Senior Estates Surveyor

Description

Job context

• The post holder will work directly for the Principal Estates Manager, and report through to the Head of Strategic Property; supporting colleagues within the team in delivering a range of Property and Estate management functions, embedding the Corporate Landlord Model strongly within the team and the wider organisation.
• The post holder will lead on a specified large and diverse portfolio of properties and projects as determined by the Estates Manager; leading, co-ordinating and managing the property transactions, tenant engagement, workloads and management of the allocated portfolio.
• This work will involve the post holder working closely with the Facilities and Compliances Teams to ensure that all land and property assets within the allocated portfolio remain compliant and safe, that all landlord responsibilities are discharged and that our assets remain sustainable, effective and continue support service delivery and wider council outputs.
• The role will support the development of the Councils future Asset Management Strategy and associated plan, and will lead on setting and delivering long term strategies for the allocated property portfolio; ensuring that the council’s property holdings align with corporate priorities and long term needs.   
• The post holder will work with the Principal Estates Manager to review and develop continuous improvement of governance, decision making and a range of processes; utilising their skills and knowledge through consultation with services and establishing clear links with professional standards, such as RICS and CIPFA.

The post holder will be responsible to the Principal Estates Manager for, but not limited to, the following areas:

• Maximising Rental Income - optimising the revenue generated from the allocated property and land portfolio through activities such as setting competitive rental rates, ensuring high occupancy rates, low voids and effective property management.
• Managing the Commercial estate - overseeing and optimising the performance of a portfolio of commercial properties on behalf of the Council; ensuring land and property assets meet service user needs.
• Managing and contributing to the delivery of key property and land related projects – managing key projects involving multi-disciplinary teams of property specialists, including external consultants to deliver completed projects on time and within cost 
• Managing relationships -   Creating a single point of contact and point of escalation, building and managing good, visible customer care and service with a wide range of customers, tenants and clients – both internally, as part of a Corporate Landlord Function, and externally via commercial, lease, residencies and developer relationships
• Valuations – supporting the Estates Manager in coordinating annual asset valuations and ad-hoc asset valuations across the property portfolio. 
• Disposals and Acquisitions - overseeing property transactions, including disposals and acquisitions, within the portfolio.

Job Purpose:     

• To provide quality comprehensive property advice and professional services relating to conducting transactions, implementing policy and management of the council’s land and property portfolio, including major projects.
• To manage, be responsible, and implement long term strategies for an allocated portfolio of land and property assets.
• To manage key projects involving co-ordination of multi-disciplinary teams of property specialists, including external consultants, to deliver completed projects on time and within cost.  

Operational management:

• To be responsible for a specified property portfolio, working with the HoS, Principal Estates Manager and colleagues within Strategic Asset Management and Facilities Management in delivering day to day Estate Management Services.
• To ensure that all property transactions relating to the Council’s property portfolio are undertaken in accordance with the Council’s Property Procedure Rules, objectives, policies, legislative requirements and RICS and CIFPA guidelines.
• To support in delivering annual valuations of the property portfolio
• Act on own initiative and provide bespoke solutions to property issues
• To support the Principal Estates Manager in acting as Main Client in the commissioning and delivery of all works carried out on the Council owned, leased and managed land and properties falling within the allocated property portfolio.
• To analyse and provide technical and expert property and contractual advice, recommendations and actions aimed at implementing corporate and service strategy, with a broad spectrum of projects including complex or sensitive cases or high impact projects involving acquisitions (including compulsory purchase), disposals, site rationalisations, landlord and tenants and other estates work.
• To support the Principal Estates Manager in reviewing and identifying opportunities for continues improvement within the service, its policies and procedures, embedding a culture of change within own activities, the team and that of the organisation to improve services and drive forward an effective service for all users.
• To assist the Principal Estates Manager in the development of clear Service Level Agreements with internal and external customers, supporting a centralised property function and delivery model under a corporate landlord function.
• To represent the service and deputise for the Principal Estates Manager at meetings and groups as required.

