Job Description

Job info	Job info details
Job title	Principal Surveyor (Corporate)
Strategic team/Directorate	Pride in Place
Service	Asset Management
Business unit	Estates
Responsible to (day to day issues)	Strategic Head of Asset Management
Accountable to (line manager)	Strategic Head of Asset Management
Salary grade	L
JE ref	FIN126

1. Key purpose of job

To have overall responsibility for the strategic asset management of the Council’s Corporate Property Estate (occupational and service delivery).
To provide leadership and management of direct reports to ensure resources are proactively deployed and to maximise income and minimise expenditure.
To ensure that the service is delivered in accordance with the Law and best practice.
To attend meetings, Working Groups etc. as required and to keep the Strategic Head of Asset Management informed on all aspects of the Corporate Property Estate.
To monitor performance and continuous improvement in service delivery.
To deliver a range of professional advice and projects to external public sector and private sector clients. To manage external clients and retain / attract new clients.
To work with other Council services, appointing and managing external consultants as required.

2. Anticipated outcomes of post

To provide a cost effective and efficient corporate property management service that aligns with the Council’s Asset Management Strategy.
To obtain and retain external clients, providing a full professional estates service.
Manage occupier expectations through service delivery and promote improvements in performance and quality standards.
Continuously measure and improve service delivery processes to improve consistency, quality and efficiency to contribute to corporate plan objectives and achieve value for money.

3. List key duties and accountabilities of the post

Provide a complete specialist Asset Management Service, taking a lead role in the Asset Valuation programme regarding the delivery of a wide range of multi-disciplinary estate management and valuation services.
Controlling, directing and supervising the work and resources (human and financial) of the Corporate Property Team to provide an efficient and effective service.
Advising the Strategic Head of Asset Management on all corporate property matters relevant to Torbay Council.
To develop short, medium and long term strategies and to manage all assets in line with Torbay Council’s approved Asset Management Strategy. Monitor and manage interim uses, holding costs, risks, and opportunities to maximise value and minimise liabilities during the pre‑development phase for assets held to facilitate regeneration.
To deputy for the Estates Manager in undertaking annual valuations of the Council’s asset portfolio to the value of £500m.
To represent the Council with external bodies and internal stakeholders as the lead for allocated cases, projects and initiatives.
To be responsible for ensuring the successful implementation of the allocated projects and initiatives within the service plan, flagging up key issues and potential solutions to the Strategic Head of Asset Management.
Providing complete professional advice on all aspects of valuation, acquisition, property management (including lease renewal and rent review) for the Corporate estate.
Ensuring that valuations are carried out by the Estates Team expeditiously and within the policies laid down by the Council and within the guidelines of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
Lead on the negotiation and settlement of compensation matters relating to Compulsory Purchase Order, Part I Claims, statutory easements and wayleaves.
Managing and driving service development initiatives whilst maintaining operational services and supporting a large team of professionals.
Prioritising differing stakeholder needs and often conflicting deadlines.
Inviting and analysing proposals in respect of commercial development sites as required.
To keep abreast of all current and proposed legislation relevant to property.
Ensuring that all staff in the Corporate Property Team comply with Standing Orders, Financial Regulations, Statutory obligations and other provisions.
Observe and comply with policies and procedures for Health and Safety at Work, Data Protection and observe and continually promote equal opportunities and customer care in compliance with organisational aims and objectives.
Oversee the updating and maintenance of all manual and computerised records in accurate and timely manner to ensure compliance with the Council’s Management and Data Protection policies.
Occasional after-hours work may be required within the scope of the role, including attendance at meetings.
Lead, support and coach a team of property professionals, ensuring they are fulfilling all the responsibilities of their role, customer standards are met and the team is efficient and effective.
Day-to-day supervision of the team, completion of regular 121’s and annual appraisals.
Ensure the Team’s health, safety and wellbeing is prioritised.
Ensure learning and development needs are met, professional qualifications are encouraged and supported, and all core training is completed within timescales.
To procure external firms to carry out out-sourced work and to monitor their performance.
Undertake other duties appropriate to the grade of the post including involvement in estate management matters relating to the commercial estate when required.
Monitor individual and team performance against KPIs and strategic objectives.
Collate information and prepare specialist reports as required. Present reports and papers to varying groups of people including Clients, Councillors, the Management Team, Audit & Compliance and the Board.
Keep up to date with legislation, regulation, and best practice and share knowledge with the team and wider colleagues.
Write and regularly review all policies, procedures and processes relevant to the Corporate Property Team and implement changes to legislation to facilitate efficiencies in working practices and improved customer satisfaction. Ensure the team are aware of any changes to these policies.
Embed and review performance standards and targets to provide a consistently high level of service.
Prepare and maintain a Service Plan for the Corporate Property Team.
Manage the Corporate Property Team budgets with a strong focus on value for money, maximising income from third party clients.
Act as signatory for the Estates Team budgets as set by the Council.
Work with internal and external stakeholders and partners to understand the service requirements of our customers and how we can work together to meet them.
Contribute to newsletters, leaflets, guides, social media and other customer content related to estate management.
Oversee updating and maintenance of all manual and computerised records in an accurate and timely manner to ensure compliance with the Group’s Data Protection policies.
Identifying problems and risks, assessing risks and carrying out due diligence.
Influencing across a wide range of issues and external organisations.
Managing a team of professionals making decision on performance management, risk management and advise on appointment of consultants and contractors.
Dealing with confrontational stakeholders and/or members of the public.
As an Employee of Torbay Council all roles are expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. The Designated Senior Lead for Safeguarding is the Chief Executive and Director of Children’s Services.

