Assistant Building Surveyor ​/ Architectural Technician

Are you an ambitious graduate Building Surveyor or Architectural Technician looking to develop your career in a unique and varied estate?

Canford School is seeking an enthusiastic Assistant Building Surveyor / Architectural Technician to join our Estates team.

Working across our historic and modern buildings, you'll play a key role in designing, surveying and delivering refurbishment, maintenance and improvement projects while developing your professional skills alongside experienced surveyors.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to progress towards Chartered Building Surveyor (RICS) status or other similar architectural pathways.

You'll be involved in:

• Producing existing and proposed CAD drawings, plans and design schemes.
• Assisting with building surveys, inspections and condition reports.
• Running refurbishment and planned maintenance projects and minor works.
• Liaising with contractors, direct labour teams and internal stakeholders.
• Preparing planning and building regulations applications.
• Maintaining accurate estate drawings and project records.

You'll have:

• A degree in Building Surveying (or equivalent) or an Architectural Technician qualification.
• Strong AutoCAD skills and excellent IT proficiency.
• A proactive, organised approach with excellent communication skills.
• A willingness to learn and develop within a supportive professional environment.

Previous surveying experience and knowledge of historic buildings would be advantageous but are not essential. The role is likely to encompass work across the Canford Group of Schools.

If you're looking for a varied role where you'll gain hands‑on project experience while helping care for an exceptional school estate, we'd love to hear from you.

Closing date: 31 st August 2026

Interview date: 9 th September 2026

Canford School is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion in all areas of our Community and encourages applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

Canford School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

All successful job applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening.

The maintenance, development and refurbishment of all buildings, grounds and plant at Canford School and other schools in the Canford Schools Group is the responsibility of the Estates Department. The Assistant Building Surveyor / Architectural Technician supports the busy Estates Department in the drawing, design and management of refurbishment and improvement projects and planned maintenance work with our existing property portfolio.

Works include associated condition and compliance survey work of existing buildings.

This is a role which will develop with the post-holder as they gain confidence and experience. The role could form part of their route towards completion of their APC and becoming a fully Chartered Building Surveyor, or other similar architectural pathways. The post holder will work alongside more experienced building surveyors and will enjoy working as the CAD lead for all Estates drawings and in-house design work.

The post holder will run their own projects and liaise with stakeholders and contractors / sub-contractors and the School’s in-house maintenance teams as required.

This is a full time role and is not term time only. Indeed much of the post holder’s work will focus on projects and inspection work taking place in school holiday time.

• To carry out the duties of an assistant building surveyor in accordance with recognised professional standards.

Provide a high-quality surveying service to assist both the Director of Estates and the Building & Surveying Manager in delivering the expected professional estates service to the Canford Schools Group. Duties as follows:

• To know ensure high standards on all tasks and to ensure that all work is completed to an appropriate standard in the available timescale.
• To measure buildings and sites, take briefs, and produce existing plans, elevations, sections,…