Job Title

Bristol - BS2 0EL, Coventry - CV1 2WT, Darlington - DL1 5QE, London - SW1P 3BT, Manchester - M1 2WD, Sheffield - S1 2FJ, Leeds - LS1 4APPlease note - Bristol and Leeds currently have site controls in place. Therefore, this location option is only available to existing DfE employees already assigned to this office location.Job SummaryAre you a versatile chartered structural or civil engineer looking for a high-profile and influential role with wide-reaching impact across the education estate? Do you have knowledge of current building standards and experience assessing existing buildings?The Department for Education (DfE) is seeking a Building Safety Advisor to join its Technical Standards Division. You will report to the Head of Building Safety as part of a small, well-respected dynamic team of technical experts. You’ll lead impactful projects, provide strategic guidance to senior colleagues and ministers, and influence key policy decisions for structural and other building safety matters for over 22,000 schools and colleges across England. You will also support delivery teams with technical queries on individual projects.We value passionate individuals who thrive in challenging environments and can manage competing and evolving priorities including delivering ministerial objectives. We are committed to helping our team grow professionally and achieve their career goals; you will have access to continuous training, exposure to cutting-edge industry practices, and the opportunity to expand your influence across the education sector. Whether through training programs, mentoring, or exposure to senior-level projects, this is a role that will help you reach your career goals. In particular, you will be able to develop your professional knowledge on other building safety risks beyond structural issues.We understand the importance of balance and strive to support our employees in maintaining it. The role offers flexible working hours and hybrid working (minimum 60% office attendance), enabling you to manage both professional and personal responsibilities.This role is a fixed-term appointment to cover maternity leave, with an end date of 29th May 2026.Job DescriptionThe DfE Education Estates Directorate supports those who manage the education estate to ensure high-quality learning environments. We do this by offering technical guidance on existing buildings, setting standards for new ones, and funding both new-build and refurbishment projects. The Building Safety Advisor role is varied and includes:Planning and conducting research into structural safety risks. Writing guidance and standards on structural safety matters for existing and new buildings. Advising schools and colleges on building safety issues including supporting on individual cases and projects. Briefing ministers and senior colleagues on emerging risks. Contributing to cross-government initiatives on resilience and building safety issues. Responsibilities Will Include:Researching defects in common types of construction used in school buildings. This will improve knowledge and evidence of structural safety risks in the existing estate. Writing guidance for school owners and occupiers. This will support them in managing buildings that may be approaching or beyond the end of the design life. Advising on how to identify building safety risks in existing buildings and prioritise ongoing maintenance. Analysing data and identifying trends to provide evidence-led feedback which improves technical standards and guidance. Engaging with external advisors and contractors on building safety matters. Engaging with government departments and other stakeholders on building safety-related matters. Input into strategies and policy for building refurbishment and retrofit based on knowledge of existing construction types and common defects. Developing briefs for post-occupancy evaluations and analysing the results. Updating employer’s requirements for department programmes and frameworks. Contribute to structural engineer clauses and those relating to implementation of Hackitt Report, recommendations from the Grenfell inquiry and Building Safety Act. Advising colleagues on the selection and prioritisation of applications for refurbishment or rebuilding funding. Advising colleagues on sitewide constraints (e.g., ground contamination and flooding) for existing or proposed sites. Responding to official government business. Person SpecificationEssential CriteriaThe role of Building Safety Advisor is wide-ranging and we ask a lot of our people. You should be comfortable managing competing and evolving priorities, and working to demanding deadlines to deliver ministerial objectives. In return, we offer our staff excellent benefits as well as professional development opportunities and a chance to develop and make a significant positive contribution. You will have:Chartered membership of the Institution of Structural Engineers (CEng MIStructE) or Institute of Civil Engineers (CEng MICE). The ability to communicate complex technical matters to non-technical audiences. Extensive experience in assessing existing buildings, identifying defects, and recommending remediation. You should have extensive knowledge of historical construction types and practices, including post-war construction systems and components. Extensive experience of structural design, including a detailed understanding of current design codes and commonly used design guidance. You should understand the opportunities and constraints when using modern methods of construction (MMC). Experience of delivering construction projects in the public sector. Knowledge of best practices and innovations in the construction industry, with the ability to help develop standards and specifications for school buildings and grounds that align with MMC. An understanding of the implications of climate change and its impact on buildings and grounds across the education estate. QualificationsChartered structural or civil