Job summary

As the Head of Facilities Management at GCHQ, your work will help to protect national security as you make sure our facilities are safe, efficient, and of the highest standard. From shaping forward-thinking strategies to working on one-of-a-kind projects, this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact.

Job description

About Us

GCHQ is an intelligence, cyber and security agency with a mission to keep the UK safe. We use cutting-edge technology, ingenuity and partnerships to identify, analyse and disrupt threats. Working with our intelligence partners North and South, we protect the UK from terrorism, cyber-attacks and espionage. At GCHQ you’ll do varied and fascinating work in a supportive and inclusive environment that puts the emphasis on teamwork.  

The Role 

As the Head of Facilities Management at GCHQ, your work will help to protect national security as you make sure our facilities are safe, efficient, and of the highest standard. From shaping forward-thinking strategies to working on one-of-a-kind projects, this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact.  

Collaboration is at the heart of this role. Working with the Security Team, and colleagues across the organisation you’ll maintain the integrity of all sites and facilities. Within the Estates Business Unit, you will work alongside the Strategy and Planning Team, Capital Projects Team, the Business Support Team, and other key stakeholders, to ensure all goals align with GCHQ’s broader objectives.  As the lead for the Faciliies Management Team, you'll develop and execute a strategy that guides space use, infrastructure resilience, and future upgrades whilst maintaining high service standards and building user experiences. 

But this role isn’t just about working with other teams – it’s about leading your own too. Here, you’ll nurture a culture of excellence, security and development, to support your team in reaching their full potential. You’ll also champion sustainability, helping us reduce our environmental impact, improve energy efficiency, and meet sustainability goals. 

In addition to managing our facilities budget and making sure we’re cost-effective with resources, you’ll also oversee the seamless delivery of Total  Facilities Management (TFM), major contracts, and proactive maintenance programmes. By balancing day-to-day operations with long-term infrastructure needs you’ll make sure everything runs smoothly, meets security standards, and minimises disruptions. In all you do, you’ll prioritise health, safety, and compliance, ensuring our facilities meet UK regulations and environmental laws through regular audits and assessments. 
 
In this dynamic role, you’ll usually have the opportunity for monthly travel in the UK, with occasional international travel, giving you the chance to see the impact you’re having firsthand and experience the variety that comes with this exciting position. 

Person specification

About You 

You’re a supportive leader who knows how to connect and communicate with people, but who also understands the importance of discretion and confidentiality when it matters. You have a developed understanding of UK health, safety, and environmental regulations, as well as an awareness of the security requirements required within a secure facility. You have experience with budget management, project management, and large-scale facilities operations. Plus, you have a sound background of implementing sustainability initiatives and improving operational efficiency.   

You will have worked in facilities management at a senior level within a large organisation or a complex multi-site environment, and be able to demonstrate this to us.  

You’ll be able to show us how you have previously led a facilities management team including optimising the work of your people and  setting direction for staff and contractors.  

Ideally, you’ll hold a minimum of a Level 4 qualification in Facilities Management, Engineering, or a related field.  

Benefits

Training and Development 

From the moment you join GCHQ, you can expect plenty of support. Your journey with us will start with a comprehensive 3-day induction course, helping you to settle in, understand our culture, and get to know the team. Along with this, you’ll be paired with an assigned buddy, who will be there to guide you as you get started. 

We know there’s no-one-size-fits-all approach to development, so the support you receive will be tailored to your needs. If it interests you, there’s the opportunity to pursue an IWFM accreditation as part of your growth with us. 

Rewards and Benefits 

You’ll receive a starting salary of £84,048 plus other benefits including: 

• 25 Days Annual Leave automatically rising to 30 days after 5 years' service, and an additional 10.5 days public and privilege holidays
• Opportunities to be recognised through our employee performance scheme
• Interest-free season ticket loan
• Excellent pension scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Facilities such as a gym, restaurant and on-site coffee bars (at some locations)
• Paid parental and adoption leave 

Equal Opportunities 

At GCHQ diversity and inclusion are critical to our mission. To protect the UK, we need a truly diverse workforce that reflects the society we serve. This includes diversity in every sense of the word: those with different backgrounds, ages, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, ways of thinking and those with disabilities or neurodivergent conditions. We therefore welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including those from groups that are under-represented in our workforce such as women, those from an ethnic minority background, people with disabilities and those from low socio-economic backgrounds. 

We’re Disability Confident 

GCHQ are proud to have achieved Leader status within the DWP’s Disability Confident scheme. This is aimed at encouraging employers to think differently about disability and take action to improve how they recruit, retain and develop disabled people. Being Disability Confident, we aim to offer a person-to-person interview to any candidate who self-identifies as disabled and meets the essential criteria for the role. This is our ‘Offer of Interview’ (OOI). To secure a place at the Assessment Centre for this vacancy, the essential criteria (in order of application process) are: 

• Able to demonstrate having worked in facilities management at a senior level within large complex organisations or multi-site environments.
• Able to demonstrate how to us how you have previously led a facilities management team enhancing the service delivered by your workforce. 

What to Expect 

Our recruitment process is fair, transparent, and based on merit. Here is a brief overview of each stage, in order: 

• Application sift, looking at your experience and relevant skills for the role
• In-person Assessment Centre including short presentation and competency-based interview
• If successful, you will receive a conditional offer of employment 

Please note, you must successfully pass each stage of the process to progress to the next. Your application may take around 6 - 9 months to process including vetting, so we advise you continue any current employment until you have received your final job offer.