Senior Surveyor

The Church of England; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading church organization seeks a Senior Surveyor to manage its extensive property portfolio. The role includes overseeing maintenance programs, ensuring statutory compliance, and leading a team to drive property development projects. Ideal candidates will have RICS or CIOB qualifications with significant experience in property inspection and project management.

Benefits

Pension scheme with 12% employer contributions

25 days holidays plus Bank Holidays

3 additional Diocesan Discretionary Days

Qualifications

• 5 years post qualification experience in property management.
• Experience in leading multi-disciplinary teams and delivering construction projects.
• Knowledge of statutory compliance and health and safety legislation.

Responsibilities

• Lead Quinquennial Inspections of clergy houses every 5 years.
• Implement planned, cyclical, and legislative maintenance programs.
• Manage external contractors and ensure compliance with safety standards.

Skills

Project management

Communication

Negotiation

Education

RICS or CIOB qualification

Job description

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The property and land portfolio of the Church of England in Birmingham is held under various guises of ecclesiastical ownership, some of which are directly managed by the Property Team (clergy houses and investment property) and others which are held by parishes and schools, most with limited building expertise who would welcome help. The portfolio includes:

• Around 142 residential houses for parish based clergy;
• Around 30 investment property sites, mainly agricultural land;
• 187 places of worship, of which around 100 are listed with 18 Grade 1 listed;
• Parish-owned church halls and houses;
• Around 50 Church Schools, managed by their Governing Bodies;
• Closed churches (currently none).

The majority of the rules and regulations surrounding the oversight, ownership and maintenance of the above are Acts of Parliament and involve ownership based on trusts and beneficial ownership and so this area operates within a complex framework.

There is an expectation that the role holder will have the ability to develop the big picture whilst being very hands-on as a Building Surveyor, both with property and development projects.

KEY OBJECTIVES

The key objectives of the Senior Surveyor role is to lead on:

• Working with the Finance Director, the Archdeacons and the Clergy Housing Surveyor to develop a programme relating to the sale of clergy houses that no longer satisfy mission purposes and the identification and purchase of new suitable properties that comply with the Green Book Guide and are as close to Net Zero Carbon as possible.
• Implementing various programmes of planned, cyclical and legislative maintenance and improvements to the clergy housing portfolio, including improving and developing clergy housing to be fit for purpose for the needs of clergy and their families, including helping the BDBF achieve the Net Zero Carbon target of 2030.
• Supporting the Property Director with key developments across the CofE Birmingham portfolio, including the project management of a new church/ community hub(s).
• Leading on the management of the external agents that oversee the glebe land and CofE commercial portfolio. Overseeing the Clergy Housing Surveyor to ensure the BDBF is discharging the BDBF’s maintenance and statutory compliance responsibilities relating to clergy housing.

The role-holder must have a strong blend of professional and administrative qualities, particularly the ability to work constructively with a wide range of stakeholders, including clergy, consultants, contractors, churchwardens, other volunteers and statutory bodies.

Key Responsibilities:

Oversee the Quinquennial Inspections (carried out by external surveyors) of circa 140 clergy houses every 5 years. Lead on the tender and manage the successful tenderer to deliver surveys in accordance with the Church Property Measure 2018. Where necessary carry out structural condition surveys to ensure QI records are accurate and lead on inspections to identify building defects and recommend any necessary remedial solutions, inspect and report on compliance in respect of the Equality Act 2010, assess the potential for net zero carbon improvements, advise on fire risk, and security measures.

From the Quinquennial Inspections produce a 5-10 year Planned Preventative Maintenance plan and lead on implementing various programmes of planned, cyclical and legislative maintenance and improvements for clergy housing (and where necessary Church schools) based upon the 5 year plan. Analyze records of reactive, routine and statutory maintenance to identify patterns of emerging liability on building fabric assets, and to suggest where resources should be used to discharge high priority defects.

Ensure the diocese meets internal and external legal requirements in relation to clergy housing. Ensure that the Clergy Housing surveyor collates and keep up to date all the compliance checks in relation to gas safety, electrical periodic testing, asbestos, fire, legionella, EPCs and other landlord requirements. Manage specialist contractors and consultants that are overseeing the delivery of the compliance.

Contribute to the update and issue of policy documents following changes in legislation in consultation with the Property Director, including updating the Clergy Housing handbook and ensure it is kept up to date on an annual basis.

