Senior Building Surveyor Projects

Somerset Council; Taunton; Hybrid; GBP 39,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

LGPS pension scheme

Generous annual leave & bank holidays

Flexible and hybrid working

Health and wellbeing support

Volunteering opportunities

Job summary

Somerset Council in Taunton seeks a Building Surveyor to direct a wide range of construction and capital improvement projects across corporate, commercial, and community assets. You will manage budgets typically £250k–£2m, oversee feasibility studies, concept design and consultant management from inception to completion.

You will ensure safety, compliance and value while delivering high-quality, compliant environments for staff and service users, contributing to strategic objectives.

Qualifications

• Experience as Building Surveyor delivering maintenance, refurbishment and improvement projects.
• Knowledge of Building Regulations, planning and statutory compliance requirements.
• Strong financial, project and contract management experience with budgets.
• Ability to manage projects across concept to delivery with consultants and contractors.
• Familiar with procurement routes and forms of contract.

Responsibilities

• Shape and deliver the Council’s strategic building project ambitions.
• Own projects from early concept through to successful completion.
• Identify effective project controls, procurement and delivery solutions.
• Lead a varied portfolio across RIBA Stages 1–6 including complex projects.
• Develop feasibility studies and options through to RIBA Stage 3.
• Ensure safety, compliance and value for money.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Project management

Budget management

Contract management

Building regulations

Health & safety

Leadership

Education

RICS-accredited degree

Tools

PRINCE2

APM

Job description

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Salary: £38,510 - £43,149 per annum plus a recruitment allowance of £10,000 available until 30/06/2029.

Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Role Purpose

You’ll be responsible for managing the delivery of a wide range of construction, condition, and capital improvement projects across a diverse property portfolio consisting of corporate, commercial, industrial, community, education and non-housing assets.

These projects will carry budgets typically ranging from approximately £250k - £2m and will be key to achieving the Council’s strategic objectives.

Your role will be to ensure that these projects are delivered safely, compliantly and within the allocated budget. You will be working on these projects from inception through to completion, procuring and project managing them, undertaking feasibility studies and developing concept design and managing consultants where required.

Success in this role will allow you to positively contribute to the provision of high-quality, compliant environments for staff, stakeholders and service users. You will be successfully achieving value-driven outcomes and helping the Council to achieve key strategic objectives.

Key responsibilities

• Play a key role in shaping and delivering the Council’s strategic ambitions through high-quality, well-managed building projects.
• Take ownership of projects from early concept through to successful completion, bringing professional judgement, creativity, and a practical approach to overcoming challenges.
• Use your expertise to identify the most effective project management, procurement and works delivery solutions, making the best use of consultants, contractors, and wider supply chains.
• Lead a varied portfolio of intermediate-scale and complex projects and programmes, working across RIBA Stages 1–6 and acting as lead client where projects carry greater complexity, impact or risk.
• Develop feasibility studies and options through to RIBA Stage 3, helping turn ideas and service requirements into practical, deliverable solutions.
• Ensure projects are delivered safely, compliantly and in accordance with relevant legislation, Council policies, and professional standards.

What you’ll bring

• Experience as a Building Surveyor, or in a closely related construction discipline, with a strong track record of delivering maintenance, refurbishment, and improvement projects.
• Confidence in building effective relationships and influencing a diverse range of stakeholders, partners, consultants and contractors.
• Project management experience within a construction environment, with an understanding of PRINCE2/APM principles and the ability to apply appropriate project controls in practice.
• Strong knowledge of Building Regulations and the planning process, together with a sound understanding of construction-related health and safety and statutory compliance requirements.
• Good knowledge of standard forms of construction contract, procurement routes and construction procurement practices and procedures.
• A relevant RICS-accredited degree or comparable professional construction qualification.
• Associate or Chartered membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, working towards professional membership, or an appropriate equivalent professional qualification.
• Strong financial, project and contract management experience, with the ability to manage budgets effectively and deliver projects within agreed financial parameters.

Why Join Us?

At Somerset Council, we're a progressive organisation committed to improving lives and shaping better services for our communities. Based in one of England's most beautiful counties, it's a great place to build your career and enjoy an excellent quality of life.

• Generous annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase additional leave.
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), one of the UK's most generous and secure pension schemes.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements to support work-life balance, where service needs allow.
• Health and wellbeing support, including access to confidential employee assistance services.
• Paid volunteering opportunities, helping you make a difference both inside and outside of work.

Find out more about working at Somerset Council:

• This is a full-time position working 37 hours per week.
• This role will be based in County Hall, Taunton, but will also include regular travel to a variety of sites around Somerset.
• A driving licence and access to a car is essential for the role.

Unfortunately, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. We are only able to proceed with candidates who already have the right to work in the UK without the need for VISA sponsorship.

For an informal chat about the role, you can contact Nicola Johns, Lead Building Surveyor - Client, via email at [e-mail] .

We believe diversity makes us stronger and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences, whose unique perspectives help us better serve the people of Somerset.