policy.
• Establish and manage a cost avoidance and cost benefit reporting framework/tool for projects, to provide DWP assurance working with others to identify areas for improvement and simplify processes to use fewer resources where appropriate.
• Verifying cost improvements put forward by supplier partners relating to projects or elements of project work, which adhere to the required design standards.
• Ensure that data from completed projects is used to inform relevant benchmark data to improve future estimating.
• Ensure frameworks and contracts are up to date and rates reflect the departments design standards and market comparable, clearly explaining the reasons for change to colleagues and stakeholders and how to implement them, supporting individuals with different needs to adapt to the changes.
• Demonstrate the Authority and operational business units are receiving market comparable rates and value for money across all types and size of projects.
• Engage with other government departments and Office for Government Property/Government Property Agency, networking with similar roles and colleagues to ensure best practice is shared and understood.