Job title: Principal Building Surveyor - Projects, Contracts and PFI Team

Salary: PO2 £41,177 - £44,253 per annum

Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Location: Merrion House

Help shape and improve over 3,000 homes across Leeds

An exciting opportunity has arisen within Leeds City Council's Projects, Contracts and PFI Team for a motivated and experienced Principal Building Surveyor.

This is a varied role combining building surveying, technical investigation and contract management. Working across Leeds City Council's Housing PFI contracts, you will play a key role in ensuring homes are safe, well maintained and compliant, whilst helping to deliver high quality services, value for money and positive outcomes for residents.

You will work closely with contractors, Housing Leeds colleagues and a range of stakeholders to identify and resolve technical issues, monitor performance, undertake inspections and surveys, and ensure contractual and statutory obligations are met.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About the Role

As Principal Building Surveyor, you will:

Undertake property inspections, surveys and technical investigations across housing assets.
Identify building defects, failures and maintenance issues and work collaboratively to achieve appropriate solutions.
Monitor contractor performance and service delivery against contractual requirements and quality standards.
Provide technical advice and support to colleagues, contractors and stakeholders.
Analyse technical and contractual information and prepare reports and recommendations.
Support performance management, service improvement and value for money initiatives.
Build effective working relationships with internal and external partners.
Contribute to the successful management and delivery of Leeds City Council's Housing PFI contracts.

About You

Applicants will only be considered if they hold Relevant Building Surveying qualification (HNC, HND, Degree or equivalent professional qualification in Building Surveying) and / or a minimum of 12 months experience working within the construction, property maintenance or PFI maintenance sector.

You will have:

A relevant Building Surveying qualification (HNC, HND, Degree or equivalent professional qualification).
A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.
Knowledge of building pathology and building construction.
An understanding of technical, contractual and regulatory requirements within housing.
The ability to investigate and resolve complex technical issues.
Strong communication, negotiation and relationship management skills.
Experience working collaboratively with a range of stakeholders.
The ability to manage competing priorities and deliver quality outcomes.
Experience of contractor monitoring, quality assurance and performance management.
A proactive approach to service improvement and problem solving.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Jagdeep Kundhi, Contracts Project Manager on 0113 378 9952 or email Jagdeep.Kundhi@leeds.gov.uk

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Leeds City Council

Job Description

Job purpose: The Projects, Contracts and PFI Team are seeking a self-motivated, versatile and delivery-focused individual with relevant building surveying knowledge, skills and experience to provide technical support, construction expertise and contract management oversight across Leeds City Council's Housing PFI contracts.

The successful candidate will thrive on making a difference for residents and communities through effective contract management, technical investigation and performance monitoring. They will undertake inspections and surveys to identify faults, defects and performance issues across housing assets and work collaboratively with contractors, Housing Leeds colleagues and stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes.

The post holder will provide frontline technical support and contract management oversight, ensuring quality, value for money and compliance with contractual, statutory and regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

To develop and maintain an understanding of the Council, Directorate and Partnership plans and priorities, including implications for service delivery.
To support delivery of the Council's relationship with internal and external bodies, partners and stakeholders.
To develop and maintain strong, productive and collaborative working relationships with key partners in Housing Leeds, other Directorates, Members and stakeholders across the city.
To contribute to the development of service plans to ensure strategic objectives are achieved.
To support a culture of continual improvement and performance management.
To undertake technical property inspections, surveys and investigations across housing stock.
To identify defects, failures and maintenance issues and work with contractors and stakeholders to achieve satisfactory resolutions.
To provide a comprehensive technical service in relation to asset-related services under the HRA including procurement, commissioning, specification development, quality assurance and cost control.
To monitor contractor performance and service delivery against contractual obligations, output specifications and statutory requirements
To support the development and monitoring of performance management and assurance frameworks.
To provide high-quality technical analysis, reports and recommendations.
To negotiate effectively with internal and external parties to secure compliance with contractual, regulatory and statutory responsibilities
To participate in dispute resolution, enforcement, litigation and court processes where required.
To support effective relationship management, value for money and achievement of quality standards.
To collate, analyse and present management information, reports and statistics.
To develop systems for monitoring performance and productivity.
To participate in team meetings and actively share information and best practice.
To deputise for senior officers where required.
To carry out any other duties commensurate with the grade of the post.

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications

Relevant Building Surveying qualification (HNC, HND, Degree or equivalent professional qualification in Building Surveying). and / or equivalent experience.

Essential requirements

Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.

Understanding of the legislative framework in which housing is delivered including technical, contractual and regulatory standards.
Understanding of current issues relating to Social Housing.
Understanding of issues relating to PFI contracts.
Understanding of building pathology.
Knowledge and understanding of the Building Act 1984 and Building Regulations.
Ability to analyse technical problems and develop effective solutions.
Ability to communicate effectively at all levels.
Ability to develop and maintain effective and collaborative working relationships.
Ability to present information clearly and effectively.
Ability to work to strict deadlines with conflicting priorities.
Ability to organise resources to achieve quality outputs whilst ensuring contractual and statutory compliance.
Ability to identify service improvements and drive performance.
Ability to negotiate confidently and effectively.
Substantial experience / employment working in the construction or PFI maintenance industry.
Experience of working effectively with internal and external stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes.
Experience of communicating confidently with a wide range of audiences.
Experience of providing technical expertise to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Experience of interpreting and analysing complex information and data.
Experience of developing, managing and monitoring performance management regimes.
Experience of supervising and directing contractor works on site.
Experience of developing services to meet changing needs.

Essential behavioural and other characteristics

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council values and behaviours and codes of conduct
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Leeds Ambitions of health and wellbeing, inclusive growth, thriving strong communities, and a resilient sustainable city
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures
Carry out duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding equality and diversity of Leeds City Council
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters

Desirable Requirements

Candidates are not required to meet all of the following requirements. However, these may be used to distinguish between candidates who meet the essential requirements.

Experience of working within a Housing PFI environment.
Experience of contract management and performance management within a social housing environment
Membership of, or working towards membership of, a recognised professional body such as RICS, CIOB or CABE.
The successful candidate will need to have access to a vehicle and ability to travel across Leeds to undertake property inspections, site visits and meetings associated with the role. Applicants must therefore be able to meet the Council's Essential Car User requirements