Principal Building Surveyor - Housing Property Services

Reading Borough Council; Reading; On-site; GBP 200,000 +; Full time

Job summary

A local government authority in Reading is seeking a Building Surveyor Team Manager to lead projects and manage a team. The role involves working on diverse housing projects within a £14 million budget, ensuring seamless project delivery. Ideal candidates should have a building construction qualification, excellent communication skills, and experience in project management within the housing sector. Flexible working arrangements are available.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Full surveying kit and PPE

Generous holiday entitlement

Flexible working opportunities

Local Government Pension Scheme

Qualifications

• Proven background in building surveying and project management.
• Good understanding of procurement legislation and methodologies.
• Structured approach to fiscal contract management.

Responsibilities

• Manage a team of building surveyors and deliver annual planned works programme.
• Oversee a portfolio of projects from inception to completion.
• Ensure effective partnership work with tenants and contractors.

Skills

Communication skills

Team management

Building maintenance

Project management

Building pathology knowledge

Education

Recognised Building Construction Qualification

Tools

MS Word

MS Excel

MS 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 wholly 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 are working to improve disadvantaged areas and enhance people’s lives across the Borough, including a carbon neutral strategy. We are part of a multi-disciplinary team of 43 staff 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 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 service needs.

Responsibilities

• 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 the annual planned works programme.
• Engage in a wide range of projects across circa 6000 stock of residential property, from Victorian terrace houses to high rise flats and modern care facilities.
• Through partnership work with tenants and contractors, arrange and manage works from inception to completion to ensure a seamless delivery.
• Manage the planned works programme with an annual budget of circa £14 million, with additional multi-million pound refurbishment projects.
• Projects include house extensions for less able tenants, whole house refurbishment, kitchen & bathroom replacement, elemental renewal, external decorations, and zero net carbon installs.
• Carry out feasibility, design, planning, procurement and full contract and project management of a portfolio of projects.

About you

We need you to demonstrate excellent communication skills and have prior experience of team management. You will need a proven background in 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 contribute fully. You’ll also be part of Team Reading, contributing to Reading as a successful and vibrant place. Our vision is for Reading to realise its potential as a great place to live, work and play, with our values guiding how we achieve this:

• Work Together as one team — collaborate with colleagues and partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do.
• Drive Efficiency — take initiative, adapt to change and propose ideas to improve delivery and efficiency; take responsibility for learning and development.
• Be Ambitious — strive for higher performance and engage constructively with leaders.
• Make a Difference to Reading — maintain high levels of customer service and be flexible to provide services when needed.

Our offer

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with opportunities to share ideas. Innovation and ambition are encouraged in our friendly and collaborative environment.

• Competitive salary with 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 days after 5 years and 33 days after 10 years, with option to buy extra leave.
• Flexible working opportunities.
• Modern working environment at Bennet Road Offices, near Junction 11 of the M4.
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Kennet Day nursery rated outstanding by Ofsted (The Civic Offices, Reading).
• Season Ticket Loan for travel to work.
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme for a new greener car (three years).
• Access to online employee benefits portal with new offers monthly.

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

Closing Date: Sunday 5 October 2025
Interview Date: TBC

Please note that 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 complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.