Clerk of Works - Property Services Team

Reading Borough Council; England; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in England is seeking an experienced Clerk of Works to join their Property Services Surveying Team. You will oversee building repairs inspections, manage refurbishment projects, and collaborate with contractors to ensure quality work. The role offers a blend of office and home working, with a competitive salary and generous benefits including holiday entitlement, pension scheme, and career development opportunities. Ideal candidates should have a background in building maintenance and project management.

Benefits

Generous holiday entitlement

Local Government Pension Scheme

Life Assurance

On-site nursery

Season Ticket Loan

Lease car salary sacrifice scheme

Qualifications

• Good understanding of building pathology.
• Working knowledge of all forms of construction, including M&E services.
• Practical understanding of standard forms of contract.
• Working knowledge of contract management and administration.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional building repairs inspection service for refurbishment projects.
• Inspect and write specifications for contracted work.
• Supervise work on site and ensure compliance with specifications.
• Collate issues and provide reports for Project Managers.

Skills

Building maintenance

Construction project management

Communication skills

Education

ONC/OND or higher in building construction

Job description

We are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Clerk of Works, to join our Property Services Surveying Team. Our team manages a significant portfolio of residential property, and our vision is for everyone to have the opportunity to live in a good quality sustainable home within a lively and thriving neighbourhood. We’re working hard to improve disadvantaged areas and enhance people’s lives across the Borough, including a carbon neutral strategy.

This role will provide a comprehensive professional building repairs inspection service in respect of refurbishment projects and planned maintenance of properties, within the housing portfolio including Sheltered Accommodation, Temporary Accommodation, and new build properties.

We are open to flexible working patterns and can provide a hybrid working environment which utilises the best of both worlds with a mix of office working located off Junction 11 of the M4 and homeworking according to the needs of the Service.

About the role

This job itself offers real variety and involvement in a wide range of exciting projects. Your day-to-day work could vary from inspecting a Victorian Terrace property suffering from structural movement to completing handover surveys of void dwellings; to assisting a project surveyor with inspecting their project to replace windows and cladding to a non-traditional block of flats or carrying out a site inspection for a new build scheme, built to Passivhaus standards. You may be working with our in-house trades teams to solve a mysterious roof leak or resolve a condensation issue.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Inspection, written specification and ordering of works in line with the specification.
• Supervision of small works with internal and external contractors.
• Ensure that works are carried out to the right specification with the right materials and fit for purpose.
• Supervise work on site, issuing instructions that could have financial consequences and stopping works if necessary.
• Writing general specifications for contracted work.
• Responsible for collating any issues and concerns in relation to work on site and provision of written reports for the Project Managers /Supervising officers.

About you

You should be able to demonstrate a range of skills required for building surveying and maintenance works, covering the professional, contract and administrative aspects of day-to-day repairs work. We need you to be a good communicator with a proven background in building maintenance, construction, and project management.

Specific requirements

• Good understanding of building pathology.
• Working knowledge of all form’s construction, including M&E services.
• Practical understanding of standard forms of contract, how they are to be applied during a construction project.
• Working knowledge of contract management and administration.
• ONC/OND or higher in building construction.

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

• Work Together as one team - champion and inspire a culture which ensures all employees across the organisation work together to provide excellent outcomes for Reading.
• Drive Efficiency - create an environment in which resources are used efficiently and employees’ skills are developed and used effectively.
• Be Ambitious - aspire to deliver excellence and inspire and support others to reach their potential.
• Make a Difference to Reading - inspire a culture in which the customer is the focus and where change is welcomed as an opportunity.

Our offer

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave.
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Life Assurance - three times your annual salary (for members of the LGPS).
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted.
• Season Ticket Loan - a loan to help with the cost of your rail or bus journey, to and from work.
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years. The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax.

Contact and application details

For more information on this position please contact Mike Carpenter, Housing Projects Manager. [e-mail] or 07711 879 526.

Closing Date: Sunday 4th January 2026.

Interview Date: To be confirmed.

Interview Setup: In person at 19 Bennet Road, Reading, RG2 0QX.