4. Budgetary/Financial Responsibilities of the post

To prepare, monitor and manage budgets for the Corporate Property Team and budgets, including management of corporate, working closely with Finance and providing all necessary information as required.

5. Supervision/Line Management Responsibilities of the post

The total number of positions line managed is currently four, ranging from Senior Valuer through to Estates Assistant.
Line management responsibilities for all staff in the Corporate Property Team.
To advise on all staff appointments and be responsible for all aspects of performance management of staff in the Corporate Property Team.
Responsible for developing, training and motivating staff in the Corporate Property Team.
Ensuring timesheets are coded correctly.
To decide upon the allocation of work to staff based on priorities and in consultation with the Strategic Head of Asset Management to decide which work is to be out-sourced, if appropriate.
Decisions on the exercise of delegated powers.
To deputise for the Estates Manager and Strategic Head of Asset Management in consultation with the Finance Director on property related matters both commercial (and residential).
To make agreements with tenants on behalf of the Council and former TDA for the recovery of rent arrears or other debts via repayment plans or alternatives.
To manage the complaints process associated with the Corporate Estates Team in line with the policy ensuring timely responses in accordance with standards, focusing on first contact resolution and identification of future learning opportunities to achieve customer service excellence. Work to resolve complaints received regarding service delivery.
To liaise with other agencies on the Council’s behalf in order to effectively carry out working relationships with all work colleagues, contractors and partnering agencies.

6. Working environment and conditions of the post

Office location and home-based working.
Lone working to include tenant home visits, estate visits, proposed new tenant visits, inspections of land and buildings generally.
Dealing with members of the public, some of whom can be aggressive & volatile.
To be reactive to any emergency including emergency repair issues or other emergencies affecting Council assets and to decide the appropriate course of actions for resolution.

7. Physical demands of the post

Lone working to include tenant home visits, estate visits, proposed new tenant visits, inspections of land and buildings generally.

8. Specific resources used by the post

IT equipment.
Continuous access to transport will be required as the job entails travelling to multiple locations around the South of England.

9. Key contacts and relationships

External:

Members of the public, Council’s commercial tenants/their agents, commercial landlords, external consultants, partner organisations, other Public Sector Bodies, other Local Authority Asset Management Departments.
Members of Parliament, Cabinet Members and other Council Members; Chief Executive of the Council, Commissioners / Executive Heads.

Internal:

Estates Manager, Strategic Head of Asset Management, Managing Director, Service Managers and other colleagues.

10. Other duties

To undertake additional duties as required, commensurate with the level of the job.

