Development & Regeneration Surveyor – EK

Job Title

Development & Regeneration Surveyor

Department

Property, Regeneration & Economic Development

Reports To

Head of Property, Regeneration & Economic Development

Role Purpose

To provide expert professional property and development advice to support the Council’s property portfolio, regeneration priorities and capital investment programme. To lead and support the identification, appraisal and delivery of development and regeneration opportunities, including acquisitions, disposals, land assembly and asset optimisation, ensuring projects are financially viable, commercially sound and aligned with the Council’s strategic, economic, social and environmental objectives.

Narrative of Role

This is a key professional role within the Council’s Property, Regeneration and Economic Development service, providing specialist property and development advice to support regeneration priorities and make best use of Council-owned land and property. The role will lead and contribute to development appraisals, feasibility studies, viability assessments, acquisitions, disposals and land assembly, identifying opportunities to unlock value from surplus or underutilised assets and bring forward sustainable development and regeneration projects.

The successful candidate will manage a varied caseload, working closely with internal services, senior officers, Members, Welsh Government, developers, consultants, landowners and community stakeholders. A typical day may include site visits, assessing development opportunities, preparing financial appraisals and business cases, negotiating property transactions, managing consultants and project risks, and providing clear professional advice to support investment and delivery decisions. The role will also supervise and develop staff, ensuring projects are delivered to time, cost and quality while achieving positive financial, economic, social and environmental outcomes for Pembrokeshire.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

1. Lead and support development and regeneration projects from initial feasibility through to delivery.
2. Prepare development appraisals, viability assessments, options appraisals and business cases.
3. Identify opportunities to develop, reuse or optimise Council-owned land and property.
4. Lead and support acquisitions, disposals, land assembly, leases and development agreements.
5. Manage projects to agreed timescales, budgets, quality standards and governance requirements.
6. Commission and manage external consultants, agents and contractors, ensuring value for money and quality outputs.
7. Provide professional property advice to Council services, senior officers, Members and project teams.
8. Build and maintain effective relationships with developers, landowners, Welsh Government, consultants, statutory bodies and community stakeholders.
9. Supervise, support and develop staff, including allocating work, managing performance and identifying training needs.
10. Ensure projects and decisions properly consider financial, legal, planning, sustainability, equality, social value and risk requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Development & Regeneration

• Lead and contribute to feasibility studies, options appraisals and business cases.
• Assess development opportunities and provide recommendations on preferred delivery options.
• Develop and maintain a pipeline of development and regeneration projects.
• Identify opportunities to bring forward surplus or underutilised Council assets.
• Support the delivery of projects aligned with corporate and regeneration priorities.

Property Transactions

• Lead or support negotiations relating to acquisitions, disposals, land assembly, leases and development agreements.
• Undertake property inspections, site investigations, condition assessments and due diligence.
• Liaise with landowners, developers, tenants, purchasers and professional advisers.
• Provide professional advice on property and development matters.

Financial & Commercial

• Prepare and review development appraisals and financial models.
• Assess development viability, costs, values, risks and potential returns.
• Support capital investment decisions and funding applications.
• Monitor project budgets and financial performance.
• Ensure value for money is achieved through procurement and consultant management.

Project Management

• Manage a defined caseload of development and regeneration projects.
• Deliver projects to agreed time, cost and quality requirements.
• Identify, monitor and manage project risks.
• Maintain appropriate governance, reporting and audit trails.
• Coordinate internal and external project teams.

Stakeholder Management

• Work collaboratively with Planning, Finance, Legal, Procurement, Highways, Construction and other Council services.
• Work with Welsh Government, developers, consultants, statutory undertakers and community organisations.
• Provide clear and timely professional advice to senior officers and Members.
• Support community engagement and third-party funding opportunities.
• Manage negotiations and resolve issues or disputes where required.

People Management

The postholder will have full and ongoing responsibility for the supervision and management of at least two members of staff.

