Senior Estate Surveyor

South Gloucestershire Council; Yate; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Job summary

South Gloucestershire Council is seeking a Senior Estates Surveyor to lead key property projects and optimise the council’s property portfolio. The role focuses on asset disposals, along with estate management, valuation and property management across a diverse portfolio.

Requirements include a degree in estate management and RICS general practice membership, with post-qualification experience in a commercial setting (local authority preferred).

Qualifications

• Degree in estate management or equivalent.
• Membership of RICS (general practice).
• Post-qualification experience in a commercial organisation, ideally within a local authority.
• Ability to plan and progress work within professional guidelines, with strong management skills.
• Ability to meet commercial and contractual deadlines and influence others.

Responsibilities

• Manage the council’s land and property estate, negotiating leasehold and freehold disposals.
• Provide professional advice and guidance to colleagues to ensure high-quality technical outputs.
• Negotiate terms with authorities and organisations on rights affecting council land.
• Lead projects to deliver on time and within budget to meet targets.
• Develop innovative solutions to technical challenges and support implementation.
• Prepare and present reports and recommendations communicating risks and opportunities.

Skills

Estate management

Negotiation

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Driving licence

Education

Degree in estate management

RICS membership - General Practice

Job description

How you'll make a difference

As a Senior Estates Surveyor, you will play a leading role in delivering key property projects and maximising the value of the council's property portfolio. Working within Property Services, you will use your professional expertise to deliver a comprehensive estate management service, ensuring the council achieves best value from its property assets and transactions. Taking the lead on a range of projects, you will have a particular focus on asset disposals, while also supporting estate management, valuation and property management activities across the council's diverse portfolio.

What you will be doing

• Managing the council’s land and property estate, you will negotiate leasehold and freehold disposals to town and parish councils.
• Providing professional advice, support and guidance to colleagues, you will ensure that performance objectives are achieved, technical work is delivered to a high standard, and effective teamwork is maintained across the service.
• It will be your responsibility to negotiate terms and charges with statutory authorities and other organisations in relation to easements, wayleaves, licences and rights of way affecting council-owned land.
• Negotiating the sale or lease of council properties, you will manage projects, making sure these are delivered on time and within budget to achieve council targets.
• Consulting on issues with wider implications, you will ensure all activity aligns with service regulations and codes of practice. You will develop innovative solutions to technical challenges, supporting their successful implementation.
• Representing the council as an advocate, you will prepare and present clear, concise reports and recommendations, communicating risks, opportunities and implications.

What we need from you

• We require you to hold a degree in estate management or equivalent, alongside a membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) general practice division.
• It is essential that you have post qualification experience working in a commercial organisation, ideally within a local authority.
• You will have proven experience of planning and progressing work activities within general professional guidelines, demonstrating proven management acumen and motivating staff to achieve organisational objectives and successful technical outcomes.
• You must be able to meet commercial and contractual deadlines, with the skills to persuade and influence others and deliver on project outcomes.
• It is desirable that you have experience of local government practices and procedures.

What you need to know

• This is a hybrid role meaning that you can work remotely or in our offices.
• You will be expected to travel throughout the authority and surrounding area so you must have a full, valid driving licence with regular access to a vehicle or have an alternative means of travel.

Interviews will be held on 30th September 2026.

How a career at South Gloucestershire Council is different

• As part of our benefits package, you will receivegenerous annual leave(pro rata), employeewellbeing supportand you will have access to a range ofstaff discounts, including eye tests, travel, shopping and leisure activities.
• We recognise that ourdiverse teamof skilled and dedicated people make us a great place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and ensure that individuals are selected, promoted and developed based on their merits and abilities.
• We value our staff as individuals, investing in their careers and we are recognised for the quality, breadth and depth of ourtraining and developmentoffer,which helps make the greatest long‑term difference in work.

Our teams at South Gloucestershire Council are making a real difference to the lives of people who live, work and learn here.

• We're building and shaping communities which people are proud of.
• We're planning for the future; building and improving the roads, railways, schools, green spaces, and houses.
• We’re providing essential services across our communities to ensure they are safe and well maintained.

We've achieved a great deal, but we need talented and dedicated people to ensure we continue to make a difference.

We’re making a difference, be part of it!