Head of Business Cases

• Details
• Reference number
• 474300
• Salary
• £68,568 - £74,147
• A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

GBP

• Job grade
• Grade 6
• GPA G6 National
• Contract type
• Permanent
• Business area
• GPA - Property
• Type of role
• Governance
• Policy
• Project Delivery
• Property
• Senior leadership
• Working pattern
• Full-time
• Number of jobs available
• 1
• Contents

• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Location

Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, Swindon

About the job

Job summary

The Government Property Agency is the largest property holder in government, with more than £2.1 billion in property assets and over 55% of the government’s office estate.

We are transforming the way the Civil Service works by creating great places to work, leading the largest commercial office programme in the UK, working towards halving carbon emissions from government offices, and achieving greater value for taxpayers. And we are looking for innovative, solutions-focused people to join our team.

Representing the best covenant in the UK – His Majesty’s Government – we are leading significant transformational programmes such as the Government Hubs Programme, Whitehall Campus Programme and Net Zero Programme. We are also delivering cost-effective property services such as asset management, lifecycle replacement and workplace services.

Innovation and progress underpin our behaviours. We foster a culture of lifelong learning, where curiosity and self-improvement are encouraged. Our four core values are at the heart of everything we do. They shape our culture and guide how we work, lead and grow together:

• Striving for excellence - We always aim to deliver great results
• Empowering through respect - We insist on fair treatment for all, always
• Acting with integrity - We consistently do the right thing
• Succeeding together - We rely on each other to achieve success

The GPA is committed to representing the communities we serve by making Diversity, Equality and Inclusion part of everything we do.

To ensure that we are always recruiting and retaining a diverse mix of talent, we are particularly inviting applications from candidates who are disabled, ethnically or gender diverse, and people who identify as being part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Join our dynamic and diverse team that leads with purpose, improving sustainability, nurturing social value, driving inclusivity and flexibility, and kickstarting economic growth. We are driven by purpose, and you can be part of it too: where you make a meaningful impact; where you influence; where your voice really matters; where you help to shape our future direction.

Job description

The Investment Directorate leads on Capital property portfolio investment on behalf of the GPA. Working with the portfolio planning team, the Head of Business Cases owns the approvals process and creates and maintains a strong business case to justify the necessary investment in a project, leading a team, aligned with GPA priorities. They will lead the team to determine whether the project is, and remains, desirable, viable, and achievable, supported by strong evidence. They will lead the team to identify benefits and work with finance benefits colleagues to maintain the benefits strategy. They will also lead the approvals governance process to ensure business cases are approved and projects can be initiated.

Business case writing - Leads the planning, development, and drafting of business cases. Is ready to challenge expert input and ensure compliance with organisational and Treasury requirements. Uses insights from similar projects to guide the preparation of business cases.

Business case support - Creates and provides guidance to stakeholders on business case requirements and development using organisational templates and the HMT 5 case model. Designs new templates that align with business needs.

Business case governance - Presents the business case rationale to senior managers and governance forums. Collaborates with key stakeholders to anticipate and address issues and delays while engaging with senior management.

Seeing the bigger picture - Ensures all relevant organisational factors for change are included within a comprehensive business case and provides a clear rationale for preferred options

Configuration management - Leads the adoption of configuration management techniques to maintain the business case's validity throughout the project life cycle, and updates sponsors as needed.

Benefits - Leads engagement with stakeholders to identify, define, and quantify benefits. Negotiates with stakeholders to agree on key benefits and work with senior sponsors to ensure their expectations are met.

Stakeholder management - Manages and engages with key stakeholders to support business case production and ensure alignment with benefits realisation.

Digital and data - Using digital tools applies data analytics to develop robust business cases, assess project viability and track benefits realisation.

Person specification

This role will suit an individual with a background in public sector business case creation or review, and in a complex project or portfolio environment. As capital project funding is subject to Spending Reviews, the individual must be comfortable working in an ambiguous environment.

The individual must have team management and leadership experience and be able to engage a variety of stakeholders at any level of seniority, and to credibly engage and put across a well supported set of arguments as part of the business cases and benefits realisation plans while preserving GPA’s investment and delivery reputation.