Responsibilities will include:

• Recruitment and selection.
• Allocation and direction of work.
• Performance management.
• Identifying training and development needs.
• Supporting staff wellbeing and attendance management.
• Addressing conduct and performance matters.
• Mentoring and developing junior staff, graduates and trainees where required.

Decision Making

The postholder will be expected to:

• Exercise professional judgement on complex property and development matters.
• Evaluate financial, technical, commercial and strategic information.
• Make recommendations based on evidence, risk and value for money.
• Prioritise competing projects, deadlines and resources.
• Identify and escalate significant risks and issues appropriately.
• Ensure decisions comply with legislation, Council policies, professional standards and governance requirements.

Systems & Information

The role may involve the use of:

• Property and asset management systems.
• Development appraisal and viability software, including ARGUS or equivalent.
• Microsoft Excel and financial modelling tools.
• GIS and mapping systems such as ArcGIS or MapInfo.
• Microsoft Project, Planner and other project management systems.
• Power BI and reporting tools.
• Planning and document management systems.
• Procurement and financial management systems.

Key Contacts

The postholder will regularly communicate and negotiate with:

• Senior Council officers and Members.
• Property and Estates colleagues.
• Finance, Legal, Procurement and Planning teams.
• Construction and Building Maintenance.
• Highways and Conservation colleagues.
• Landowners and developers.
• Existing and potential tenants.
• External surveyors, agents and consultants.
• Welsh Government and statutory undertakers.
• Community groups and local stakeholders.

Working Environment

The role is predominantly office-based but requires regular travel across Pembrokeshire for site visits, inspections and meetings.

The postholder may be required to:

• Visit development and construction sites.
• Work outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Undertake property inspections and site investigations.
• Deal with sensitive or challenging negotiations.
• Manage situations where decisions may impact businesses, tenants, landowners or local communities.

Essential Qualifications, Knowledge & Experience

Candidates should demonstrate:

• Degree in Surveying, Real Estate, Property, Regeneration, Planning or a related discipline.
• RICS membership, working towards membership, or equivalent demonstrable professional competence.
• Significant practical experience delivering development and/or regeneration projects.
• Proven experience preparing development appraisals and feasibility studies.
• Detailed knowledge of property development, valuation principles and viability assessment.
• Strong analytical and commercial awareness.
• Proven experience of acquisitions, disposals and land negotiations.
• Strong project management skills and experience delivering projects to time, cost and quality.
• Strong financial planning and budget management skills.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across a complex organisation.
• Full driving licence or ability to travel to sites and meetings as required.

Desirable

• Experience working within a local authority or wider public-sector environment.
• Experience of regeneration and economic development projects.
• Experience of land assembly and complex development negotiations.
• Experience of securing or administering grant funding.
• Welsh language skills.
• Experience supervising or managing staff.
• RICS Chartered status.
• Experience using property, GIS, development appraisal or project management systems.

Competencies

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Professional Expertise – applies sound property and development knowledge to complex situations.
• Commercial Awareness – understands value, viability, risk and financial return.
• Project Delivery – plans and delivers projects effectively.
• Problem Solving – identifies issues and develops practical solutions.
• Decision Making – makes evidence-based and proportionate recommendations.
• Communication – communicates complex information clearly to different audiences.
• Negotiation – achieves positive outcomes while maintaining professional relationships.
• Stakeholder Management – builds effective relationships across internal and external organisations.
• Leadership – supports, manages and develops colleagues.
• Strategic Thinking – understands how individual projects contribute to wider Council priorities.
• Sustainability & Social Value – considers wider economic, social and environmental outcomes.

Corporate Responsibilities

The postholder is required to:

• Comply with the Council’s Safeguarding, Health & Safety, Equal Opportunities, Data Protection and other relevant policies.
• Maintain professional standards and confidentiality.
• Comply with relevant legislation, procurement requirements and Council procedures.
• Maintain accurate records and appropriate audit trails.
• Undertake other duties reasonably required, commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility of the role.