WEST MIDLAND RESERVE FORCES’ AND CADETS’ ASSOCIATIONS
Vacancy Notice – Estate Officer
Applications are invited for a full-time Estate Officer at West Midland Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Association (West Midland RFCA) based in Harborne, Birmingham.
This Crown Service (Civil Service EO/D grade equivalent) post is vacant.
West Midland RFCA is one of 13 autonomous RFCAs. The RFCAs are arms-length bodies of the Ministry of Defence (MOD) with Crown status. The West Midland RFCA role is to provide first class support to the tri-service Reserves and MOD-sponsored Cadet Forces across the six counties of Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands and Worcestershire.
The Role.
The WMRFCA Estate Officer plays a significant role in assisting the oversight and support of the management and assurance of Hard and Soft FM services in support of the users of the Volunteer Estate, including Reserves and Cadets.
*Travel around the WM will be required*
Reporting to the Estate Manager, the Estate Officer will be expected to work closely with customers, industry partners, CRFCA and other stakeholders on a day-to-day basis to assure delivery of Hard and Soft FM services to the estate enabling it to be utilised to its fullest extent. This will include the oversight and support of all aspects of the delivery of day-to-day Hard and Soft FM services and undertaking assurance of maintenance/Billable Works and acting as a point of contact to ensure customer needs are met.
Salary and benefits.
The salary for the appointment is £30,740, there is the option to join the CRFCA’s pension scheme.
This is a Career Average Revalued Earnings scheme (CARE) in which the employer contribution is 13% and the employee contribution 5%.
The successful candidate will be entitled to 25 days’ annual leave, plus bank holidays. Annual leave entitlement increases by 1 day per year up to 30 days; those with 5 years’ prior service with HM Forces/OGD will start with 30 days’ entitlement. The successful candidate will also be required to be have an Enhanced Disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) prior to appointment
Application and Interviews.
Applications should be received no later than noon on Friday 4th September 2026
The shortlist of applicants called for interview will be notified as soon as possible after that date.
Applications should comprise:
- a current CV (no longer than two pages)
and
- a covering letter (also no longer than two pages) demonstrating how they meet the essential requirements of this job, including evidence of relevant professional accreditations / memberships, and why they consider themselves suitable for the position, indicating their interest and motivation to assume this role.
The date for interviews is Tuesday 15th September 2026
WMRFCA reserve the right to close this advert prior to the closing date once sufficient applications are received.
NJWalker
Nicola Walker | Head of Support Services | RSA | Office Manager
JOB DESCRIPTION – ESTATE OFFICER
Background
1. The Reserve Forces’ and Cadets’ Associations (RFCAs) are central government bodies with Crown status, each with their own schemes of association, drawn up in accordance with Defence Council regulations, under the Reserve Forces Act 1996 (RFA 96). The RFCAs are arm’s-length bodies (ALB) of the Ministry of Defence (MOD). The Council of RFCAs (CRFCA) constituted by the 13 individual RFCAs provides central coordination and the corporate focus to enable the Associations to fulfil the requirements of their customers, within resources. The CRFCA gives advice and assistance to the Defence Council and to the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force on matters that concern Reserve Forces and cadets.
Job Description
2. Appointment details.
a. Job title: Estate Officer
b. Job grade: EO
c. Reports to: Estate Manager
d. Location: Tennal Grange, Tennal Rd, Harborne, Birmingham
3. General Description of the Role
The WMRFCA Estate Officer plays a significant role in assisting the oversight and support of the management and assurance of Hard and Soft[i] FM services in support of the users of the Volunteer Estate, including Reserves and Cadets.
Reporting to the Estate Manager, the Estate Officer will be expected to work closely with customers, industry partners, CRFCA and other stakeholders on a day-to-day basis to assure delivery of Hard and Soft FM services to the estate enabling it to be utilised to its fullest extent. This will include the oversight and support of all aspects of the delivery of day-to-day Hard and Soft FM services and undertaking assurance of maintenance/Billable Works and acting as a point of contact to ensure customer needs are met.
The Estate Officer will be expected to deputise for the Estate Manager as required.
4. Principal Areas of Accountability, Tasks and Duties
Working to support the Estate Manager:
Leadership and Management
· Carry out line management duties ensuring that staff effectively meet their objectives and achieve their professional goals – line manage the AO.
