Job Title: Building Surveyor

Salary: PO2 £39,862 - £42,839

Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

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 valuesand ambitions.

About you

As a Building Surveyoryou will bring to the role:

Considerable experience of leading a team.
Ability to manage priorities whilst delivering on a range of projects and adapting to changing circumstances and priorities.
To support on driving a culture through the team that is focussed both on customers and quality,
Managing construction projects & contracts
Ability to analyse and interpret information, identify common trends and learning outcomes and report to a wide range of audiences.

About the role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a forward- thinking, motivated, and hardworking individual to join the Asset Management team.

The post holder will have the opportunity to develop and use a broad skills set and will increase their experience in leadership and line management, contract management and managing repairs programmes

The post holder will hold the position of Building Surveyor within the Asset Management division. The position is an operational management position and will be responsible for leading and managing a team to ensure the effective delivery of the service. As part of the role, you will provide technical advice, guidance, and support on complex repair related matters, ensuring the service provides excellence. A strong leader with a ‘can do’ attitude in-line with the Councils manager habits, excellent communication skills and strong customer focus is required. An ability to prioritise, meet deadlines and have a clear focus on staff engagement is essential, as the post holder will need to support and manage a high performing team.

You will have operational lead and accountability for the management of the service and the contractors. We are looking for someone who will ensure that high levels of efficiency, cost effectiveness and quality is achieved within an agreed budget, whilst ensuring maximum performance in accordance with the targets, standards, and policies of the Council. The role will require you to work closely with internal teams to ensure that all complex repair matters are managed effectively and therefore mitigating any risk to the Council.

The post-holder will lead on disrepair prevention actions and the delivery of cross service disrepair reduction initiatives. You will support the delivery of service plans and ensure the continuous and on-going innovation and improvement of the service. The role requires a customer focused post holder as the position will involve a high degree of customer interaction and face to face contact with tenants, elected members, contractors, and colleagues across the Council. The role will involve working across a mixture of offices and conducting site-based visits. It should be noted that the demands of a customer facing asset management service are high and therefore the role requires a high degree of flexibility to meet the ever-changing priorities of the service.

The team are currently based at LBS Seacroft Depot, Leeds, however these arrangements may change in the future, and candidates should be aware that they will be contracted to work in any location within the Leeds City Council geographical area. This is a challenging but rewarding role and an exciting opportunity for someone that is looking to develop their career.

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 benefitsto help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further.

How to apply

Apply for this job online. Please complete the online application form

Read our guidance for further advice. Please check your information carefully and ensure you complete all sections before submitting your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact James Turenr, Maintenance Contract Officer on 0113 378 7383 or email james2.turner@leeds.gov.uk

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

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 visa route 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.

Job Description

Job purpose

Undertake technical duties for the service in-line with all Council and departmental performance standards, policies and priorities.
Undertake surveys, produce designs and specifications of works, dilapidations reports, ordering, supervising and inspecting works and providing reports.
Leading and managing a team to ensure the effective day to day management of contractors and Internal Service Providers and appropriate maintenance of council housing assets.
Coordinating activity in relation to complex and damp related repair problems and ensuring effective monitoring of asset conditions and the development and delivery of programmes of preventative measures.
Ensuring the service delivers excellence and driving innovative, continuous improvements in line with best practice and the Councils vision and values.
Ensuring the repairs service is delivered within available resources and provides overall value for money.

Principal Responsibilities:

Operational lead for the delivery of reactive and planned repairs programmes in-line with all council and departmental performance standards, policies, and priorities.
Manage the service area in compliance with legal, regulatory, contractual, and internal requirements.
Coordinate repairs activity across a range of teams.
Develop and deliver service plans in collaboration with stakeholders to ensure the continuous and on-going innovation and improvement of the service in-line with council objectives in-order to achieve excellence.
Develop a value for money, customer focussed service.
Take ownership for and manage relationships with elected members to ensure effective and efficient service delivery.
Assist with the preparation of individual budgets and the management of spend in-line with agreed budget profiles, including the prioritisation and planning of work.
Take accountability for the outputs of the service area ensuring adequate and robust audit and risk management procedures are in place.

Please note this is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities.

Leadership Responsibilities:

To lead, manage, motivate, and develop team members in accordance with council policies and employment laws, and ensure that relevant procedures are understood and followed.
To ensure that the team to work professionally, competently, and in a forward thinking and customer focused way whilst embracing collaborative partnership working in order to achieve excellence.
To demonstrate and embed the council Values and Manager Habits to lead, support and drive cultural change.

Please note this is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities.

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

Degree Level qualification in Building Surveying / Construction or equivalent experience.
Strong knowledge of building defects / construction techniques.
Landlord’s responsibilities in relation to repairs & maintenance.
Up to date knowledge of social housing and issues affecting the sector.
Strong knowledge of construction Health & Safety including asbestos management procedures.
Considerable knowledge of standard forms of building contracts.
Experience of negotiation on complex issues within a political environment.
Ability to manage conflicting priorities whilst delivering on a range of projects and adapting to changing circumstances and priorities.
Developing and maintaining strong and effective relationships with stakeholders.
Ability to analyse and interpret complex and conflicting information and report to a wide range of audiences.
Considerable experience of using Microsoft packages and IT systems.
Chairing meetings effectively
To be able to drive a culture through the team that is focused on customers and quality.
Completion of reports in a diligent and accurate manner.
Considerable experience of project management.
Appropriate delegation of workload based on skills and experience.
Considerable experience of problem solving involving complex issues.
Lead on engagement with managers and contractors in order to effectively progress change.
Managing construction contracts.
Leading on partnership and multi-agency working.
Considerable experience of managing medium-large projects.
Managing large programmes of work within defined budgets.
Considerable experience of leading a team.
Considerable experience of working within social housing.
Considerable experience of working within a complex political environment.

Method of Assessment will be through one or more of the following Application Form, Test, Interview or Certificate.

Behavioural and other essential 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 Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon.
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing.
Willingness to actively participate in appraisal, training, and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & 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.
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 the following desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

Membership of a professional body i.e. RICS building surveying.
Ability to diagnose and develop solutions to complex repair problems.
Extensive involvement in the procurement of works/services
Working with and negotiating with trade unions.
Working with an Internal Service Provider.
Undertaking service reviews.