Building Officer

FOREST OF DEAN DISTRICT COUNCIL; Forest of Dean; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Agile working

27 days annual leave

Health cash plan

Local government pension scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to work scheme

Electric car salary sacrifice

Job summary

Forest of Dean District Council is seeking a Building Officer to lead the Property & Assets team, overseeing the Council's property maintenance across a varied estate. The role focuses on inspections, contractor management, and delivering projects to maintain and enhance assets for the community.

You will develop long-term maintenance programmes, provide professional advice, and work closely with the Principal Estates Officer to ensure high standards.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in building maintenance, surveying or property management environment.
• Sound knowledge of property surveying methods and building maintenance practices.
• Understanding of statutory regulations relating to property and construction matters.
• Experience procuring, appointing and managing contractors and consultants.
• Ability to manage maintenance and building projects from specification to completion.
• Excellent communication skills with ability to produce clear reports and professional advice.

Responsibilities

• Oversee property maintenance across the district estate.
• Carry out site inspections and prepare specifications.
• Manage contractors and projects from inception through to completion.
• Provide professional advice on maintenance issues and develop long-term maintenance programmes.
• Support improvement projects to protect and enhance the Council's property portfolio.

Skills

Building maintenance

Property surveying

Contractor management

Report writing

Communication skills

IT skills

Tools

Property management software

Microsoft Office

Job description

Are you an experienced building or maintenance surveying professional looking for an opportunity to make a real impact across a diverse local authority property portfolio? We're looking for a proactive and knowledgeable Building Officer to join our Property & Assets team at Forest of Dean District Council. This is an exciting opportunity to take a lead role in managing the Council's property maintenance function, helping to ensure our buildings, land and assets are maintained to a high standard and continue to meet the needs of our communities. Working closely with the Principal Estates Officer, you'll be responsible for overseeing property maintenance activities across a varied estate, including inspections, condition surveys, contractor management and project delivery. You'll provide professional advice on maintenance issues, manage works from inception through to completion and help develop long-term maintenance programmes that support the effective use of council assets. This is a varied and rewarding role where no two days are the same. From carrying out site inspections and preparing specifications to managing contractors and supporting property improvement projects, you'll play a key role in protecting and enhancing the Council's property portfolio. If you're organised, self-motivated and passionate about delivering high-quality property management services, we'd love to hear from you.

• Has significant experience within a building maintenance, surveying or property management environment.
• Has sound knowledge of property surveying methods and building maintenance practices.
• Understands statutory regulations relating to property and construction matters.
• Has experience procuring, appointing and managing contractors and consultants.
• Can confidently manage maintenance and building projects from specification through to completion.
• Has excellent communication skills and can produce clear reports, specifications and professional advice.
• Is able to challenge and scrutinise contractor performance, costs and quality standards.
• Can work independently and effectively manage a varied workload and competing priorities.
• Has strong IT skills and experience using property management and Microsoft Office systems.
• Is committed to delivering excellent customer service and achieving positive outcomes.
• Demonstrates a practical and solution-focused approach to problem solving.
• Supports the Council's values around equality, inclusion and continuous improvement.

Special Conditions

• Full UK Driving Licence.
• Access to a vehicle and ability to travel throughout the Forest of Dean and surrounding areas for work purposes.
• Ability to attend site visits and meetings across the district.
• Occasional evening or weekend working may be required to meet service needs.
• Reasonable additional hours may be required from time to time.
• Ability to work from alternative locations as required by the service.

Forest of Dean District Council is dedicated to creating a vibrant and sustainable future for our community. Our priorities are centred on fostering thriving communities by empowering and engaging residents, enhancing infrastructure, promoting community well‑being, and ensuring social equity.

We are committed to decarbonisation and nature recovery, focusing on renewable energy transitions, energy efficiency, transport transformation, nature recovery, and food resilience. Additionally, we strive to build a sustainable economy through the promotion of a circular economy, robust business support, workforce skill development, sustainable town initiatives, and the preservation of natural capital. Accredited of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies - Please state this within your covering statement or in a separate email. Forest of Dean District Council is committed to meeting its statutory and moral duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people under 18 years of age and adults at risk who are the recipients of its services and/or activities. Safer recruitment practices are applied to all job vacancies. Successful candidates will be required to complete a pre‑employment medical questionnaire; provide references; proof of identity; nationality and immigration status; three years' employment or education history (if applicable) and, in some cases, verification of criminal record.

• Agile working allowing a mix of home and office working
• Flexible working arrangements (depending on the role)
• 27 days paid annual leave (pro rata if you are working part time) plus bank holidays, which increases to 30 days after five years of service
• In addition you will have an extra two volunteering days a year for you to support a charity of your choice
• Renewed again for another year there is a Health cash plan giving you cash back on health, dental and eye care
• Generous contributory local government pension scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme 24/7, providing positive, preventative and supportive advice and counselling to deal with everyday events and issues
• Cycle to work scheme
• Salary sacrifice car lease scheme with significant tax and NI savings to be made on electric cars
• Generous sickness cover above statutory entitlements