Principal Surveyor

East West Rail Company; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading infrastructure programme in Milton Keynes is seeking a Principal Surveyor to work within the land and property team. You will manage property transactions and build relationships with stakeholders to ensure successful delivery of project objectives. Ideal candidates should have proven experience in property management, strong negotiation skills, and a collaborative mindset. This position offers competitive salary, excellent benefits, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Benefits

Competitive base salary

Up to 12% employer’s pension contribution

36 days holiday a year

Life assurance

Employee Assistance Programme

Flexible working opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven experience of managing a range of property transactions and negotiations.
• Experience of maintaining effective external relationships to understand stakeholders’ needs.
• Skilled at explaining property matters and reports to diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Support delivery of EWR through land and property deliverables.
• Manage property solutions and transactions including acquisitions and agreements.
• Build strong working relationships with key stakeholders.

Skills

Property transactions management

Stakeholder relationship management

Presenting property data

Multi-disciplinary team collaboration

Regulatory compliance

Job description

Principal Surveyor

Application Deadline: 22 January 2026

Department: Strategy, Sponsorship and External Affairs

Employment Type: Permanent

Location: Milton Keynes

Description

A little bit about us: East West Rail is an infrastructure programme linking communities between Oxford and Cambridge. The area is currently let down by a lack of transport choices, and we have a once in a generation opportunity to fix that – improving prosperity for people and places along the way.

East West Railway Company (that’s us) was created by the Department for Transport (DfT) to oversee the delivery of East West Rail from construction through to wheels in motion, making sure the railway comes together in the right way.

At East West Railway Company, we’re committed to building an inclusive railway for all. We believe that to do that, we must nurture a diverse team that represents the UK communities that we impact. Our approach is simple – to create an environment where everyone is welcome and able to be themselves. We celebrate diversity and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We encourage applications of all backgrounds and experiences.

East West Rail has been given “pathfinder status” for new planning processes (including those being introduced under the Planning Infrastructure Bill).

Role Summary: This key role is to work within the Land & Property Team at EWR Co. reporting to a Land Area Lead (for either the West or East of EWR) and overseeing our suppliers, to ensure all the land required for the EWR project is delivered.

Function: The Strategy, Sponsorship and External Affairs function is accountable for defining what EWR Co. is, and the impact it will deliver. It is accountable for securing the required approvals to deliver the scheme, being the custodian of the DCO submission, including statutory consultation, and building a compelling business case. It will hold design and delivery to account to create an asset which will realize the economic benefits.

Key Responsibilities

• Support delivery of EWR through land & property deliverables, advice to secure deliverables, advice to secure development consent and assemble land required for the project.
• Manage delivery of property solutions and transactions including temporary access, acquisitions, agreements, and leases to support the DCO, construction and operation of the project.
• Manage consultation and engagement with landowners and representatives to develop strong working relationships with key stakeholders.
• Manage suppliers to meet agreed timescales, cost, budget, and governance processes where necessary initiating corrective actions.
• Support co-ordination of the different elements of the land and property programme to time, cost, and budget and within the agreed governance.
• Maintain property cost estimate and registers of land and property risks, issues and opportunities, working with the EWR risk team and use professional knowledge to advise on risk mitigation.
• Report on progress and quality of key land and property deliverables.
• Monitor and prepare reports for senior managers.
• Take responsibility of your own and others’ health and safety by adopting and working to the EWR Co Health and Safety principles.
• Demonstrates a cost-conscious mindset, keeping tax payers’ money at the forefront of decisions.
• Shows a commitment to innovation by proactively seeking creative solutions to challenges and opportunities.
• Act as a role model for EWR Co’s vision and behaviours, working in ways that are aligned with EWR Co’s Ways of Working, as well as encouraging and supporting others to do so too.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Proven experience of managing a range of property transactions and negotiations.
• Experience of maintaining effective external relationships to understand stakeholders’ needs and priorities.
• Experience of explaining property matters and reports to others who may not have a background in property. Presenting data and explaining reports to stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience of working in multi-disciplinary teams to deliver an overall programme of activities to acquire, transfer, manage and dispose of land and property.
• Experience in demonstrating compliance with Statutory, Regulatory and Professional requirements.

Benefits

What we offer:

• Competitive base salary
• Up to 12% employer’s pension contribution
• 36 days holiday a year (including bank holidays) + up to 2 days to buy
• Life assurance
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to a range of benefits on the Perkbox platform
• On-the-spot and annual awards
• Advanced learning and development programmes
• Great work-life balance and flexible working opportunities
• Enhanced family-friendly policies
• Exceptional IT tools

EWR Co strives to embrace a flexible working environment, where a degree of flexibility is maintained to accommodate both the needs and preferences of employees and what is required to achieve business objectives. EWR Co will always work with any individual to assess and accommodate an individual’s work life balance and style.

Diversity and Inclusion: To discover the best solutions, it’s important we embrace diversity of thought. That’s why we aim to ensure our colleagues feel included, engaged and valued. Inclusiveness is not a buzzword, but a way of being. Our approach to diversity is simple – a workplace where everyone is welcome and everyone is encouraged to be themselves. It helps fuel our innovation and connects us with the customers and communities we serve.

We are open to secondments through the Rail Industry Talent Exchange Programme.