Senior Building Surveyor – AR

Senior Building Surveyor / Lead Project Building Surveyor

Location: London Borough of Tower Hamlets
Directorate: Housing & Regeneration – Facilities Management
Salary: Grade L (Council Scale)
Car Allowance: Essential Car User Allowance Provided

We are seeking an experienced Senior Building Surveyor to join our Facilities Management team, delivering a wide range of building fabric projects across the Council’s corporate estate, schools, leisure centres, and public buildings.

This is a client-side role responsible for managing refurbishment, maintenance, compliance, and capital improvement projects ranging from approximately £15,000 to £1 million. You will lead projects from feasibility through to completion, ensuring buildings remain safe, compliant, operational, and fit for purpose.

In addition to managing your own portfolio of projects, you will provide technical leadership and line management support to Building Surveyors, oversee contractor performance, and act as a key advisor on building-related matters.

• Manage building fabric projects from inception through to completion, including refurbishment, maintenance, compliance, adaptation, and replacement works.
• Deliver projects ranging from £15,000 to £1 million across schools, leisure centres, corporate offices, and public buildings.
• Undertake feasibility studies and develop practical, cost-effective solutions that meet client requirements.
• Prepare specifications, schedules of work, drawings, technical reports, and tender documentation.
• Monitor project progress, quality, budgets, and programme performance, taking corrective action where required.

• Conduct condition surveys, inspections, and defect diagnosis across a diverse property portfolio.
• Investigate building defects and prepare detailed technical reports with recommendations for remedial works.
• Support the development of planned maintenance and lifecycle replacement programmes.
• Maintain accurate building condition records within CAFM systems, including Technology Forge (TF Cloud) or equivalent platforms.
• Provide expert technical advice on building fabric, statutory compliance, and maintenance strategies.

• Administer contracts and oversee contractor performance throughout project delivery.
• Prepare tender documentation and contract schedules.
• Procure and manage external consultants where required.
• Review valuations, final accounts, variations, and contractor claims.
• Resolve contractual disputes and negotiate settlements where appropriate.

• Ensure compliance with Building Regulations, CDM Regulations, Health & Safety legislation, Fire Safety requirements, and other statutory obligations.
• Monitor building fabric compliance across the estate.
  
  Undertake site inspections and audits to ensure works are delivered safely and in accordance with specifications.
• Support the council’s commitment to sustainability and environmental best practice.

• Provide line management and technical support to Building Surveyors and other allocated staff.
• Allocate workloads and monitor team performance to ensure service standards are achieved.
• Chair project and site meetings with contractors, consultants, and stakeholders.
• Build effective relationships with client departments, contractors, consultants, and external agencies.
• Ensure disruption to building users is minimised and client services remain operational wherever possible.

• Contribute to the development of planned maintenance and capital investment programmes.
• Analyse condition data and make recommendations for future investment priorities.
• Promote lifecycle costing principles to maximise value and long-term sustainability.
• Support the development of asset management and building improvement strategies.

• Act as an expert witness in legal proceedings when required.
• Support investigations relating to complaints, Ombudsman enquiries, insurance matters, and Party Wall issues.
• Respond to emergencies and provide out-of-hours support as required.

• Degree in Building…