Senior Surveyor

Church of England Birmingham; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 45,000; Full time

Job summary

The Church of England Birmingham is seeking a Senior Surveyor to oversee the property and land portfolio. This role focuses on management of clergy housing and strategic property development, ensuring compliance with regulations. You will lead inspections, manage contractors, and work with a variety of stakeholders to meet ambitious sustainability targets, including achieving Net Zero Carbon. The ideal candidate will hold a relevant professional qualification with significant experience in project delivery and statutory compliance.

Benefits

12% employer contributions to pension

25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays

3 additional discretionary days

Qualifications

• 5 years post-qualification experience.
• Knowledge of Statutory Compliance regulation and Planning procedures.
• Experience in leading multi-disciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead on Quinquennial Inspections for clergy houses every 5 years.
• Develop Planned Preventative Maintenance plans.
• Manage compliance checks for gas safety, electrical testing, etc.

Skills

Leadership

Negotiation

Project Management

Interpersonal Relationships

Communication

Education

RICS or CIOB qualification

Job description

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.
• Implementingvariousprogrammesofplanned,cyclicalandlegislativemaintenance and improvementstothe 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 managethesuccessfultendererto deliversurveysinaccordancewiththeChurch Property Measure2018. 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:

1. developingappropriateriskregistersandcontrolmeasuresrequired.
2. ensuringsafeworkingpracticesareadoptedinaccordancewiththePropertyDepartment’s

procedures,AsbestosregulationsandCDM regulations.

1. selectingprocurementmethods.
2. monitoring the performance of projects against specific performance indicators andoperatingmechanisms forensuring adherencetotechnical proceduresand working practices; and
3. analyzing performance issues with a view to recommending improvements to ensure cost effectiveness, quality, speed, and safety in future project deliver.
4. 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 preparationofannualbudgetsfortheclergyhousing and commercial propertyportfolioincludingregularmonitoring.
• 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.
• Identifyandpromotedevelopmentopportunities.
• Buyingandsellingofclergyhousingandotherassets.
• Project managing development projects and other projects including the construction of new church/ community buildings.
• Support on optimizingfinancialreturns.
• 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.

Managingandsupervising staff:

The Senior Surveyor may also be responsible for managing and supervising staff (e.g. 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.
• Providingclearandeffectivechannelsofcommunicationinrespectoftechnicalandpersonalissues.
• Supporting the development of direct reports in accordance with the Birmingham Diocesan Board of Finance’s development appraisal process.
• EncouragingContinuingProfessionalDevelopment(CPD)andthepreparationofspecifictrainingplan.
• 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:

• RICSorCIOB(orequivalentchartershipwiththe RIBAandAPM)qualificationwith5 yearspost 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.
• KnowledgeofStatutoryComplianceregulation (essential),PlanningandBuildingRegulationprocedures (essential),and experience of working in Listed Buildings (desirable).
• Experienceofplanninganddecision-makingprocesseswithinlargeandcomplexorganization.
• Experienceofcostestimating,negotiatingtenders,financialmonitoringandcontrol.
• Experience of preparing Schedules of Work and tender packages.
• Experienceofsupervising,undertakingpropertyinspectionsandassessingaudits,andmanaging professional consultants.
• Experienceofpreventativemaintenanceplanning.
• Knowledgeofhealthandsafetylegislationaffectingthebuiltenvironment.
• Knowledgeofprocurementandcontractualpracticesandprocedures.
• Experienceinsuccessfulproblemsolvingandprojectmanagement.
• Excellent skills in leadership, interpersonal relationships, negotiation and persuasion, and written and visual communication and presentation; and
• Thecapacitytoworkandmakedecisionswithahighlevelofpersonaldiscretion.

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.
• Salary:£45,000
• Pension:MembershipoftheChurchWorkersPensionschemewith12%employer contributions.
• Holidays:25daysperyearplusBankHolidaysplus3additionalDiocesanDiscretionaryDays.
• ThepostholderwillreporttotheDirectorofProperty.
• TheemployeristheBirminghamDiocesanBoardofFinance(BDBF).

Closing Date for Applications: Sunday 27^thJuly

Interviews to be held in person on: W/C 11^thAugust

The Church of England Birmingham is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where all can be themselves and bring their unique identity to their ministry and/or work.

We welcome applications from any individuals who feel that they meet the person specification for any post, in particular from those who are currently under-represented in our staff teams such as those from Global Majority Heritage or UK Minority Ethnic backgrounds, those with visible or invisible disabilities and those who identify as LGBTQI+.

The Church of England Birmingham is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All post holders are expected to share this commitment.