engineer.MembershipsChartered member of the Institution of Structural Engineers (CEng MIStructE), Institute of Civil Engineers (CEng MICE).BehavioursWe'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:Communicating and Influencing Making Effective Decisions Seeing the Big PictureAlongside your salary of £56,353, the Department for Education contributes £16,325 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer/promotion policies.As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the King’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.Selection Process DetailsThis vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.Application and SiftTo apply for this role, you will be asked to provide:A CV, containing details of your career history and qualifications. A Statement of Suitability (1000 words maximum) setting out how you consider your personal skills, qualifications and experience match the requirements of the role (please refer to the essential criteria listed above).At Sift, your CV and statement of suitability will be assessed against the essential criteria.InterviewAt interview, you will be assessed on your experience and the behaviours listed above.Sifting will take place in late April.Interviews will take place in Mid to late May via MS Teams.Other InformationIn your application, please don’t include personal information that identifies you. This means we can recruit based on your knowledge and skills, and not background, gender or ethnicity - it's called name blind recruitment. Please ensure that you remove from your application all references to your:name/title educational institutions age gender email address postal address phone number nationality/immigration statusWe understand that you might use AI and other resources for your application; however, please ensure all information you provide is factually accurate, truthful, and original and doesn’t include ideas or work that isn’t your own. This is so that your application is authentically and credibly your own.We reserve the right to raise the minimum pass mark in the event of a high volume or strong field of candidates.Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK from the location options provided and not from overseas.The government is committed to supporting apprenticeships, enabling people to learn and progress in a role whilst earning. We want to monitor the number of people who have completed apprenticeships who are now applying to progress further in their career and are asking this question to all candidates, on all vacancies. You will be asked a question as part of the application process about any previous apprenticeships you have completed. Your response to this question will not affect your application and it is not a requirement of the role to have completed a previous apprenticeship.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 the 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 the Department of Education of your intention by emailing stating the job reference number in the subject heading.Department for Education does not cover the cost of travel to your interview/assessment unless otherwise stated.A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.Candidates will be posted in merit order based upon location preference. Where more than one location is advertised you will be asked to state your preferred location.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.Terms and Conditions of Candidates Transferring from ALBs and NDPBsBodies that are not accredited by the Civil Service Commission and are not able to advertise at Across Government on Civil Service jobs will be treated as external new starters and will come into DfE on modernised terms and conditions with a salary at the band minimum.Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission but do not have civil service status will be offered modernised terms and will not have continuous service recognised for leave or sickness benefits. Salaries should be offered at band minimum, but there is some flexibility where this would cause a detriment to the individual.Bodies that are accredited by the Civil Service Commission and do have Civil Service status will be treated as OGD transfers. Staff appointed on lateral transfer will move on to pre-modernised DfE terms (unless they were on modernised terms in their previous organisation). Staff appointed on promotion will move on to modernised DfE terms. Staff will transfer over on their existing salary (on lateral transfer) and any pay above the DfE pay band maximum will be paid as a mark time allowance. Staff moving on promotion will have their salaries calculated using the principles set out in the attached OGD transfer supplementary information.Reasonable AdjustmentIf 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 Department of Education via 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.Childcare VouchersAny move to Department for Education (DfE) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.SecuritySuccessful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.Nationality RequirementsThis 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) 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 RequirementsWorking for the Civil ServiceThe Civil Service Code 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. 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 to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.Contact Point for ApplicantsJob Contact: Name: Email: Team: Email: informationThe Department for Education’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Principles, which outlines that selection for appointment is made on merit based on fair and open competition. You have the right to complain if you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles. In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly with the department concerned via . If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages. #J-18808-Ljbffr