Secure Property Design and Construction
Whether it’s designing the architecture and interior furnishings of a new embassy, developing a secure site’s new CCTV system, or assessing a high commission for potential structural issues, our Secure Property Design and Construction team do it all. They design the insides and outsides of government buildings – and make them safe and secure too.
If this isn’t what you had in mind, answer a few questions and we’ll find where you fit.
I think, as an Interior Designer, it’s great to be able to see the impact of what we do. Whilst we’re doing exceptional work that represents Britain overseas, we’re also making spaces that are ergonomic, comfortable, healthy to live in – and we’re improving lives that way.
When in the UK, you could be based either at Hanslope Park or our King Charles Street office in London.
The whole team got involved recently in a European capital’s embassy refurbishment – everything from new CCTV systems to restoring antique tapestries.
Need to design the framework and the secure communications for a diplomatic training facility? Call on our Secure Property Design and Construction team – like we did for the Mayhew Theatre project.
The vast majority of roles in this team will spend regular time overseas, visiting the buildings and sites they’re designing for. In most cases, you’ll make short visits to the site, then return to the UK to put your designs together.
The exception to that is the Site Managers and Clerks of Works. You’ll be constantly onsite to make sure that designs and plans are implemented properly – and that means you’ll be overseas long-term. Please see the Overseas page for more on any questions you might have around how this works.
When you’re not travelling abroad, you could be based in either Hanslope Park in Milton Keynes, or King Charles Street in London. To find out more about both, see Life at FCDO Services. Again, the exception here is Site Managers and Clerks of Works, who’ll be based at the overseas site they’re working on.
We work in 168 countries, and you could well be travelling to any one of them. Your safety is our most important concern though: we’ll never send you anywhere you aren’t comfortable with.
We’ll organise both your travel and your accommodation while you’re overseas, and support you financially.
As much as possible, we’ll aim to spread out your trips so that you get breaks from overseas travel. It means you can balance your home life with your travel abroad, and it also gives you time to properly prepare for each project you take on.
As a general rule, it’s not practical for families to travel with this team, since you’ll be overseas for regular short bursts. Having said that, if you do have a longer posting overseas – as is likely for Site Managers and Clerks of Works – then we can support your family to move overseas with you, if the role allows for that.
You’ll be able to stay in touch with your team throughout your time abroad, through our FCDO Services intranet, as well as having a manager who’ll check in on your progress. Plus, if you need someone’s advice on a project, there are always experts on call, no matter the time difference. You’ll also be able to take advantage of our overseas network activity: we offer all sorts of support to our colleagues both at home and abroad, whether it’s wellbeing events like yoga sessions, or chances to socialise with the teams stationed in your location.
You might travel anywhere: our building surveyors recently visited Tristan de Cunha, the world’s most remote inhabited island, to assess and repair storm damage.
When in the UK, there’s plenty of opportunity for most colleagues to work from home, supporting their family life.
Ready to see the work you might do with Secure Property Design and Construction? Just enter the embassy and select either ‘Designing and engineering the embassy building’ or ‘Designing the embassy’s security features and secure communications’ to get started.
We’re a trading fund so you’ll help make each project you work financially successful.
You’ll be keen to go anywhere you’re needed around the world.
You’re confident in your own skills and experience, even in isolated locations.
Within small teams, you’ve got the confidence to shoulder some big challenges.
Interested in a career in Secure Property Design and Construction, but don’t have any experience? Your world just got bigger, with our Technical Engineering Apprenticeship – where you could learn the skills to become one of our radio, CCTV and access control systems designers. Whatever your age, whatever your background, our in-house training and paid qualifications could be just what you need.
Want to join FCDO Services but can’t see a live role to suit you? Great news: you can sign up for job alerts or add your CV to our talent pool and we’ll be in touch when something comes up.