Principal Building Surveyor - Housing Property Services

Reading Borough Council; England; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Reading is looking for a Building Surveying Team Manager to lead a team responsible for various housing projects. This role involves overseeing a significant annual budget and ensuring effective project delivery. The ideal candidate will have prior team management experience, excellent communication skills, and a recognized building construction qualification. Competitive salary and benefits, along with flexible working opportunities, are offered.

Benefits

Generous holiday entitlement

Flexible working opportunities

Local Government Pension Scheme

Season Ticket Loan for travel

Full surveying kit and PPE

Qualifications

• Demonstrated team management experience required.
• Experience in project management and administration is necessary.
• Full driving licence and vehicle needed.

Responsibilities

• Manage a team of building surveyors for project delivery.
• Oversee project management from inception to completion.
• Ensure seamless approach for housing projects.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Prior experience in team management

Building maintenance and construction knowledge

Understanding of building pathology

Knowledge of procurement legislation

Fiscal contract management

Education

Recognised Building Construction Qualification

Tools

Word

Excel

Outlook

Job description

Overview

We are seeking enthusiastic and motivated team players to join our Housing Property Services Team to contribute to protecting the quality of life of our tenants. Our housing stock lies entirely within the Borough of Reading 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.

We are part of a multidisciplinary team, consisting of 43 staff spread across 5 teams – Building Surveying, Housing New Build, Compliance, Mechanical and Electrical and Quality Assurance. Our role is to deliver a varied programme of repairs, maintenance, refurbishment, and redevelopment to our portfolio of housing stock alongside our Direct Services Organisation. We are open to flexible working patterns and can provide a hybrid working environment with a mix of office working in central Reading and homeworking according to the needs of the Service.

About the role

This is a key role within Housing Property Services, managing a team of building surveyors and a portfolio of your own projects as part of delivering our annual planned works programme. The role offers real variety and involvement in a wide range of exciting projects. We manage circa 6,000 stock of residential property, from Victorian terrace houses, through to high rise flats and modern care facilities.

Through partnership working with both the tenant and contractor, you will arrange and manage works from inception to completion to ensure a seamless approach is delivered. Our planned works programme has an annual budget of circa £14 million, with additional multi-million pound refurbishment projects. The projects variety include house extensions for less able tenants, whole house refurbishment, kitchen & bathroom replacement, elemental renewal, external decorations, and repairs and zero net carbon installs.

Your work will include feasibility, design, planning, procurement and full contract and project management of a portfolio of projects.

About you

We need you to be able to demonstrate excellent communication skills and to have had prior experience of team management. You will need a proven background in the field of building surveying, building construction and project management and administration.

Specific requirements

• A good communicator with a proven background in building maintenance and construction
• Good understanding of building pathology
• Working knowledge of procurement legislation and procurement methodology
• Understanding of Standard forms of contract, how they are applied and used from a client perspective on construction projects
• Structured and logical approach to fiscal contract management
• Recognised Building Construction Qualification with member status of the RICS or CIOB
• Competent use of Word, Excel and Outlook
• Full driving licence and vehicle

Team and values

You’ll be part of a team that relies on each individual to play their part to the best of their ability. You’ll also be part of Team Reading, helping to make Reading a successful and vibrant place. Our vision is to ensure 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
• Drive Efficiency
• Be Ambitious
• Make a Difference to Reading

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 encouraged, and you’ll experience that in our friendly and collaborative environment.

• Competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:
• Full surveying kit and PPE
• Payment of professional fees
• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days plus bank holidays, rising to 30/33 with service, with option to buy additional leave
• Flexible working opportunities
• Modern working environment at the Bennet Road Offices
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Kennet Day nursery rated outstanding by Ofsted
• Season Ticket Loan for rail/bus travel
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme
• Online employee benefits portal

How to apply and contact

For more information on this position please contact Tony Payne, Housing Surveying Team Manager at [e-mail]

Closing Date: Sunday 5th October 2025
Interview Date: TBC
Closing remarks: The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Please apply promptly to avoid disappointment.