Senior Building Surveyor

Job description

We’re looking for two permanent Building Surveyors to join our National Trust Consultancy which is the home to specialists in every field of our work. A national consultancy, where resources are shared across disciplines and boundaries, it’s an amazing repository of skills, talent and experience.

Both these roles are on permanent contracts.

‘No two days are the same, and the range of situations Building Surveyors and other consultants face on a daily basis keeps it interesting. I work with a team of experts passionate about looking after our heritage, and we get to look after some of the best places in the world. I learn something from those around me every day – it’s brilliant’

Mike Cline-Hughes. Manager of the ‘Looking After’ Team in Cheshire, Merseyside, Lancashire and the Lake District

If you want to learn more you can contact Simon Fitzgerald .uk or Tim Marshall .uk

Interviews will be on 30 September 2021

The diversity and quality of expertise within the Consultancy will enable our properties and places to benefit from an extraordinary range of creative and innovative thinking, as well as deep expertise in all matters relating to our twin purpose of caring for the nation’s heritage and landscapes, and making these accessible to all. There’s a great range of benefits including a unique fast-track opportunity for Building Surveyors to gain accreditation in conservation via COTAC, as well as a host of discounts and benefits you’d associate with a world class organisation.

These rare opportunities have become available because of retirements and we’re looking for two experienced Building Surveyors to deliver conservation work at National Trust properties in the Cheshire, Merseyside and Lancashire areas. You’ll be applying your skills and knowledge to some amazing properties and every day will be different. One day looking at a Grade 1 listed mansion then a historic mill and the next day maybe a half-timbered building. These are both permanent positions.

You’ll be a key player in ensuring that some of these finest buildings in the region are well looked after and are in great condition for future generations to enjoy. Your work may be focussed on planned maintenance, reactive repairs or larger project work for our in-hand estate and you’ll be taking work from inception to delivery, often working through the contract management of our trusted associates.

Building relationships with a wide range of stakeholders will be key and will include National Trust staff and volunteers from local sites as well as regional and national specialists, contractors, relevant local authority officers, neighbouring landowners. You’ll be able to communicate clearly the essential elements of your work and influence and persuade others to support your approach.

You will also support the development of a professional Facilities Management (FM) function in the North Region to help them establish effective ways of working in line with our strategy for looking after buildings at our special places, and in addition help identify key building services where regional contracts could add value and support Contract Managers in establishing these.

We’d love to hear from you if;

• You have the ability to take a holistic view of conservation work;
• You understand when compromises can be made, and be a team player who can support colleagues around you and see the whole picture;
• Be able to understand how different tasks need to balance conservation, access and financial restrictions to deliver the best long-term outcomes for the organisation;
• Have an ability to balance several tasks at any time, as well as planning the future pipeline of work
• And when something unexpected and urgent requires your attention you’ll be agile enough to ensure it gets the appropriate attention.

• A good knowledge of professional building consultancy across complex portfolios
• You will be a full member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors/Chartered Institute of Building
• A good understanding of planning and delivering a programme of works / project
• An understanding of relevant legislation and best practice
• A knowledge of contract appointment and administration
• Excellent verbal and written communicator, with great interpersonal skills

The National Trust can be complex environment but is a fabulous place to work, we’ll make sure you part of the team, get a great induction and soon feel at home.

The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.

Wherever you’re from, and whatever your background, we want to hear from you – and it doesn’t matter if you’re jam first, cream first, or even if you don’t like scones at all. Everyone is welcome.

Benefits for working at the National Trust include:

• Flexible working whenever possible

• Free parking at most locations

• Free entry to our properties for you, a guest and your children (under 18)

• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary

Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.