Manage external consultants and contractors to achieve planned outputs for programmes of routine and legislative maintenance work, and for term contracts, improvement works and single capital projects, including:

• developing appropriate risk registers and control measures required.
• ensuring safe working practices are adopted in accordance with the Property Department’s procedures, Asbestos regulations and CDM regulations.
• selecting procurement methods.
• monitoring the performance of projects against specific performance indicators and operating mechanisms for ensuring adherence to technical procedures and working practices; and
• analyzing performance issues with a view to recommending improvements to ensure cost effectiveness, quality, speed, and safety in future project deliver.
• Carry out and submit Building Control and Listed Building Consent submissions, including consultation with the Building Control Officer and local Planning Conservation Officer.

Ensure that contractors comply with standards for health and safety management on all projects, establishing clear working practices consistent with the CofE Birmingham Property Team, monitoring for adherence at critical junctures throughout a contract, reviewing on completion and affecting improvement in future practices through informed comments from contractors, end users and external consultants.

Monitor the performance of external contractors and consultants. Maintain a project database for maintenance contractors (including large, one-off projects) with the continued monitoring against programme, cost plans, quality and safety standards consultant with the Property Team.

Undertake periodic reviews of service delivery, or attend to direct complaints of procedural failure, and implement with a consistent approach the improvement to operational structure and processes as identified as necessary and representing value for money.

The Health & Safety at Work Act (1974) places responsibilities for Health and Safety on all employees. Therefore it will be the postholder’s responsibility to take reasonable care for the Health, Safety and Welfare of themselves and others in accordance with Legislation and the Company policy on Health & Safety.

Support the Property Director and where necessary lead on the following duties:

• Support on the preparation of annual budgets for the clergy housing and commercial property portfolio including regular monitoring.
• Ensure that our clergy feel valued by providing, maintaining and improving housing that will attract and retain people into the diocese, whilst carefully managing our costs. A flexible response is required in order that we can meet the changing needs of our paid ministry team.
• Identify and promote development opportunities.
• Buying and selling of clergy housing and other assets.
• Project managing development projects and other projects including the construction of new church/ community buildings.
• Support on optimizing financial returns.
• Identity, build and maintain relationships with key partners and stakeholders including developers and council planning teams.
• Deputize on the leadership of the property team, external suppliers and consultants in order that the strategy is delivered and developed over time.

Managing and supervising staff:

The Senior Surveyor may also be responsible for managing and supervising staff ( Clergy Housing Surveyor and external Commercial Agent), including overseeing volunteers or paid support officers that will be assigned specific initiatives and projects within the Property Team. Managing and supervising staff will include the following aspects:

• Informing and appraising all staff of their duties, responsibilities, expected codes of conduct and technical procedures relevant to the CofE Birmingham.
• Providing clear and effective channels of communication in respect of technical and personal issues.
• Supporting the development of direct reports in accordance with the Birmingham Diocesan Board of Finance’s development appraisal process.
• Encouraging Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and the preparation of specific training plan.
• Ensuring safe working practices are adopted in accordance with the Property Department’s procedures and the CDM regulations.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

A successful Senior Surveyor candidate will have:

• RICS or CIOB (or equivalent chartership with the RIBA and APM) qualification with 5 years post qualification experience, with a requirement for Continuing Professional Development would be advantageous.
• Experience in leading multi-disciplinary teams in achieving planning permission, and delivering development/ construction projects.
• Knowledge of Statutory Compliance regulation (essential), Planning and Building Regulation procedures (essential), and experience of working in Listed Buildings (desirable).
• Experience of planning and decision-making processes within large and complex organization.
• Experience of cost estimating, negotiating tenders, financial monitoring and control.
• Experience of preparing Schedules of Work and tender packages.
• Experience of supervising, undertaking property inspections and assessing audits, and managing professional consultants.
• Experience of preventative maintenance planning.
• Knowledge of health and safety legislation affecting the built environment.
• Knowledge of procurement and contractual practices and procedures.
• Experience in successful problem solving and project management.
• Excellent skills in leadership, interpersonal relationships, negotiation and persuasion, and written and visual communication and presentation; and
• The capacity to work and make decisions with a high level of personal discretion.

Due to the major emphasis on visiting clergy houses and working outside of the office, the Senior Surveyor candidate must have a valid driving licence and access to an appropriately insured vehicle.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• Hours: Full-time (35 hours per week) within the Property Team.
• Pension: Membership of the Church Workers Pension scheme with 12% employer contributions.
• Holidays: 25 days per year plus Bank Holidays plus 3 additional Diocesan Discretionary Days.
• The post holder will report to the Director of Property.
• The employer is the Birmingham Diocesan Board of Finance (BDBF).