National Furniture Lead

Locations: Nottingham, Liverpool, Leeds, Birmingham, Manchester

Are you passionate about creating exceptional workplace environments that inspire productivity and well-being? Do you thrive on managing complex projects and building strong relationships with suppliers and stakeholders?

If so, continue reading to find out more about this fantastic opportunity to join our Estates Team within HMRC.

We are at the forefront of delivering the biggest property programme in the UK. We are at the leading edge of Government property transformation. The purpose of Estates is to provide HMRC with an estate which is the right size and shape to meet both the current and future needs of our customers in HMRCs business areas. We are a customer service organisation which exists to offer high quality, easy to use services to enable our colleagues to perform at their best by providing working environments in which they want to work.

The Service Design and User Experience (SDUX) team sits within the Estates Locations function, delivering the improved workspace vision in support of the Locations Programme and Govt Hubs Programme.

This role will lead on Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment (FF&E) for HMRC’s Estates Directorate.

Job description

There are two overarching components to this role:

Management of furniture, fixings and equipment.

• Contract management of suppliers, from initial tender through to delivery and post-delivery evaluation.
• Lifecycle management of furniture.
• Ownership and management of the provision of specialist furniture (for occupational health).
• Ensuring consistency across furniture delivery routes
• Warranty management.
• Lead, support and develop the furniture team in order to maintain customer service excellence.

Operational contract management

• Management of supplier relationships and their specific project performance.
• Work with colleagues in the Commercial Directorate to deliver pre- and post-tender activity.
• Coordination with CAT B design teams, ensuring the furniture supplier is an integral part of the wider project team, and can co-ordinate their activities with other suppliers.
• Identification and resolution of risks and issues that could compromise the wider design ethos, intervening and negotiating practical compromises.
• Oversee the team’s review of FF&E installations in Regional Centres annually.

Person specification

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in contract management, supplier relations, and project delivery. They should possess excellent leadership skills, a strategic mindset, and the ability to manage both operational and steady-state environments. You will be adept at developing and implementing standards, optimising processes, and driving continuous improvement while maintaining a focus on customer service excellence.

Essential Criteria

• Programme and Project Management qualification (g. Prince 2 Practitioner, MAPM, HMRC PDLA), or willingness to work towards.
• Knowledge of the furniture industry
• Evidence of working with suppliers; skilful in negotiation.
• Experience of working in a fast-paced project team, or of large-scale change projects.

The post holder must undertake all standard management, security, health & safety, and diversity training.

Desirable Criteria

• Inclusive Design policy and planning, and its positive impacts.
• To be (or to work towards being) a member of a recognised professional body for procurement and supply.
• Creating or leading engaged, effective multi-disciplinary project teams.

Qualifications

Programme and Project Management qualification (e.g. Prince 2 Practitioner, MAPM, HMRC PDLA), or willingness to work towards.