Interim Lead Commercial Surveyor - #2170366

Lead Commercial Surveyor will ensure the Councils property portfolio is utilised to the best possible advantage, maximising the rental income and capital receipts, minimising liabilities and optimising use in accordance with the Council’s policies and wider strategic needs and ambitions. Working in our team isn’t just about property, it’s about people. We also contribute to wider government goals such as ‘levelling up’ through releasing surplus land to support new homes, jobs and public value.

• To lead on and ensure the effective implementation of corporate initiatives and transformation programmes that cut across the whole or part of the council’s activities in conjunction with Head of FM & Head of Estates
• Provide outstanding leadership and direction to the service, driving service transformation and ensuring excellent joint working with Members and other stakeholders
• Driving forward performance setting high standards, encouraging improvement, and supporting the team to achieve. Having regular team meetings and one to one conversation about performance, including difficult ones when necessary
• To act on behalf of the Council as lead advisor with regard to all Commercial and Investment property and asset management issues in respect of both council owned land and buildings and other related property matters impacting the City
• To ensure the Councils property portfolio is utilised to the best possible advantage, maximising the rental income and capital receipts, minimising liabilities and optimising use in accordance with the Council’s policies and wider strategic needs and ambitions
• On behalf of the Council lead on all commercial property matters including lettings, lease restructures, debt management, rent reviews, lease renewals, licence renewals and all other landlord and tenant negotiations
• Leading on the statutory requirements in respect of Right to Buy, Statutory Lease Extensions, Enfranchisement and other residential related professional property matters
• Leading on the delivery of professional advice in respect of all aspects of service delivery across the full range of use types including supporting colleagues in Housing, New Homes Delivery, Planning and Finance
• Ensuring the delivery of the annual portfolio valuations required for accounting purposes
• To create and maintain an Asset Management Strategy for the portfolio including specific asset management plans for all key buildings and classes of property – proviso …to work with lead on Transformation
• Responsible for the collation, maintenance and audit of property related information primarily through the Concerto database
• Provision of professional advice and support to senior management and members including attendance at meetings both public and internal
• Developing and delivering strategies in respect of council land and buildings – in conjunction with Head of Corporate Landlord
• Acting as the professional interface on behalf of the council with both private and public sector landowners, bodies and other parties in respect of property matters
• Undertake the full responsibility for projects within the division and across the wider council. These projects may relate to Accommodation Strategy, Feasibility Studies, Strategic Asset Management Plan, Financial Planning, Dispute Resolution, Planning Appeals and other related issues including Section 106 and CIL, Acquisitions and Disposal, Valuations, Procurements and large-scale programmes of capital investment into the Council’s non-operational estate.
• Take responsibility for the disposals and acquisitions programmes
• Working alongside colleagues across the directorate instigate and initiate regeneration projects.
• Provide strategic site assembly advice in relation to larger scale regeneration projects.
• Prepare evidence in connection with cases to be referred to Public Inquiries/Court
• Prepare capital and revenue estimates for acquisition, disposal and leasing of all types of Council owned property
• Commission external consultants to provide technical and professional input into aspects of property matters and to manage the effective delivery of this input across all sectors of the property market
• Maintain a sound knowledge of the Council’s wider policy agenda and of the strategies and operational requirements and objectives of all service departments
• Assist in the decision to list CAT’s
• Assist with the preparation and presentation of Committee, Governance and other professional and technical reports
• Maintain and develop effective relationships with all service areas requiring property occupation or other related needs
• Develop a significant internal profile within the Council as a whole as the principal officer responsible for leading and supporting all property based initiatives including high profile major projects and disposals
• Support and deliver in conjunction with planning accurate budgets, forecasts and other financial matters
• Actively promote a culture of innovation and continuous improvement throughout the Property team where shared learning opportunities are optimised, and national/international best practice is embedded at the earliest opportunity
• To lead on and manage, plan and deliver a range of high quality professional Corporate Landlord, Property Valuation and Estate Management Services.
• To lead on and ensure that all services are carried out in a timely, accurate and efficient manner, leading to the achievement of Service targets, Income Generation and KPI’s
• To deputise for the Director of Property.