Senior Estate Surveyor

Somerset County Council; Taunton; Hybrid; GBP 43,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days annual leave

LGPS pension

Flexible & hybrid working

Health and wellbeing support

Volunteer opportunities

Driving licence required

Job summary

Somerset County Council in Somerset is seeking a Senior Estates (Disposal) Surveyor to manage the council's property transfers and disposals, assess assets, and oversee transactions to completion in alignment with strategic goals and capital receipts targets.

You will support a broad portfolio, liaise with senior managers and clients, and travel across Somerset to inspect and review assets, including rural sites. The role requires robust commercial judgement and professional standards.

Qualifications

• Ability to manage and deliver complex property transactions independently.
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills.
• Comprehensive knowledge of statutory regulations relating to estates and property management.
• Up-to-date professional knowledge developed through training and continuing professional development
• Experience of working with and influencing a range of stakeholders, clients and partners.
• Experience of analysing and evaluating complex information, including property, financial and legal information.
• Experience of managing a varied and complex caseload with minimal supervision.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage property acquisitions and disposals, including freehold and leasehold transactions.
• Negotiate complex and high-value property transactions to secure best value for the Council.
• Identify and progress asset development opportunities, coordinating planning, design and multidisciplinary advice to improve the value or strategic use of Council property.
• Contribute to asset management strategies, property reviews and long-term plans for the Council’s estate.
• Provide professional property advice to senior managers, elected members, Council services and other stakeholders.
• Manage complex casework independently, taking responsibility for transactions with higher levels of value, risk or technical complexity.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, Council policies, professional standards, health and safety requirements, and equality and diversity responsibilities.

Skills

Property transactions

Negotiation

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Communication

Regulatory knowledge

Teamwork

Self-management

Education

RICS membership or associate

Job description

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Salary: £43,149 - £47,665 plus a recruitment allowance of £6,000 applicable until 31/5/2029.

Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

About the Role

As a Senior Estates (Disposal) Surveyor in the Estates Strategy & Development (ES&D) team, you will manage the council's property transfers and disposals, ensuring compliance with regulations. Your role includes assessing properties, developing business cases, and predominantly overseeing transactions to completion to support the council's strategic goals and capital receipt target.

You will join the Estates Strategy and Development Team at Somerset Council who are responsible for the strategic management of a portfolio consisting of around 4,000 assets, including 1,300 buildings and 2,300 parcels of land. The role is responsible for managing, overseeing, and delivering a variety of complex estates casework to achieve strategic objectives for the council, ensuring effective management and development of the council’s estate.

Coordinating disposals of non-operational assets through the whole delivery cycle will be a major part of the role – from advising on potential values, appointing agents for a broad caseload of real estate transactions acquisitions with self-directed responsibility for individual transactions valued up to c. £1,000,000. All estates surveying activities are conducted with a long-term planning perspective—typically spanning approximately 10 to 15 years for landlord and tenancy management, and extending beyond 30 years for acquisitions, disposals, and development casework.

The role involves regular travel to a variety of sites around Somerset, including inspection or review of a wide range of assets, some are in rural areas.

Using your subject expertise, you’ll provide professional real estate advice to senior managers and client departments. You’ll be coordinating multiple stakeholders, clients and internal professionals and will need to communicate effectively with each.

This is a significant role within our service with lots of varied responsibilities. If you think you meet the skills and background required, then we would love to hear from you.

How You'll Make a Difference

• Manage property acquisitions and disposals, including freehold and leasehold transactions
• Negotiate complex and high-value property transactions to secure best value for the Council.
• Identify and progress asset development opportunities, coordinating planning, design and multidisciplinary advice to improve the value or strategic use of Council property.
• Contribute to asset management strategies, property reviews and long-term plans for the Council’s estate.
• Provide professional property advice to senior managers, elected members, Council services and other stakeholders.
• Manage complex casework independently, taking responsibility for transactions with higher levels of value, risk or technical complexity.
• Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, Council policies, professional standards, health and safety requirements, and equality and diversity responsibilities.

What You'll Bring

• Ability to manage and deliver complex property transactions independently.
• Ability to exercise sound professional and commercial judgement.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the statutory regulations relating to estates and property management.
• Up-to-date professional knowledge developed through training and continuing professional development
• Experience of working with and influencing a range of stakeholders, clients and partners.
• Experience of analysing and evaluating complex information, including property, financial and legal information.
• Experience of managing a varied and complex caseload with minimal supervision.
• Strong negotiation and influencing skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Effective stakeholder and relationship-management skills.
• Ability to organise and prioritise a demanding caseload.
• Confidence to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills.
• Membership or associate membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

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.

• 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to purchaseadditional leave.
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), one of the UK's mostenhancedand secure pension schemes, with the option to purchase additional voluntary contributions.
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangementstosupportwork-life balance, with options including flexible working around core hours and hybrid office and home working.
• 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.
• This role will require sufficient in-person attendance, as well as travelling across 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.

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.

Please note that we reserve the right to close this advert early if enough applications are received