An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Surrey County Councils Estate Management Team as a Principal Estates Surveyor. Surrey County Council maintains an operational property portfolio of 2000 buildings, providing key services to the residents of Surrey. This is a wide ranging and fascinating estate, ranging from fire stations to offices, adult social care facilities to schools, farmland to libraries.

Reporting to our Lead Estates Surveyor Projects, the Principal Estates Surveyor will provide leadership and mentoring for less senior staff. They will also be responsible for leading major projects such as leasehold acquisition and disposals. They will also lead on providing strategic and operational advice on a portfolio of operational and surplus leased out properties within the overall SCC estate.

About the role

The role is varied and includes:

• Taking responsibility for the property portfolios for several of the services within Surrey County Council, and engage with them, learning how the service operates and their vision for future delivery.
• Provide property advice to the service to enable assist them in formulating their operational planning to deliver that vision for the residents of Surrey.
• Provide estates input into property projects, ranging from lease terms for new acquisitions, advice on existing leases, restrictive covenants, etc.
• Undertaking Rent Reviews and BAU lease renewals acting both as landlord and tenant.
• Day to day management of the estate, including dealing with internal and third-party queries, including requests for licences for alterations, boundaries disputes and so forth.
• Taking accountability for the rental, service charge and rates payable budgets for the area, ensuring that they are correct, and any variances are reported and accounted for.
• Taking accountability for rent and service charge income budgets.
• Liaising with L&P teams around responsibilities for FM, maintenance and so forth.
• Looking to reduce SCC's costs by managing vacant space, rates mitigation, lettings etc.
• Identification of vacant space within the portfolio that could be let to third parties.

To be considered for interview, you will be able to evidence:

• RICS Surveyor (General Practice Division) full qualification.
• Degree or equivalent level qualification or demonstrate intellectual ability of a high order with evidence of continued professional, managerial and personal development.
• Highly experienced in the workings of property markets and sound commercial acumen.
• Practical and extensive experience of a wide range of property and estate management issues.
• Extensive experience in dealing with complex property matters and delivering results.

The team currently operates from our Woodhatch office in Reigate, but staff will be expected to operate in a flexible way to meet the needs of our customers and work demands, using agile working methods that allow business to be conducted from multiple locations.

The job advert closes at 23:59 on 02/04/2023 with interviews to follow.

We look forward to receiving your application, please click on the apply online button below to submit.

Benefits

From flexible working to job sharing (where possible) we are committed to providing a healthy work life balance. A laptop and mobile will be supplied if applicable to your role. You will benefit from 26 days annual leave, rising to 28 days after 2 years' service, a generous local government salary related pension, as well as the option to join our car lease scheme. For more information about the wide variety of benefits you can take advantage of please visit our website.

Our Commitment

Surrey County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We want to be an inclusive and diverse employer of first choice reflecting the community we serve and particularly welcome applications from all under represented groups.