Principal Building Surveyor

Salary: Grade K £47,665 - £50,908 a year (Plus market rate supplement)
Location: Council House
Hours: 37 hours a week
Working hours: Full time
Closing Date: 30/11/2026
Market Rate Supplement: A temporary market rate supplement of £9,985 a year is attached to this post. This is in addition to the basic salary and is subject to regular review which may result in the supplement being reduced or withdrawn. The supplement will also reduce in line with incremental progression and pay awards
Contract Type: Permanent

The Opportunity
This role offers the opportunity to lead and develop a multidisciplinary professional team, contribute to service improvement and asset strategy, and further enhance your career within a forward-thinking Property and Consultancy Service.

In the role of Principal Building Surveyor , here’s an example of what you’ll be doing to make an impact:
Lead and manage a team of professional building surveying and maintenance specialists, providing technical leadership, guidance and support across a diverse property portfolio.

Oversee the delivery of building maintenance, refurbishment and improvement projects from initial feasibility through to completion, ensuring works are delivered safely, on time and within budget.

Provide expert advice on building defects, statutory compliance, asset management and maintenance strategies for a wide range of public buildings and educational facilities.

Manage condition survey programmes and planned maintenance activities, helping to safeguard and improve the long-term performance of the Council's property assets.

Act as the Council's representative in dealings with contractors, consultants, clients and other stakeholders, maintaining high standards of quality, value and customer service.

Lead procurement, contract administration and budget management activities, ensuring compliance with relevant legislation, regulations and professional standards.

Support strategic property and asset management initiatives, contributing to service improvement, business planning and the development of future investment programmes.

Play a key role in ensuring Council buildings remain safe, compliant and fit for purpose, directly supporting the delivery of essential public services across the city.

What you’ll be doing
As a Principal Building Surveyor, you will provide professional leadership across building maintenance, condition surveys, project delivery and asset management, while influencing strategic decisions that ensure our buildings remain safe, compliant and fit for the future. Working with senior stakeholders, clients, consultants and contractors, the Principal Building Surveyor will play a key role in the successful delivery of programmes that make a tangible difference to communities and public services.

About you
Are you an experienced building surveying professional ready to take a leading role in shaping and maintaining a diverse property portfolio? This is an exciting opportunity for a Principal Building Surveyor to lead a team of surveyors and maintenance professionals, delivering high-profile capital, maintenance and compliance projects that directly support schools, public buildings and essential council services across the city.

Essential Requirements

• Degree, HNC/HND or equivalent professional qualification in Building Surveying, Construction or a related property discipline, supported by substantial relevant experience.
• Significant experience in building surveying, construction, property maintenance and project delivery across a varied property portfolio.
• Experience of leading and managing professional or technical teams, including performance management, staff development and workload planning.
• Sound knowledge of building construction, building defects, maintenance practices and relevant statutory compliance requirements.
• Experience of managing construction or maintenance projects from inception through to completion, including procurement, contract administration and budget management.
• Ability to prepare and review technical reports, specifications, drawings and tender documentation.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to explain technical matters to a wide range of audiences.
• Ability to analyse complex information, solve problems and make sound decisions in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience of managing budgets and ensuring projects are delivered to agreed quality, cost and programme requirements.
• Competent in the use of IT systems including Microsoft Office applications and property-related software such as CAD.

Desirable Requirements

• Membership of a recognised professional body such as RICS, CIOB or equivalent.
• Experience of managing condition survey programmes and asset management information systems.
• Experience of working within a public sector or multi-stakeholder environment.
• Knowledge of asset management principles and industry best practice.
• Project management qualification or experience of formal project management methodologies.

Who We Are
At Derby City Council, we're proud to deliver over 250 essential services that support our residents, communities and businesses. Guided by our vision to create an Inclusive, Green, Growing and Vibrant City, we put people at the heart of everything we do.

Our values shape how we work every day. We believe in Great People, One Team, we're Bold in embracing change, Strong in delivering for our communities, and We Care about making a positive difference.

Join us and you'll be part of an ambitious, collaborative organisation where you can develop your career while helping to shape Derby's future.

