Graduate Estates Surveyor

What will you be doing?

In the role of a Graduate Estates Surveyor, you will have the opportunity to work on an extremely varied case load, covering a diverse property portfolio. Reporting into to the Estates Manager or the Property Strategy and Major Projects Manager (as appropriate), you’ll deliver a programme of Landlord and Tenant activities, including lease renewals and rent reviews as well as asset disposals and acquisitions to meet the Council’s best value obligations.  

You will also be involved in the day-to-day management of the Councils extensive commercial investment portfolio which includes office, retail, and industrial properties across West Northamptonshire. You will support the wider estates team to deliver service objectives, seeking to minimise outgoings and maximise revenue income.  

About you

You’ll bring with you existing experience from completing a recognised degree which will enable you to support the efficient and cost-effective running of operational and income producing assets to minimise outgoings and maximise revenue income. Through experience of general estates management practices gained through your degree or possible work placement, you will assist in the negotiation of acquisitions and disposals and provide valuable wider support to the Estates team to deliver the best possible outcomes and gaining the requisite skills and experience to become a professional member of the RICS.  

Your good oral and written communication skills will enable you to represent the team as an interface between Tenants and the Council on operational property matters, and to make recommendations on service improvements and activities to support the transformational objectives of the council’s services.  

You will need to: 

• Be educated to Degree level or equivalent in an Estates Management or similar discipline 
• Have experience of working with all MS Office applications (Word, Excel, MS Teams). 
• Have a desire and commitment to build a career as a Chartered Surveyor and work towards becoming a professional member of the RICS as expediently as possible. 
• Have good written and oral communication skills. 
• Have a good understanding of Landlord and Tenant matters and principles affecting local government, contracts, and related issues.   

Our benefits

We offer a wide range of benefits to our employees, these include:

• Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 27 days annual leave per year, 28 days for senior managers (pro rata, depending on how many hours per week you work), plus bank holidays. An additional 5 days, linked to continuous service, and ability to purchase up to 6 weeks additional leave per year.
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times your annual salary from day one) and ill-health protection.
• Employee discounts with local and national retailers, days out, finance, health and beauty, travel and eating out plus lots more.
• Car Lease scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by Health Assured, an independent, external organisation. Health Assured is available for you and your immediate family members, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, legal advice, bereavement support and medical information.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• A variety of flexible working options to support your work/life balance, including full or part time, term time, 9-day fortnight, etc. (subject to business needs).
• Our West Ways of Working – We want our workforce to thrive, and we equip our employees with the right technology to support hybrid and collaborative working, on or off site, depending on the role.
• Making a difference - If you want to use your skills and experience with an organisation that are genuinely invested in making a difference, are committed to improving people's lives, and whose success has a direct impact on the wellbeing of your family, friends and people in your local area, then West Northamptonshire Council is the place for you.

The council is in the process of implementing a new pay structure and terms and conditions which will be applicable to this role.  The outcome could result in a future variation to the advertised salary, and this will be discussed at interview.

About us

We’re a new council, following one of the largest shake-ups in local government reform in recent history. As a new authority, we’re embarking on an exciting journey to deliver exceptional services for our residents, customers and communities.  

Our vision at West Northamptonshire Council is ‘to make West Northants a great place to live, work, visit and thrive’. We truly stand by this and work hard every day to make this a reality. Our corporate values, THRIVE, stand for: Trust, High Performance, Respect, Innovate and Empower, they underpin everything we do and how we deliver services. 

At West Northants Council, it’s about our people. People who thrive with ambition, bubble with new ideas, demand better ways of working, caring about every detail, and who never shy away from a challenge. Our culture is a gateway for new experiences. A place to forge new opportunities. To empower you in your career and unite you with like-minded people.

When potential is unlocked, talent thrives.

Choose a career that offers you a true sense of achievement, fills you with pride and challenges you in a positive way, every day.

West Northants Council, where careers thrive.