Ensure direct report is compliant with mandatory training requirements appropriate to their role, including continuous professional development
· Demonstrate a personal commitment to the aims and objectives of the RFCA
Communication/Engagement and Stakeholder Management
· Act as point of contact for their area of responsibility, proactively addressing internal and external stakeholders’ concerns and issues, ensuring they are effectively addressed and/or escalated. Ensure all stakeholders are kept informed of the status of the concerns and issues raised
· Develop and maintain open, honest and collaborative working relationships with customers and industry partners
· Ensure customers remain fully informed on all aspects of service delivery
· Ensure compliance with CRFCA and RFCA corporate approaches
Programme Management
· Support the adoption of a programme management approach, including working closely with the Estate Manager, customers and industry partners in respect of Billable Works projects, supporting the development of the Statement of Need and assurance of completed works
· Support the review and monitoring of progress of Billable Works, escalating any issues using the respective Early Warning, Recompense Events, Supplier Non-Performance, Defects, and risk management processes
· Work with customers to identify future requirements to support the development of future Billable Works plans
Contract/Performance Management, Reporting and Assurance
· Carry out the delegated assuranceduties and responsibilities on behalf of the Estate Manager, working closely with the industry partners on the preselected Hard FM works orders and tasks, to include Work in Progress, Retrospective Audits, PPM, Grounds Maintenance and Asset File Checks, as required under Practitioner Guide EM02
· Ensure Health and Safety compliance of Hard FM industry partner deliverables in accordance with SFG20 and SOP19/02 reporting and escalating any instances of non-compliance to the Estate Manager as necessary
· Identify matters falling short of the contracted standards and escalate to Estate Manager any concerns that cannot be mitigated at a local level.
Address matters falling short of the contracted standards and escalate to Estate Manager any concerns that cannot be mitigated at a local level
Support the identification of opportunities for exploiting benefits of the contract in the delivery of Hard FM services
· Ensure customers receive regular reports on the delivery of Hard FM services to their respective area of responsibility
· As required, support all meetings with industry partners and/or customers as laid down in the contract to support the effective delivery of Hard FM services.
· Provide support to the Senior Estate Manager in the execution of the Property Change Form process
Financial Management
· Ensure Financial Propriety for all T&S transactions and other manpower associated delegations under your control is maintained, including record keeping and audit requirements as required.
5. Staff management responsibilities: Line Manager for the Admin Support, as required.
6. Soft FM
Success Profile
7. Technical skills and qualifications
The skills and training identified below represent those required on appointment or within a short time scale (up to 12 months) from appointment to this position. Complete in-house:
· DIO Service Delivery Infrastructure Management System (IMS) – modules applicable to role
· ISO 44001 Collaborative Business Relationships Management
· Finance Certificate Foundation v1.10
· Commercial Awareness and (where mandated) Managing Defence Contracts Online Training (MDCOLT)
· Asbestos Awareness
· Legionella Awareness and ACOP L8 (BS6) – for Service Manager Representative (L8 Duty Holder)
· Dangerous Substances Explosive Atmosphere Regulations (DSEAR) Awareness
· SPEC 024 (Asset Management)
· Practitioner Guide EM02
· FDIS Training
8. Experience
a. Essential
· Experience of working with customers to identify and quantify needs in a Hard FM environment
· Good interpersonal skills
b. Desirable
· Experience in customer relationship management and stakeholder liaison
9. Behaviours (Success Profiles - Civil Service Behaviours).
· Collaborating & Partnering
· Managing a Quality Service
· Communicating and Influencing
· Changing and Improving
· Delivering at Pace
10. Government Property Career Framework Requirements (Workforce & FM – Facilities Management Practitioner):
[_A* = Awareness; __W = Working; __P = Practitioner; __E* = Expert]_
· Property Professional Expertise (W)
· Customer and Client Service (P)
· Stakeholder Engagement (W)
· Strategy and Business Planning (A)
· Analytical Decision Making (A)
· Technology and Innovation (A)
· Sustainable Practice (W)
· Commercial Acumen (A)
· Property Programme and Project Management (A)
· Health and Safety, Compliance and Inclusion (W)
Professional Membership:
· Hold or be willing to work towards associate level membership of relevant professional body or have equivalent relevant experience.
11. Post Mandatory Training
· In accordance with the People Learning Plan
Additional Requirements
12. In addition to regular visits to sites within the RFCA area, this role may require occasional travel throughout the UK to other sites.
13. The job holder will be required to be vetted to Security Check (SC) level and DBS check.
14. This job description should be discussed with your line manager at the time of receiving your annual Personal Development Report. Occasionally, in light of changes in business need your job description may need to change. You may be requested to undertake additional or other duties as directed by Line Management.
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Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £30,740.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Application question(s):
- How much Experience in customer relationship management and stakeholder liaison do you have?
- Do you have experience of working with customers to identify and quantify needs in a Hard FM environment?
Experience:
- Management: 3 years (preferred)
Licence/Certification:
- Tech IOSHmembership (preferred)
- Driving Licence (required)
- NEBOSH General Certificate (preferred)
Work Location: In person