Why join Derby City Council?
At Derby City Council, you'll have the opportunity to make a real difference while building a rewarding career in an organisation that values, supports and invests in its people.
Alongside the opportunity to help shape the future of Derby, you'll benefit from a comprehensive range of employee benefits, including:

Financial Benefits
• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) – a secure, defined benefit pension with life cover
• Team Derby Rewards – discounts across a wide range of retail, leisure and lifestyle brands
• Tusker Car Benefit Scheme – a salary sacrifice scheme for leasing a brand-new, fully maintained and insured vehicle

Work-Life Balance
• Generous annual leave, starting at 27 days and rising to 32 days after five years' service (plus bank holidays, depending on your contract)
• The option to purchase additional annual leave
• Flexible and hybrid working arrangements for many roles
• Flexible retirement options, where eligible
• Support for colleagues with caring responsibilities
Learning and Development
• Learning and development opportunities, with regular career conversations to support your growth
• Leadership and management development programmes, mentoring and professional qualifications
• Modern workspaces designed to support collaboration, productivity and wellbeing

Health and Wellbeing
• Employee Assistance Programme, wellbeing support and a year-round wellbeing calendar
• Free annual flu vaccinations
• Cycle2Work Scheme and free cycle training
Community and Inclusion
• Up to 15 hours of volunteering leave each year
• Recognition through initiatives including the Here for Derby Awards and Long Service Awards
• The opportunity to join one of our Employee Networks, including LGBTQ+, Disabled Employees and Carers, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Employees, and Neurodiversity

At Derby City Council, we believe our people are our greatest strength. Whatever stage you're at in your career, you'll be joining an inclusive organisation where you'll be supported to develop, feel valued and make a meaningful difference to the communities we serve.

Some benefits are dependent on your role, contract or length of service.

How to apply
If you would like to apply for this vacancy via an application form, please submit an application via theDerby City Council website.

The closing date for this vacancy is specified at the top of the advert. Applications received after midnight on the closing date will not be accepted.

Interviews will be held at Derby City Council, Council House, Derby.

Applying using your CV
We recognise that people apply for roles in different ways and want our recruitment process to be as accessible and inclusive as possible. If you would prefer to apply using a CV rather than completing an application form, please complete the attached Declaration Form and send it, together with your CV, to Christian.innes@derby.gov.uk.

When applying by CV, please ensure your CV clearly demonstrates how your skills, knowledge and experience meet the requirements of the role. We strongly recommend that you also include a supporting statement outlining how you meet the essential criteria set out in the person specification, as this will help us assess your suitability for the post.

Applications submitted by CV must include a completed Declaration Form to be accepted. The Declaration Form can be found at the bottom of this advert.

We also encourage you to complete the attached Equalities Form and return it to recruitment.team@derby.gov.uk. This is entirely optional and will not affect the outcome of your application.

Important Information
Links to the full Job Description and Person Specification are available below.

Before submitting your application, please read our guidance on completing the application form and ensure your supporting statement clearly demonstrates how you meet the essential criteria in the Person Specification.

All employees will normally be appointed to the minimum of the grade for the role.

Where a DBS requirement is indicated at the top of this advert, the successful candidate will be subject to the appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check as part of our safer recruitment process.

Where a Market Rate Supplement is indicated at the top of this advert, it is paid in addition to the basic salary and is subject to regular review. The supplement may be reduced or withdrawn and will reduce in line with incremental progression and pay awards.

The Council has a legal obligation to consider suitable redeployment opportunities for employees at risk of redundancy. Consequently, this vacancy may be withdrawn before the advertised closing date if it is filled through the Council's redeployment process.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
At Derby City Council, we're committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and can thrive. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we serve.

As a Disability Confident Leader, disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role can choose to apply through our Guaranteed Interview Scheme.

We are also proud to hold the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award, recognising our commitment to supporting serving personnel, veterans and their families. Members of the Armed Forces community, veterans and their close family members who meet the essential criteria are also eligible for our Guaranteed Interview Scheme.

If you need any reasonable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process, including during your application, interview or onboarding, we'll work with you to provide the support you need.

If you have any questions about this vacancy or need assistance with your application, please contact the Recruitment Team on 01332 640844 (Relay UK: 18001 01332 640844) or email recruitmentteam@derby.gov.uk.

Please see here for Job Description
Please see here for Person Specification
Please see Declaration Form for CV Applications here
Please see Equalities Form for CV Applications here