Bath & North East Somerset Council - Senior Estates Surveyor

Senior Estates Surveyor Candidate Information Pack

Beach Baker is delighted to be working in partnership with Bath & North East Somerset Council a leading local authority with property portfolio in excess of £500 million and commercial investment portfolio of c £250m+.

This role is a unique and exciting opportunity to work in the newly formed Commercial Estate team, which is a standalone property team dedicated to the estate and property management of this prestigious estate.

The aim of this important team is to generate long term income and financial returns for the council to help provide excellent public services for Bath & North East Somerset.

Bath & North East Somerset Council is the local council for the district of Bath and North East Somerset.

THE ORGANISATION

B&NES was created in 1996 and covers the City of Bath and includes the areas around Bath as far as the Chew Valley. The city has more than 6,408 listed buildings of which 663 are Grade I and Grade II* and include the Roman Baths, which is owned by the council.

The property portfolio spans the main asset classes including retail, leisure, offices and industrial with the largest proportion made up of prime retail within the historic centre of Bath.

THE OPPORTUNITY The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work in a unique position where you’ll get to play an important part in the portfolio management of a some fantastic investment properties.

You will have a high level of autonomy, and responsibility within a dynamic growing team of industry experts, a community of property consultants and professional advisors.

The council values its team and promotes its core values as an organisation which include (Bold, Empowered, Supportive and Transparent) which underpins everything it does to improve people’s lives.

Working for a public organisation such as B&NES offers great variety in workload, a stable career, a good work life balance, potential for flexible working and excellent pension.

THE POSITION Reporting to the Commercial Estate Operations Manager, the Senior Estates Surveyor will act as a member of the Commercial Estates’ team and will take on a high degree of responsibility for carrying out the estate management duties for the property portfolio.

The position will undertake estate management work to include (but not limited to) landlord’s consent requests, planned maintenance, service charges, section 20 notices, insurance claims, dilapidations, breaches of tenant’s lease covenants, property appraisal and landlord and tenant matters.

In addition to being ‘hands on’, the successful candidate will be expected to take a strategic overview of the Council’s property resources and work as part of a team to be committed to achieving departmental targets together.

The main place of work will be the fantastic and RIBA awardwinning, Civic Centre in Keynsham designed by AHR in 2015 with outstanding sustainability and includes a library and information centre as well as 20,000 sq ft of retail and hosts many local amenities nearby.

The location is halfway between Bath and Bristol, easily accessible via car or public transport, with a train station 5 minutes’ walk away.

Generally at least one day per week will be required in the office but this depends on the service needs and individual cases.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES • To ensure the delivery of results in relation to the achievement of revenue and capital targets.

• To be involved with day-to-day matters but also to take a strategic overview of the Council’s property resources.

• To ensure all results are delivered on time and within budget; to meet the expenditure and income targets assigned to the postholder and team.

• To undertake difficult, complex and challenging tasks when asked (eg primarily landlord and tenant work but also portfolio management; development; and asset management work).

• To assist the line manager in establishing and implementing innovative, efficient and effective means (eg data systems) for the team or individuals to achieve successful results. Monitoring of financial data. Where appropriate to ensure all contracts are procured and managed effectively.

• To provide clear instructions, guidance and priority to the various internal teams and external advisors as necessary.

• You will guide and support other team members in the execution of similar duties as required to do so by the line manager. Activities may include: • Portfolio management and enhancement; • Assisting in the procurement of services such as building maintenance, repair, and specialist services; and

• The monitoring of expenditure to achieve best value.

• To help gather, collate, evaluate and present statistics and information on the financial and functional performance of the property in the team’s care.

• To act as a senior advisor to the line manager with responsibility for expertise on agreed areas of professional practice and technical information so s/he may act in an informed and effective manner. To advise the line manager of potential conflicts in objectives and to present viable options for their resolution.

• To assist the team, when necessary, and act as the Council’s agent in other management functions such as acquisition, letting, management and disposal, (eg by sale of lease), of all types of property. In such circumstances the postholder will exercise substantial delegated financial authority in complex and difficult negotiations in order to secure the most advantageous terms for the Council.

• To carry out all types of valuations in respect of properties as necessary to meet capital accounting requirements and various client requirements.

• The Postholder will be expected to act mostly on his/her own initiative once he/she has agreed a work programme with the line manager. S/he will be responsible for the achievement of agreed financial & operational targets and will be expected to call upon the line manager for only minimal support and guidance.

• To advise the line manager of potential conflicts in objectives and to present viable options for their resolution.

• To deputise for other Surveyors/line manager when requested to do so.

THE CANDIDATE Qualified (RICS) with relevant General Practice post qualification experience.

RICS accredited degree in Real Estate, or similar.

Strong team player who with a collaborative work style.

The ability to be proactive, think creatively and identify development opportunities and continuing ways of improvement.

Strong influencing and negotiating skills, with a strong background in property management appropriate to the designated portfolio for this post.

A strong background in landlord and tenant, service charges, planned maintenance, charging of rents and other outgoings.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE The ability and flexibility to work across and support a wide range of professional property services within the Council and the ability to work with other partner or commissioned organisations.

Good written and oral communication skills.

Highly numerate, with the proven ability to understand, analyse, interpret, and explain complicated information and data.

Experience in the use of QUBE or other propertybased data systems.

The ability to contribute to the development of new and existing systems and processes.

Strong IT skills including Microsoft Office and an ability to manipulate data in excel to produce relevant management information.

THE FINANCIAL PACKAGE AND BENEFITS A salary at Grade 10 = £44,428 to £47,420pa plus up to £5,000 market supplement.

A range of flexible working and hybrid working options, including flexi-time, four regional offices and home-working (usually 1 day in the office), dependent on service requirements.

A generous holiday allowance (26 days on joining if no local government experience) and other special leave provisions.

The Local Government Pension Scheme (index linked with inflation).

Professional and personal development including in-house training and accredited qualifications including Aspiring Manager and Leadership Development.

Discount scheme including the VECTIS card that offers numerous discounts at retailers, supermarkets and holiday operators.

Cycle2work scheme, car benefit scheme with Tusker and free entry to numerous local attractions within B&NES. More benefits such as hugely reduced entry to a sports and social clubs, free entry to local attractions such as Roman Baths and Victoria Art Gallery, on site cafe, reduced MOTs at the council MOT testing centre and career coaching.

A comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme – whatever life throws at you; they are committed to supporting you and your well-being at work and home.

If you fancy having a new career experience working client-side with a great team and a superb Georgian estate, then get in touch!

CONTACT US Rupert Stuart-Baker Managing Director Property - General Practice rupert@beachbaker.co.uk 07557 978 873

Dan Cole Director Property - Rural dan.cole@beachbaker.co.uk 07443 880 834

All direct and third party applications will be forwarded to Beach Baker Property Recruitment for review.