Working level of competence in all aspects of business cases, such as estimating/forecasting, investment appraisal and benefits, commercial strategy, planning, risk management and assurance, and strategy are required.

Experience & Technical Skills

Essential criteria:

• Experience of working in a complex project environment and understanding of complex information
• Experience of benefits management
• Experience in drafting high value business cases and securing approval, ideally from HMT
• Experience in estimating/forecasting, investment appraisal and benefits, commercial strategy, planning, risk management and assurance, and strategy are required.
• Experience of team management
• Excellent communication and engagement skills

Desirable criteria:

• Working in a property or construction environment

Qualifications & Accreditations

Essential criteria:

The successful candidate must have at least one of the following:

• APMG Better Business cases Practitioner
• APM Chartered Project Professional
• APM Project Management Qualification
• Management of Portfolios Practitioner
• Managing Successful Programmes Practitioner
• PMI Project Management Professional
• Project Leadership Programme

You will need to meet the minimum UK residency period as determined by the level of security vetting being undertaken for the role, which for CTC is 3 years UK residency, SC is 5 years UK residency, and DV is 10 years UK residency.

If you have any questions about this residency requirement, please speak to the recruitment team prior to submitting your application.

Qualifications

The successful candidate must have at least one of the following:

• APMG Better Business cases Practitioner
• APM Chartered Project Professional
• APM Project Management Qualification
• Management of Portfolios Practitioner
• Managing Successful Programmes Practitioner
• PMI Project Management Professional
• Project Leadership Programme
• Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

• Customer Perspective
• Commercial Acumen
• Property Market Knowledge
• Innovation
• Presentation

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £68,568, Government Property Agency contributes £19,864 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides .

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the communities and wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and well-being and aim to create a sense of belonging in a workplace where everyone feels valued. The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.

The 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 (RIS) to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Please note - At this time GPA are unable to offer any Visa Sponsorship to candidates as we do not currently hold a visa sponsorship licence. Please do not apply for permanent roles with GPA if you will require your employer to take on the sponsorship of your current or any future visas.

A rtificial 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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Sift

The sift is due to take after 14th July 2026.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to include a CV and a 750 word personal statement.

The personal statement should align with the person specification.

Interview

GPA policy is for interviews to be held face to face, with virtual interviews only by absolute exception. The date and location will be confirmed if you are invited to interview. If you feel this will be a problem for you, please contact recruitment@gpa.gov.uk to discuss prior to submitting your application.

At interview, applicants will be scored against 5 behaviours - Seeing the big picture, Making effective decisions, Communicating and influencing, Leadership and Delivering at Pace.

Interview questions will be a blend of Behaviour, Experience, and Technical (core skill) questions.

Please also come prepared to give a short presentation on:

Prepare a 5-minute presentation for the GPA Executive Committee on how you would improve the quality of business cases over the next 12 months and what your approach would be to shifting the departmental culture, ensuring stakeholders come to value the business case process.

Slides are required.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Current Civil Servants (all contract types) will need to ensure that they are still employed as a civil servant at the point of starting in the relevant new post. If their contract ends (e.g. end of FTA contract or resignation) at any point during the recruitment/onboarding process for the advertised role, they will no longer be eligible and may be withdrawn.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Please note: in addition to the standard pre-employment checks for appointment into the Civil Service, all candidates must also obtain National Security Vetting at Security Check (SC) clearance level for this vacancy. You will normally need to meet the minimum UK residency period as determined by the level of vetting being undertaken, which for SC is 5 years UK residency prior to your vetting application. If you have any questions about this residency requirement, please speak to the vacancy holder for this post.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Reasonable Adjustment

If 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 Government Recruitment Service via gparecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as 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 an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Feedback

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check .

See our vetting charter .

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

Nationality requirements

This 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 requirements

Working for the Civil Service

The 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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

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 applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Miska Eatough
• Email : miska.eatough@gpa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : gparecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact HR@gpa.gov.uk