Senior Building Surveyor

This is an exciting time to join Sense Property, the Estates function of the national charity, Sense.

We support over 3000 people with deafblindness and other complex communication disabilities, and have over 200 properties – day centres, residential accommodation, offices and charity shops – in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Title: Senior Building Surveyor
Reference number: 46580
Location: Remote
Salary: £60,000 Inclusive
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Contract type: Permanent

About the role

Under our new strategy, our ambitions include increasing our support tenfold and significantly expanding our programmes. This will involve acquiring and developing new properties, renovating existing ones and disposing of those we no longer need.

That’s where you come in. Following a review of how we deliver our property services, we need a Senior Building Surveyor who is ready to meet these challenges, someone who one who can use their initiative, develop new ideas, and is willing to fulfil their potential to the full. Does this sound like you? We look forward to receiving your application.

This role can be remote but you must be prepared to travel to our main office in Crayford 1 -2 days per week.

Responsibilities include:

• Manage a team of four Regional Building Surveyors to ensure they meet local clients’ needs for user-friendly advice and prompt, effective professional support.
• Contribute to the development of Sense’s annual capital programme and manage its implementation, overseeing schedules of works, contract specification and tendering and authorising stage and final payments.
• Lead on the specification and management of high-value construction and refurbishment projects and deliver them within budget and on time while minimising service user disruption.
• Develop and manage a programme of annual stock condition assessments of each property and associated costed planned preventative maintenance schedules.
• Manage, monitor and control the maintenance budgets, and provide property-related financial information to enable other staff to prepare bids and make financial forecasts.
• Create and run approved contractor networks throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland to carry out annual inspections and both planned and responsive maintenance.
• Ensure that relevant legislation, regulations, codes of practice and contracts are understood and applied effectively by the team.
• Check and ensure that all Sense properties meet the necessary testing, validating, certification and registration requirements.
• Assist with acquisition and disposals and schedules of dilapidations through to completion, obtaining best value, supervising on site and providing clients with regular progress reports.
• Ensure the team create and update comprehensive records on Sense properties to ensure up to date accurate data.
• Carry out other work, in line with the job’s purpose and salary, to support the Property team in meeting Sense’s changing needs for advice and support on building surveying.

Essential requirements:

• Chartered Surveyor Building Surveying (MRICS) or Chartered Builder (MCIOB) or Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE)
• Degree in Building Surveying/Construction or equivalent experience.
• Knowledge of current Health & Safety legislation and regulations applicable to surveying and experience of applying them.
• Substantial work experience in a mixed portfolio building surveying environment, including commercial properties.
• Experienced in managing teams, and able to manage staff working remotely, including setting operational plans, KPIs and managing performance.
• Proven experience of using AutoCAD.
• Able to communicate effectively orally and in writing with senior managers, other Sense staff, surveying professionals, property owners, the public and volunteers.
• Project and time management skills.
• Willing and able to work flexibly, including additional and unsocial hours and travel to Sense properties in England, Wales and Northern, making overnight stays if necessary.
• Full UK driving licence

About Sense

For everyone living with complex disabilities. For everyone who is deafblind. Sense is here to help people communicate and experience the world. We believe that no one, no matter how complex their disabilities, should be isolated, left out, or unable to fulfil their potential.

Working at Sense can be incredibly rewarding; we offer the opportunity to work in a large, diverse and successful charity where people can develop their skills, knowledge and careers in a supportive and flexible environment. In addition we have excellent training and development, the opportunity for you to join our Group Personal Pension scheme and a generous annual leave entitlement.

Closing date: Thursday 13 January 2022
Interview date: To be confirmed

Sense is an Equal Opportunities Employer and is committed to ensuring that all staff are motivated, skilled and rewarded by their work. Sense is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable children and adults and expects all employees to share this commitment.

No agencies please.