Building Surveyor

Job Title: Building Surveyor
Contract Type: Permanent
Salary: £53,556 per annum
Working Hours: 40 hours per week
Working Pattern: Monday to Friday
Location: Dartford , Kent / Hybrid

If you share our values and are excited about making a significant impact at Riverside, please ensure you attach a current CV and covering letter. At Riverside we recruit to potential not just on skills and experience, so we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet all the essential criteria on the job description.

The difference you will make as Building Surveyor,

Support the effective management of property services supply-chain contracts by providing professional surveying, contract administration and technical assurance across repairs and maintenance workstreams. The role is responsible for agreeing scopes and specifications, monitoring subcontractor delivery, inspecting works, validating quality and cost, and ensuring that completed works are compliant, provide value for money and deliver a positive resident experience. Working collaboratively with operational, commercial, planning, customer experience, procurement and health and safety colleagues, the postholder will use performance information and technical expertise to support continuous improvement and the consistent application of the Contract Management Framework. This role has no line-management responsibility

About you

We are looking for someone with:

• HNC/HND, degree or equivalent qualification in Building Surveying, Construction, Estate Management, Contract Management or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Experience of surveying, diagnosing building defects and specifying repairs within social housing, property management or a comparable environment.
• Practical knowledge of building construction, maintenance methods and repairs and maintenance services.
• Experience of working with contractors and monitoring delivery against specifications, service levels and key performance indicators.
• Effective contract-management and contract-administration skills, including experience of variations, work orders, inspections and payment validation.
• Strong working knowledge of cost frameworks and schedules of rates, with the ability to assess value for money.
• Good understanding of health and safety requirements relevant to construction, repairs, maintenance and contractor activity.
• Sound judgement and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make proportionate, evidence-based decisions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce clear reports and explain technical matters to different audiences.

Why Riverside?

At Riverside, we’re a housing association with a difference – enhancing the everyday for all our customers. For 90 years, we’ve been revitalising neighbourhoods and supporting communities by providing the homes they need to live full, fulfilling and rewarding lives.

We have a portfolio of over 75,000 affordable residential and retirement homes across the UK. Our work ranges from homelessness services to social care, employment support to retirement living, and we need the best people on board to help us.

Working with us, you’ll enjoy:

• Competitive pay & generous pension
• 25 days holidays plus bank holidays
• Investment in your learning, personal development and technology
• A wide range of benefits

Diversity and Inclusion at Riverside:

We are inclusive. At Riverside, we value diversity in all its forms. We foster a workplace where all individuals are respected, empowered, and heard. Our commitment to inclusivity drives our success and enriches the lives of our customers and colleagues.

This role also falls under our Ethnic Diversity guaranteed interview scheme. If you are Ethnically Diverse and demonstrate you meet the minimum criteria for the role you will be guaranteed an interview.

Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to be considered.

Role Profile

Support the effective management of property services supply-chain contracts by providing professional surveying, contract administration and technical assurance across repairs and maintenance workstreams. The role is responsible for agreeing scopes and specifications, monitoring subcontractor delivery, inspecting works, validating quality and cost, and ensuring that completed works are compliant, provide value for money and deliver a positive resident experience. Working collaboratively with operational, commercial, planning, customer experience, procurement and health and safety colleagues, the postholder will use performance information and technical expertise to support continuous improvement and the consistent application of the Contract Management Framework. This role has no line-management responsibility

Role requires you to

• Experience of financial account monitoring and cost management, including reviewing expenditure, reconciling contractor costs, supporting budget control and identifying cost variances.
• Undertake pre-inspection, work-in-progress and post-inspection surveys, ensuring findings, measurements, photographs and maintenance records are accurate and complete.
• Prepare and agree schedules of work, specifications and work orders for works delivered by subcontractors.
• Measure, validate and agree completed works, variations and associated costs in accordance with approved schedules of rates, contractual terms, delegated authority and business procedures.
• Monitor subcontractor progress, quality, compliance and completion, ensuring works meet required standards, resident expectations and right-first-time objectives.
• Support the operation of the Contract Management Framework, including regular contractor reviews, performance meetings, action tracking and escalation of underperformance through agreed routes.
• Monitor contractor performance against service levels and key performance indicators, including customer satisfaction, time, cost, quality and health and safety measures.
• Compile clear performance, inspection, property-condition and technical reports for contract managers, operational managers and other relevant audiences.
• Review supporting evidence for invoices and payments, confirm that works have been satisfactorily completed and assist with the resolution of invoice queries and contractor debt issues.
• Identify opportunities to improve value for money, reduce avoidable expenditure, minimise waste and secure cost-effective delivery options and social value.
• Ensure subcontractors comply with Group requirements for workmanship, customer service, data protection, safeguarding and health and safety.
• Support contract administration in accordance with the relevant form of contract, monitoring obligations, risks, variations and progress through to completion.
• Provide technical and contract guidance to operational, planning, customer experience and commercial teams.
• Build effective working relationships with internal stakeholders, residents and subcontractors, providing clear, accurate and supportive advice.
• Respond to stakeholder and resident enquiries, support the resolution of complex issues and complaints, and escalate matters through the appropriate channels where required.
• Attend site, contractor and contract-management meetings, providing technical input, evidence-based challenge and clear follow-up actions.
• Contribute to budget monitoring, forecasting and service planning by providing accurate cost, condition and delivery information.
• Maintain complete and auditable records, ensuring internal processes, policies, statutory requirements and delegated authorities are followed.
• Support ad hoc surveys and service priorities where required, working flexibly across designated geographical areas or workstreams.
• Promote continuous improvement by identifying recurring defects, performance trends, service risks and opportunities to strengthen contractor delivery.

Person specification

Essential

• HNC/HND, degree or equivalent qualification in Building Surveying, Construction, Estate Management, Contract Management or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
• Experience of surveying, diagnosing building defects and specifying repairs within social housing, property management or a comparable environment.
• Practical knowledge of building construction, maintenance methods and repairs and maintenance services.
• Experience of working with contractors and monitoring delivery against specifications, service levels and key performance indicators.
• Effective contract-management and contract-administration skills, including experience of variations, work orders, inspections and payment validation.
• Strong working knowledge of cost frameworks and schedules of rates, with the ability to assess value for money.
• Good understanding of health and safety requirements relevant to construction, repairs, maintenance and contractor activity.
• Sound judgement and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make proportionate, evidence-based decisions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce clear reports and explain technical matters to different audiences.
• Effective stakeholder-management, influencing and negotiation skills.
• Customer-focused approach with a commitment to quality, compliance and positive resident outcomes.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, work under pressure and meet deadlines while maintaining accurate records.
• Good numeracy and IT skills, with confidence using performance, cost and property-management information.
• Ability to work collaboratively and flexibly as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Current, valid UK driving licence and ability to travel as required by the role.

Knowledge, skills and experience – desirable

• Relevant professional membership or progress towards membership of a recognised surveying or construction body.
• Relevant health and safety qualification, such as NEBOSH General, IOSH or equivalent.
• Knowledge of the National Housing Federation Schedule of Rates.
• Experience of contractor performance reporting and continuous-improvement activity.
• Experience of financial account monitoring and cost management, including reviewing expenditure, reconciling contractor costs, supporting budget control and identifying cost variances.