Resource management:

• To manage an allocated property portfolio and associated budgets in a strategic, effective, efficient, legally compliant and customer focussed manner. The council’s property portfolio consists of over 3,000 land and property assets and has a capital value in excess of £1.3bn.
• To be responsible for maintaining, delivering and maximising rental income from the allocated property portfolio (rental income across the total portfolio is currently budgeted at £13m p.a.).
• Contributing towards a coherent service and corporate risk register for property related risks and effectively managing and monitoring specific Estate related risks relating to the allocated portfolio.
• Identify areas where efficiency savings and income generation can be achieved and delivered through the allocated property portfolio.
• Assist the Principal Estates Manager in managing the requirements and needs of internal and external customers, ensuring that sound Service Level Agreements are in place, developing Key Performance Indicators to assist in measuring and reporting on service provisions as well as utilising to improve service provision where required.
• Instruct and manage internal and external professional advisors and contractors in relation to specific commissions and works, monitoring both performance and budget
• Line manage a team of property professionals and provide support and monitor development of apprentice and graduate entry Estates Surveyors and other staff through formal assessment of competence requirements of professional bodies. 
• To identify need and requirement for resources for allocated portfolio and projects; supporting the Principal Estates Manager in wider strategic resource planning across the service.
• Supporting the Principal Estates Manager in the recruitment of suitably qualified and experienced resource to meet service outputs.
• Manage and appraise team through the setting and monitoring of performance targets and standards, to ensure they effectively deliver their key objectives, encouraging personal development, providing support and taking action as necessary.

Partnerships / Corporate Working:

• Collaborate and develop strong working relationships with senior colleagues across the organisation to champion and embed the Corporate Landlord approach and to identify, challenge and provide innovative solutions for delivering future operational property needs.
• Planning and co-ordination of complex property based projects using multi-disciplinary teams, often taking responsibility as project leader
• Build effective relationships with enabling services that support in the delivery of service objectives and outputs, including HR, Business Support, Finance, Procurement and Legal
• To work within own team and across directorates, effectively driving forward Service Asset Plans  
• Working with and maintaining relationships with key external partners (NHS, Police, Fire, ICB, NYMNP, YDNPA, LEP, etc) to support key service delivery alignments relating to the occupation of the allocated portfolio and effective management of the Public Estate.
• Maintain effective relationships with key internal customers, Councillors and external stakeholders

Strategic management: 

• To support the Head of Service, Principal Estates Manager and Asset Strategy Manager in the development and delivery of the Council’s Asset Management Strategy and Corporate Asset Management Plan, with particular focus on the allocated property portfolio. 
• Act as a recognised expert within the Property Service.
• Support on the delivery of the Councils Transformation Plan (Property) including, but not limited to, increased rental income returns and the delivery of a more cost-effective portfolio.
• Contribute towards the development of a robust Estates Strategy in order to shape the future of the Councils Portfolio, maximising rental income and capital receipts, reducing risk and reviewing and implementing investment and divestment to ensure sustainability and effectiveness.    
• Contribute towards a clear and realistic Key Performance Indicator framework that adds value to monitoring the portfolio, linking with wider strategic outcomes and reporting.  
• Support in the development of new ways of working that maximise efficiency and effectiveness.
• Actively seek and exploit opportunities to maximise the effective use of land and property assets.
• To support with the delivery of Property Holding Reviews; using professional judgement and commercial acumen to support the Head of Strategic Property and Estates Manager in identifying innovative investment opportunities for land and property assets, in order to generate increased financial returns.   
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement by encouraging team members to share ideas, take appropriate risks, and recognising innovation.
• Champion and embed a quality assurance culture that delivers results through rigorous open challenge, personal accountability, and continuous improvement.

Communications:           

• Develop and maintain relationships with
• Senior Officers and other stakeholders within client.
• Elected members of the Council
• Government Departments, Public bodies, Investors, Customers and property agents
• Negotiate commercial terms for complex land and property transactions both with external parties and internal stakeholders, instigating controls and monitoring outcomes 
• To produce reports and advise Members and Senior Officers on property related matters as required by the Corporate Director of Resource, Assistant Director Commercial, Property & Procurement, Head of Strategic Property and Estates Manager.
• Actively contribute to relevant management teams.
• Ensure that personal interaction with tenants, Members, Officers and other stakeholders is undertaken in a transparent, positive and professional way which creates a good impression of the Property Team and the Council.

Systems and information:           

• To manage and monitor data and information in relation to effective estate management of the allocated Portfolio, ensuring all data is up to date and relevant.
• Support the Principal Estates Manager in creating, managing and reviewing clear process and procedures that can be utilised to support effective decision making for the Councils Portfolio.
• To utilise data effectively to ensure that the allocated portfolio remains efficient, compliant and sustainable.
• Using data, information and systems to manage a range of Service Level Agreements with clients.

Safeguarding:   

• To ensure that all requirement for the safeguarding, contained within the Councils Safeguarding Policy, are adhered to.
• To promote a culture of proactive reporting on all safeguarding areas whether in the workplace or elsewhere
• To support the health, wellbeing and welfare of the team