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.

About the role

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.

About you

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

Notwithstanding all these duties, the nature of the dynamic school environment requires the Estates Department staff to offer a far-ranging service, and it is not anticipated that this job specification is or can be fully definitive.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Job Title: Assistant Building Surveyor / Architectural Technician

Essential/ Desirable

SELECTION CRITERIA

Qualifications

• BSc Building Surveying or equivalent and either training towards full professional membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Building Surveying Professional Group) or a TechRICS qualification. It is anticipated that the post-holder will be a recent graduate or similar.

OR

E

Experience / Knowledge

• Strong CAD experience and proficient ability to draw building regulations style details and/or design schemes.
• Ideally some experience of working to rigid health and safety guidelines
• Ideally some experience of working in a multi-functional environment
• Knowledge of building requirements with regards to historical properties
• It will be highly desirable for the selected candidate to have had suitable surveying or surveying technician experience which ideally will include either private practice or non-public sector environments.

E

D

D

D

D

Key Skills

• Ability to use initiative and self-motivation.
• IT literate and strong AutoCAD and Microsoft Office skills. A working knowledge of Microsoft Project and Microsoft PowerPoint is desirable but not essential.

E

E

Personal Qualities required

• An approachable professional and friendly manner, and the ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels.
• Willingness to undertake training as required, including first aid training.
• Good communication skills both written and oral.
• Self-motivated and able to work efficiently and quickly. A “today” attitude is essential to the everyday pressures of the department.
• Willingness to get hands-on with the team on occasion

E

E

E

E

E

Circumstances

• Flexible
• Physically capable of carrying out all aspects of the job

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.