Standards & Procedures Manager

Job summary

At FCDO Services, we protect the UK’s interests at home and overseas. We design and construct secure government buildings and courier diplomatic packages worldwide, safeguard government tech and a whole lot more. Our work is as varied and vital as it gets, but we never lose sight of our people. Their skills, aspirations and growth mean as much as the global mission we’re on. In our world, it all matters.

Job description

The success of a government project can depend on secure, timely shipments and our Logistics team always deliver the goods. From dedicated drivers to King's Messengers, they've delivered to over 250 destinations worldwide, moving over a million kilograms of freight annually across land, air, and sea. Now, you've got the opportunity to join them.

Delivering globally.

Dispatching each shipment with care.

Seeing your impact go further.

It all matters.

Set the standard for logistics that keeps things moving

As a Standards & Procedures Manager, you'll help ensure people across Global Logistics have a consistent way of doing things across FCDO Services. You’ll lead the development and upkeep of standards, Process Mapping and SOPs across different services and locations, addressing business needs by establishing a coherent framework that teams can use & replicate. Working closely with operational leaders and improvement teams, you’ll understand what’s happening on the ground, find the right ways of working and ensure our procedures meet our safety, security, regulatory and quality requirements.

You’ll also have an important role in making sure those standards work in practice. Keeping an eye across the functions, you’ll be quick to spot where processes could work better and keep procedures relevant in a fast-moving environment. Reporting to the Head of Operational Excellence, you’ll be line managing the SOPs Administrator and providing direction across SOP development – all while working with senior logistics leaders and HR colleagues to support learning and audit readiness. This is your chance to make a real difference behind the scenes, helping make the logistics that support projects around the world safer and more resilient.

Use your eye for detail where consistency matters

Bringing your experience developing and managing SOPs, policies or process documentation in a busy operational environment, you’ll have an excellent understanding of what it takes to keep things consistent and compliant. You’ll know your way around logistics, operations or service delivery environments, and understand the importance of having clear processes that can help people work safely, reduce risk and be replicated across sites. Comfortable working in a matrix environment, you’ll be adept at building strong relationships, communicating clearly and being confident enough to challenge when something could be done better.

Organised and detail-focused, you’ll be able to keep several priorities moving at once – no matter how busy things get. You’ll also have experience managing and developing others, creating a team where people can do their best work. A good understanding of Health & Safety is vital to this role, as is the ability to stay calm and make sound decisions under pressure. But most important of all, you’ll hold yourself to a high standard and expect the same from the procedures you create.

Discover the support you need to grow your career further

Working with us you’ll help keep people, information, and assets safe around the world. It’s a role you can feel proud of; and we aim to make every part of your career just as rewarding. That’s why when you join us, expect to receive a competitive salary, good holiday entitlement and a Civil Service Pension. Along with this, you’ll also have access to training and other development opportunities to help grow your career with us. Our offices have an on-site gym, nursery, café, and restaurant, and we offer interest-free loans on season tickets and bikes to help you get there. It's a great set of benefits made to support all you do, and all you need.

Want to see your future team’s work in action? Step into our Virtual Embassy and select a guide to take you round to see how we deliver for government customers and how you could help. Explore the embassy now at virtual-embassy.fcdoservicescareers.co.uk

Every single colleague must be security cleared before joining us. If you’re successful in your application, we’ll ask you to undergo our vetting process to achieve Developed Vetting (DV) clearance. You can find out more about vetting on our website: https://www.fcdoservicescareers.co.uk/how-to-apply/

To find out more about our benefits and our organisation, please visit fcdoservicescareers.co.uk

It takes a diverse team to protect a diverse world

The vital work we do takes an incredible community of colleagues, with different skills, backgrounds, cultures and identities. We support every individual, so that you always know you’re welcome and valued. It’s what makes us a Disability Confident employer. And why we’re recognised as a ‘Carer Confident’ workplace. And it’s how you know you’re joining an inspiring, inclusive organisation.

Person specification

We are looking for people with :

• Proven experience leading the development, governance or management of standard operating procedures, policies or process documentation within a complex operational environment.
• Strong understanding of logistics, operational or service delivery environments, including the need for consistency, compliance and risk control.
• Experience working in a matrix-managed organisation, influencing operational teams without direct line authority.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to challenge constructively and gain buy-in for standardised ways of working.
• Strong people management skills, including experience managing and developing administrative or specialist roles.
• Sound understanding of Health & Safety requirements and the importance of safe systems of work within operational procedures.
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage multiple procedures, reviews and stakeholders simultaneously.
• High attention to detail, with the ability to ensure accuracy, clarity and consistency across documentation.
• Ability to operate effectively under pressure and manage competing priorities.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Managing a Quality Service
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Proven experience leading the development, governance or management of standard operating procedures, policies or process documentation within a complex operational environment.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to challenge constructively and gain buy-in for standardised ways of working.
• Strong people management skills, including experience managing and developing administrative or specialist roles.
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage multiple procedures, reviews and stakeholders simultaneously
• Strong understanding of logistics, operational or service delivery environments, including the need for consistency, compliance and risk control.
• Experience working in a matrix-managed organisation, influencing operational teams without direct line authority.
• High attention to detail, with the ability to ensure accuracy, clarity and consistency across documentation. Ability to operate effectively under pressure and manage competing priorities
• Commercial Awareness

We only ask for evidence of these technical skills on your application form:

• Proven experience leading the development, governance or management of standard operating procedures, policies or process documentation within a complex operational environment.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to challenge constructively and gain buy-in for standardised ways of working.
• Strong people management skills, including experience managing and developing administrative or specialist roles.
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage multiple procedures, reviews and stakeholders simultaneously

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,865, FCDO Services contributes

£11,548 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• Learning and development tailored to your role.
• Annual leave starting at 25 days.
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
• A Civil Service pension.
• Free shuttle bus available between central Milton Keynes and Hanslope Park

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

To apply for this role, you will be asked to provide your CV, a personal statement, and provide answers to some job specific /technical skills.

Your CV and personal statement will not form part of the assessment they will provide an insight into your work history and experience.

Your CV should include:

• no personal identifying details
• career history with key responsibilitie s
• achievements
• qualifications

Your personal statement should outline your interest in the role.

Candidates will only be sifted on answers provided to the technical/ job specific questions which are outlined in the application form.

Those that are successful will be invited to a Face to face interview.

At the interview you will be asked a blend of questions on technical /job specific skills and behaviours.

Candidates will need to complete a presentation along with the interview questions.

Candidates who are judged to be close to meeting the criteria may be considered for other positions in FCDO Services which may be at a lower grade, but have a potential skills match.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window) .

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window) .

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Medical

Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window) .

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.