Principal Surveyor

What will you be doing?

In the role of a Principal 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, you’ll be responsible for managing a team of surveyors tasked with completing a programme of Landlord and Tenant activities, including lease renewals / rent reviews, as well as delivering 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 Estates Manager and the wider Estates team to minimise outgoing and maximise income. You will also be able to review the portfolio and provide input to support the Council longer term strategic visions for its commercial estate.

You will deliver high quality professional and technical advice to internal and external clients, and stakeholders, and support the Council’s transformation and property rationalisation agenda.

About you

You’ll bring with you a wealth of experience which will enable you to ensure the efficient and cost-effective running of operational, income producing and strategic sites and individual assets to minimise outgoings and maximise income. Your strong negotiation skills will aid the acquisition and disposal of property, rights, and licences, including compensation claims, as directed. You’ll provide invaluable estates support on legal and contract issues. Your budget management experience will also support the councils financial aspirations and assist it in maximising revenue income and delivering a balanced budget.

Excellent project management skills are essential as you’ll manage complex projects on behalf of the Council and other stakeholders and will plan, identify, and anticipate challenges and obstacles within those projects and work with stakeholders. Your strong communication skills will enable you to represent the team as an interface between Tenants and the Council on operational property matters, and to represent the interests of key stakeholders and to provide good quality professional advice on estate management and valuation matters, and to advise colleagues on professional and technical issues

You will need to be:

• Educated to Degree level or equivalent in an Estates Management or similar discipline
• A member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (or equivalent professional qualification)
• Thorough post-qualification professional experience in urban /rural estate management, including property management, valuations (including Fixed Asset Valuations for accounting purposes) and transactions
• Experience of dealing with complex and high-profile property cases in the public sector
• Experience of formal project management techniques, Equality and Diversity issues and governance within a public sector environment
• Experience of working with the private sector, and driving commercial opportunities from property assets
• Experience in influencing and negotiating with internal and external stakeholders and customers and possesses strong communication and problem solving skills at all levels.
• Have the ability to establish strong networking relationships with Customers, members of the public, stakeholders, partner organisations, senior officers, and Members within the Council at all times

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.
• Cycle to Work scheme
• 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.