Senior Building Surveyor – AR

Job Details

Senior Building Surveyor / Lead Project Building Surveyor

Location: London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Directorate: Housing & Regeneration – Facilities Management
Salary: Grade L (Council Scale)
Car Allowance: Essential Car User Allowance Provided

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Senior Building Surveyor to join our Facilities Management team, delivering a wide range of building fabric projects across the Council’s corporate estate, schools, leisure centres, and public buildings.

This is a client-side role responsible for managing refurbishment, maintenance, compliance, and capital improvement projects ranging from approximately £15,000 to £1 million. You will lead projects from feasibility through to completion, ensuring buildings remain safe, compliant, operational, and fit for purpose.

In addition to managing your own portfolio of projects, you will provide technical leadership and line management support to Building Surveyors, oversee contractor performance, and act as a key advisor on building-related matters.

Key Responsibilities

Project Delivery

• Manage building fabric projects from inception through to completion, including refurbishment, maintenance, compliance, adaptation, and replacement works.
• Deliver projects ranging from £15,000 to £1 million across schools, leisure centres, corporate offices, and public buildings.
• Undertake feasibility studies and develop practical, cost-effective solutions that meet client requirements.
• Prepare specifications, schedules of work, drawings, technical reports, and tender documentation.
• Monitor project progress, quality, budgets, and programme performance, taking corrective action where required.

Building Surveying

• Conduct condition surveys, inspections, and defect diagnosis across a diverse property portfolio.
• Investigate building defects and prepare detailed technical reports with recommendations for remedial works.
• Support the development of planned maintenance and lifecycle replacement programmes.
• Maintain accurate building condition records within CAFM systems, including Technology Forge (TF Cloud) or equivalent platforms.
• Provide expert technical advice on building fabric, statutory compliance, and maintenance strategies.

Contract Administration & Procurement

• Administer contracts and oversee contractor performance throughout project delivery.
• Prepare tender documentation and contract schedules.
• Procure and manage external consultants where required.
• Review valuations, final accounts, variations, and contractor claims.
• Resolve contractual disputes and negotiate settlements where appropriate.

Compliance & Health and Safety

• Ensure compliance with Building Regulations, CDM Regulations, Health & Safety legislation, Fire Safety requirements, and other statutory obligations.
• Monitor building fabric compliance across the estate.
• Undertake site inspections and audits to ensure works are delivered safely and in accordance with specifications.
• Support the council’s commitment to sustainability and environmental best practice.

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Provide line management and technical support to Building Surveyors and other allocated staff.
• Allocate workloads and monitor team performance to ensure service standards are achieved.
• Chair project and site meetings with contractors, consultants, and stakeholders.
• Build effective relationships with client departments, contractors, consultants, and external agencies.
• Ensure disruption to building users is minimised and client services remain operational wherever possible.

Strategic Asset Management

• Contribute to the development of planned maintenance and capital investment programmes.
• Analyse condition data and make recommendations for future investment priorities.
• Promote lifecycle costing principles to maximise value and long-term sustainability.
• Support the development of asset management and building improvement strategies.

Specialist Duties

• Act as an expert witness in legal proceedings when required.
• Support investigations relating to complaints, Ombudsman enquiries, insurance matters, and Party Wall issues.
• Respond to emergencies and provide out-of-hours support as required.

Essential Requirements

Qualifications

• Degree in Building Surveying, Construction, or a related building discipline.
• Chartered membership (MRICS, MCIOB or equivalent professional qualification) preferred.

Experience

• Significant experience delivering building surveying and project management services across commercial or public-sector property portfolios.
• Extensive experience managing refurbishment, maintenance, compliance, and capital improvement projects.
• Proven experience supervising or managing Building Surveyors, Project Engineers, or technical staff.
• Strong contract administration and contractor management experience.
• Experience preparing specifications, schedules, reports, and procurement documentation.
• Experience managing project budgets and financial reporting.
• Experience working within a public-sector environment is highly desirable.

Knowledge & Skills

• Strong understanding of building construction and building fabric systems.
• Thorough knowledge of Building Regulations, Fire Safety requirements, CDM Regulations, and Health & Safety legislation.
• Sound understanding of procurement, contract administration, and project delivery processes.
• Experience using CAFM systems such as TF Cloud or equivalent.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and project management software.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and leadership skills.

Why Join?

This is an opportunity to take ownership of a diverse and technically challenging portfolio while playing a key role in maintaining and improving vital public buildings across Tower Hamlets. You will have the opportunity to lead meaningful projects, influence investment decisions, and contribute to the delivery of safe, sustainable, and high-quality facilities for local communities.