Lead Surveyor

Lake District National Park Authority; Kendal; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional environmental authority in Kendal is seeking an experienced Surveyor to oversee its portfolio of land, assets, and natural capital. The ideal candidate will lead a small team, ensuring optimal use of properties while balancing public benefits with financial returns. Strong communication, leadership skills, and a background in rural estate management are essential. The role allows hybrid working to accommodate both office and remote tasks.

Benefits

Local Government Pension Scheme

Electric car and Cycle to Work schemes

Free parking

Paid volunteer time

Subsidised healthcare scheme

Commitment to wellbeing

Qualifications

• Substantial experience in rural estate management including valuation and negotiations.
• Ability to engage with various audiences effectively.

Responsibilities

• Lead the direction and management of the Authority’s property portfolio.
• Manage Authority obligations as landowner with focus on compliance.
• Support delivery of investment schemes on green estate.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Project Management

Education

Membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and Registered Valuer

Job description

Combine your rural surveying expertise with ours to manage a unique portfolio of land, assets, and natural capital in the Lake District. We are seeking an experienced and innovative surveyor to lead the direction and management of the Authority’s land and property portfolio to deliver our strategic ambitions for nature, culture, and climate by optimising the environmental and social value of our portfolio.

What’s it like to work here?

Our people of the Park are passionate about the landscape and proud of the work we do to look after it and help people enjoy it. We are innovative and agile in our approach to work, ensuring we get the best from our resources. We’re a medium size organisation, which puts us in a good position to be adaptive and able to act on our decisions. Whatsmore, our staff know each other and can quickly form workplace relationships to make great team players and problem solvers.

You will lead the property team of up to five direct reports, fostering a collaborative culture to deliver expert management of our portfolio. You will work closely with other services, notably the Ranger Service, to deliver a joined‑up approach.

We operate a hybrid way of working combining working from home and days at our office base at Wayfaring House, Kendal. You’ll be provided with a laptop to enable you to access our secure IT network when working remotely.

The role

Your main duties and responsibilities will be:

• Strategic Asset Management: You will be the owner of the Property Asset Management Strategy (PAMS), ensuring our property is used to maximum advantage.
• Nature Recovery & Investment: You will support the delivery of investment schemes on our ‘green estate,’ securing significant external funding, agri‑environment schemes, or nature‑based finance markets.
• Operational Leadership: You will manage Authority obligations as landowner with a focus on our Common Land, landlord and tenant matters, and oversee specialist assets including permissive trails, dams, and legacy mining infrastructure.
• Valuation & Compliance: Acting as the Authority’s lead professional valuer, you will ensure compliance with obligations.

About you

This opportunity would suit a highly organised leader who can think commercially while balancing financial returns with public benefits for nature and climate.

We are looking for:

• Professional Qualification: Membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and status as a Registered Valuer.
• Experience: Substantial experience in rural estate management, including landlord and tenant negotiations, and the valuation of land, property, and natural capital assets.
• Leadership: A track record of leading and motivating teams to inspire a vision, with experience in performance management and mentoring.
• Project Management: Experience initiating and developing projects through external funding and managing operational budgets.
• Communication: Excellent negotiation and presentation skills, with the ability to engage a variety of audiences on technical and non‑technical matters.

About us

The Lake District National Park Authority looks after this unique corner of England and UNESCO World Heritage Site. We encourage people to protect, connect and grow as well as supporting those who live and work here. Our staff include rangers and field workers, advisers at our visitor centres, planners and ecologists.

Working with us, you’ll enjoy

• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Electric car and Cycle to Work schemes
• Free parking in our carparks
• Paid time off so you can volunteer
• Subsidised healthcare scheme
• Commitment to wellbeing

See our website for a complete list of our employee benefits.

Contact

For an informal chat and to find out more, please contact Rob Allison, Head of Strategy and Partnerships on 01539 792672 (after 6th January 2026). We reserve the right to close this advert early should we receive sufficient applications, so please apply early to avoid missing this opportunity.

Diversity and Inclusion

As an equal opportunities' employer, the Lake District National Park Authority is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination based on age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

Disability Confident Employer

We guarantee to interview anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the role. By ‘minimum criteria’ we mean that you must provide evidence in your application which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required under each of the essential criteria, as well as meeting any of the qualification, skills or experience defined as essential.