Building Surveyor in City of London

Company Overview:

An exciting new role has arisen for a Building Surveyor to join the team at Great Portland Estates plc (GPE).

GPE is a highly respected central London property investment and development company quoted on the London Stock Exchange. The Company, which employs around 130 people, owns around £2.5 billion of real estate – primarily commercial but also retail; and a small amount of residential - 100% in central London with a rent roll of approx. £100 million per annum. The business focuses on acquiring, managing and repositioning properties – to unlock their full potential and value. This approach, combined with successful reading of the real estate market, continues to deliver great performance for shareholders and makes for a dynamic environment in which to work.

At GPE, we genuinely believe that diversity gives us strength, but we know this strength is only fully realised if our environment is truly inclusive. Our culture is grounded in genuine and mutual respect, and we do not tolerate discrimination of any kind. We hire talented, unique individuals who are encouraged to collaborate, be their authentic selves and they support their colleagues to do the same.

Role Overview

The Building Surveyor will be allocated a number of buildings within the portfolio and will be responsible for maximising commercial performance through long term maintenance and repair strategies and minimising risk to the portfolio by ensuring statutory compliance and aiming for a best in class approach to sustainability.

You will be responsible for co-ordinating and overseeing various service charge projects, minor capital investment works including CAT A fits outs, retail white boxing, common parts upgrades and external works with the input and assistance of external consultants as required. Additionally, you will provide technical advice and assistance to GPE colleagues on various areas of Building Surveying, including Building Pathology, Dilapidations, Compliance, Customer Alterations, etc.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintenance and Repair Strategy
• Review PPM surveys, develop and maintain a maintenance strategy for your buildings, taking into account the business plan, leasing strategy, statutory requirements and current condition of the property.
• Working closely with the Technical Services Managers (TSM) and Customer Experience Managers (CXM) to deliver service charge project works by appointment of external consultants and contractors.
• Assisting the on-site CXMs with more complex maintenance and repair issues or reactive maintenance works.

Project Work

• Prepare instructions and scope of works for projects including CAT A, retail white box, lease deal works, common parts refurbishments, external fabric works, etc.
• Procure, instruct and co-ordinate appointment of Consultants and Contractors to undertake the works. Acting as Client representative, oversee delivery of works on site, keeping GPE colleagues and Customers informed on progress. On smaller projects, directly project manage and administer the contract through to completion.
• Obtain and file appointments, contracts, legal documents and handover information.
• Customer Works and Licence to Alter
• Review and manage the approval of our Customers’ fit out and alteration works. Working closely with the TSM to ensure proposed works do not compromise the building, services or any warranties that may be in place and that H&S, statutory and any building requirements are being followed.
• On the new build developments, co-ordinate and liaise with the base-build design and delivery team obtaining their comments and feedback on the Customer’s proposed plans.
• Monitor the Customer works, arrange for witnessing and commissioning of systems as required and collate as-built information on completion.

Other

• Assist with dilapidations negotiations, generally using outside Consultants.
• Identify and resolve any defects or issues arising in your building.
• Provide professional technical advice to GPE colleagues including options for investigations, surveys, mitigation and repair.
• Utilise your expertise and knowledge to input into business plans for your buildings.
• Keep abreast of and facilitate compliance with legislative requirements in relation to the buildings and put measures in place for compliance.
• Assist the Senior Building Surveyor in maintaining an approved list of contractors/consultants.

Critical Skills and Experience Required

• A Chartered Building Surveyor
• Minimum 5-10 years PQE
• A good understanding of building defect diagnosis and remedies.
• Experience of managing/administrating CAT A and CAT B works.
• An understanding of Landlord and Tenant matters.
• Adept at working in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
• Self-motivated; able to work autonomously and manage your own workload.
• Experience of working in a professional/technically oriented organisation.
• Experience within real estate/commercial sector.
• Experience of customer facing communication
• Attention to detail and the ability to work as a team player;
• Ability work cross-functionally and interact at all levels of GPE;

Personal Attributes

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to clearly communicate requirements to external consultants, contractors, and our customers.
• Enthusiasm for and interest in their work, bringing energy and focus to all aspects of their work.
• Preparedness to ‘go-the-extra mile’ to meet the needs of the business and, on occasion, flex working hours to meet business critical deadlines.
• A continuous improvement mind-set constantly looking for ways to deliver the best possible service to the team and the wider business.
• Has a team-orientated and customer mind-set and wants to be part of the team and GPE as a whole.
• Timely and disciplined in record keeping and retention of records.
• Comfortable leading on and being accountable for activities and projects
• The ability to be able to build relationships in the business, be self-directed and able to use their own initiative to progress tasks/activities balanced with knowing when to seek advice.