Other Information

All staff must commit to the Workplace Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Practice and Policy.
Torbay Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo the checks appropriate to the post applied for.
The post holder is expected to work in a way that ensures vulnerable children and adults are safeguarded and report any safeguarding concerns in accordance with established policies and procedures. And are aware that the Chief Executive and the Director for Children’s Services are the Safeguarding Leads for the Council.
This post is office based at Tor Hill House but the post holder may be required to move their base to any other location within the Council at a future date.
You will be asked to complete a Criminal Records Self Declaration Form. Criminal convictions will only be taken into account when they are relevant to the post. You will only be asked to disclose ‘unspent’ convictions.
The Council operates a Smoke-Free Policy and the post-holder is prohibited from smoking in any of the Council's buildings (including Council owned and Council leased buildings, but excluding designated areas in residential schemes), enclosed spaces within the curtilage of buildings, and Council vehicles. The Council does not permit smoking breaks within work time, however, in services where the flexi-scheme is in operation, employees may take reasonable break times outside of core hours, in accordance with flexi-time arrangements. Employees should follow the flexi-scheme procedure for agreeing time away from their duties in the normal manner with their immediate colleagues and line manager, with break start and finish times being recorded, as with any other break-time arrangement.
The post-holder is expected to familiarise themselves with and adhere to all relevant Council Policies and Procedures.
The post-holder must comply with the Council’s Health and Safety requirements as outlined in the H&S policy appropriate to the role.
The post-holder must be committed to the Council’s Core Values for employees – “Torbay Council employees are committed to being forward thinking, people orientated and adaptable - always with integrity”. Evidence will be sought during the probation and appraisal processes.
If this post is customer facing, it will require the ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence and fluency in English.
If you are required to access a government system such as HMRC, DWP or The Public services network (PSN) as part of your role with the Council you will be required to complete a basic disclose with your line manager before you can access these systems. Your manager will be required to complete a verification form that confirms your identity, nationality and immigration status, employment history and unspent convictions (third party).
If you are required to use your own vehicle on Council business or drive a council vehicle you will be asked to provide information on any driving endorsements by accessing gov.uk/view-driving-licence and providing a code to your Line Manager in order to share your driving licence information with the Council.

Person Specification

Note for Candidate

All Candidates

The supporting statement on your application form will be used to assess ability to meet the essential requirements of the role, so you should explain how you meet each of the numbered essential requirements within your supporting statement. In a competitive situation, the desirable criteria may be taken into consideration, so you are encouraged to show how you also meet each of the desirable criteria.

Candidates who consider that they have a disability

Reasonable adjustments will be made to the job, job requirements or recruitment process for candidates with a disability.

If you consider yourself to have a disability you should indicate this on your application form, providing any information you would like us to take into account with regard to your disability in order to offer a fair selection interview.

Where ever possible and reasonable we will make adjustments and offer alternatives to help you through the application and selection process.

If you have indicated that you have a disability on your application form you will be guaranteed an interview if you clearly demonstrate in your supporting evidence how you broadly meet the essential requirements of the role.

Job info	Job info details
Job Title	Principal Surveyor (Corporate)
Strategic team/Directorate	Pride in Place
Service	Asset Management
Business unit	Estates

Skills and effectiveness

Essential skills and effectiveness

Experience of motivating and developing a team of professionals, with a proven track record and experience of all aspects of estate management including valuations, acquisitions, disposals, rent reviews, lease renewals etc.
Significant experience in assessing and managing risk within a complex working environment.
Proven leadership and people management skills with an ability to lead and integrate performance management to achieve improvements in performance.
Effective communication skills.
Effective organisational skills.
Political awareness.
Effective negotiating skills.
Ability to meet challenging deadlines and work with competing demands.
Ability to work with external agencies, consultants, contractors and the public.

Desirable skills and effectiveness

Ability to comprehend and react appropriately to complex and changing situations.

Knowledge

Essential knowledge

Specialist knowledge of asset valuation programme for capital accounting purposes, corporate property estate management and working with specialist partners in these areas.
Understanding the overall statutory local government planning framework.
Understanding of consultation and engagement processes.
Financial monitoring and budgetary control.
Extensive knowledge and understanding of relevant legislation and statutory obligations.
Microsoft 365, in particular Excel, Word and Outlook.

Desirable knowledge

Knowledge of Public Sector property.
Knowledge of Housing good practice.

Experience and achievements

Essential experience and achievements

Experience of providing strategic focus for dealing with accommodation and property issues within a local authority.
Political sensitivity and experience of working successfully with Elected Members, external agencies and the wider community.
Contributing successfully to effective team working and successful inter-disciplinary initiatives.
Experience of managing staff in a customer focussed environment delivering valuation and estate management practice and achieving best value.
Experience in strategy and policy development.

Desirable experience and achievements

Experience of property matters in a Public Sector environment.
Successful experience of joint working with statutory and non-statutory organisations.
Proven ability to lead the provision of a similarly complex service in a similar organisation.

Qualifications/professional memberships

Essential qualifications/professional memberships

Member or Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
RICS related degree.

Desirable qualifications/professional memberships

Appropriate management qualification.
RICS Registered Valuer.
Evidence of further relevant professional development.

Other requirements

Other requirements of the job role

Ability to travel efficiently around the Bay/South West/UK in order to carry out duties.
Ability to accommodate unsociable hours.
Ability to accommodate occasional/permanent home-working.