Interim Senior Estates Surveyor

Description

People Management

• No direct supervisory responsibility however may be required to assist in induction and training of peers and new employees.
• Act as Project Manager on specific service tasks

Resident & Community Contribution

• Understand the needs of customers and convey this to colleagues across the asset management portfolio and adhere to the Council’s customer care standards when undertaking work for internal or external customers.
• Ensure designated suppliers and contractors undertake customer service activities in line with the Council’s vision of ‘putting residents first’ and fulfil their obligations to receive, manage and respond to complaints.
• Support the accurate, timely and appropriate response to Member enquiries, complaints and Freedom of Information requests within agreed timescales.
• Promote and develop a positive image of the Council and of the Borough, through all dealings with customers and external agencies; eg at public meetings, through community initiatives and events and contact with staff and residents

Service Delivery

• Contribute towards providing an Estates Service to all Service Groups within the Council to meet the property requirements of the Council’s policy objectives.
• Undertake property management of all types of Council property, including shops, offices and industrial premises, negotiating rent reviews, leases and licenses, managing vacant properties, dealing with consents under leases and negotiating terminations and renewals (including pursuing dilapidations claims).
• Promote full occupation of let property, deal with landlord and tenant matters and maintain sound commercial practices and returns on performance.
• Negotiate wayleave and easement matters with statutory authorities and other bodies, or on behalf of the council for other property
• Conduct negotiations with owners, or their professional advisers, using specialist skills and advanced level of knowledge of the disciplines associated with the acquisition and disposal of land and buildings, assessing and settling any claims for compensation, leasing, licensing, rent reviews or granting of taking such other interests in land as required by the Council.
• Represent the Estates Team on multi-disciplinary groups to advise on policy, programming and appropriate procedures.
• Represent the Council on a variety of property matters, including acting as expert witness in legal proceedings, Arbitrations, Tribunals and Court hearings.
• Provide professional advice to Members and prepare Cabinet/Committee reports or briefing papers.
• Undertake valuations of residential and commercial property for a variety of purposes including Right to Buy, equity share and for appropriation purposes between Committees or service uses.
• Ensure the security and protection of Council owned property and deal with any unauthorised use, access or occupation as it may arise.
• Meet and communicate directly with key stakeholders, ensuring they are fully briefed on the position of project workstreams and projects relating to their service provision.
• Contribute to the preparation of annual asset valuations, ensuring all lease renewals and rent reviews are actioned, together with negotiations of new leases, lease renewals, licenses and agreements that maximise income from the portfolio. Instruct on and monitor legal documents to complete transactions or reviews of rent.
• Contribute to providing up to date records and information to the Asset Data Manager for the inclusion in the Council’s Asset Management System.
• Deal with enquiries concerning the possible sale or letting of Council owned land and offers to sell or lease to the Council.
• Support the marketing and letting of vacant premises including the production of property particulars, advertising and selection of tenants.
• Comply with all requirements specified within the Council’s policies, relevant codes of practice, legal requirements/regulations, financial procedure rules, H&S, contract procedure rules and also operating standards, service level agreements and schemes delegation.
• Contribute to advice on rating implications on council property and rating valuation matters in general.
• Provide advice on tenant vacation or new tenant matters including dilapidations and review property which may be surplus to council requirements

Service Planning & Development

• Support the management, co-ordination, budget setting, monitoring and reconciliation of all service charge expenditure within the portfolio.
• Attendance on multi-disciplinary groups as a team member providing professional advice and support to service groups
• Maintain knowledge of the current Team Plan and understanding of own contribution in order to ensure delivery of this plan.

Financial & Resource Management

• Provide valuation and property management advice and undertake valuation work involved in viability studies and estimates. Prepare and maintain schedules of comparable evidence for rents and sales.
• Provide advice and contribute to the procurement, instruction and management of consultants or contractors employed to assist with the delivery of strategic property development projects and delivery of capital receipt targets.
• To ensure all purchasing and procurement is conducted in line with the corporate guidelines with appropriate use of the Council’s financial systems.
• Assist in the management of cost centres
• To demonstrate cost-consciousness and identify any cost effective changes to own way of working.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify and suggest any improvements to current ways of working in order to deliver a more efficient and effective service for customers.
• Support a strong performance culture and commitment to delivering quality services to key stakeholders.

Contacts

• Internal: All staff and managers within Property & Estates, Asset Management, and other service areas, Members of the Council.
• External: The list includes but is not limited to: Members of the public, other bodies representing local residents, Consultants, Contractors, Statutory Bodies and Government Agencies, other Local Authorities, operational contractor, developers and supplier representatives.

Additional Responsibilities

• Complete other reasonable tasks in order to fulfil role purpose or as required by management.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• Delivery against any agreed Service Levels.
• Delivery against agreed PADA objectives
• Delivery against allocated budgets and MTFF saving targets.
• Delivery against key performance indicators related to contractor and supplier contractual obligations and service level agreements.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Degree or equivalent qualification in relevant subject.
• RICS qualified.
• Evidence of continued professional development.

STATUTORY or ROLE SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

• Must have a full, current UK driving licence and the use of a vehicle at all times.
• Ability to fully access sites in order to inspect land and buildings.
• Ability to travel out of Borough to evaluate potential contractors and consultants.
• Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the service which will include occasional attendance at evening meetings

EXPERIENCE

• Experience of working in a team.
• Demonstrable experience and knowledge of Landlord and Tenant Law and practice
• Experience of analysing and conveying complex information to a number of different audiences.
• Significant experience of property case management.
• Experience of developing and managing a strong customer service culture.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

• Demonstrable property case management skills.
• Influencing and negotiating skills.
• An in-depth knowledge and understanding of landlord and tenant law.
• An understanding of income recovery and the management of commercial leases and licences.
• Demonstrable ability to meet deadlines in a challenging environment.
• Strong negotiation and influencing expertise, able to work intuitively and liaise effectively with a wide range of stakeholders and audiences
• Highly numerate and IT literate, able to work effectively with a range of applications and data/information systems

COMPETENCIES

• “Can do” positive attitude
• Demonstrates a commitment to changing work practices and processes, and a willingness to try new ways of working or thinking.
• Takes responsibility and delivers results
• Adapts to changing demands to ensure that objectives are met, overcoming problems and making well considered decisions.
• Team working
• Acts as a role model to others in the team, sharing knowledge and experience when necessary, whilst respecting and valuing the contribution other team members’ experiences can bring.

Communication

• Demonstrates well developed written and verbal communication skills; and the confidence to present reports and verbal accounts credibly to a variety of different audiences.

Customer Care

• Develops contacts and relationships with customer/ client groups, regularly reviewing service delivery and taking responsibility to ensure quality service provision.
• Takes ownership of personal development
• Takes action to develop own and others' capability and knowledge by promoting and supporting developmental opportunities to improve performance.