Principal Building Control Surveyor - Maldon District Council in London

Maldon District Council is working in partnership with Essex Shared Services to recruit an experienced Principal Building Control Surveyor. This is a hybrid role, with the Maldon office serving as the team’s main base. We expect our Building Control team to work collaboratively from the office on a regular basis, with flexibility to work remotely where appropriate to the needs of the service and role. The successful candidate will therefore be expected to attend the office regularly, alongside site visits and other attendance requirements.

Role Purpose: This is a senior Building Control position, so you will need substantial relevant experience and the professional standing to operate confidently at this level. To ensure compliance with statutory regulations, legislation, professional codes of practice and Council policies across all building control activities. The role is responsible for supporting the safe, efficient and customer-focused delivery of building control services, managing complex applications, inspections, enforcement matters and appeals, and providing expert advice to the Council, senior officers and Members. The post holder will also lead, mentor and develop junior surveyors and wider team members, ensuring high standards of performance and service delivery, while overseeing enquiries and casework to achieve positive customer outcomes. Through strong, authentic leadership, they will promote continuous improvement, staff wellbeing and professional excellence across the service.

Accountabilities – Service Delivery:

• Support the delivery of professional Building Control services, ensuring compliance with all relevant legislation, regulations, codes of practice, and Council policies.
• Manage and resolve complex building control applications, inspections, enforcement matters, and appeals, acting as the senior technical point of contact.
• Provide expert advice and guidance to the Council, senior officers, Members, and external stakeholders on building control matters and strategic initiatives.
• Oversee and mentor Building Control staff, promoting professional development, knowledge sharing, high performance, and adherence to standards.
• Contribute to the development, review, and implementation of policies, procedures, and projects to improve service quality, compliance, and customer experience.
• Ensure effective management of enquiries, cases, and service requests, maintaining accurate records and data in accordance with Council and statutory requirements.
• Monitor service performance and provide input to financial, strategic, and operational planning to achieve statutory and corporate objectives.
• Act as a role model for the service, demonstrating integrity, resilience, and a customer-focused approach while fostering a collaborative and inclusive team culture.

The Experience You Will Bring:

• Educated to degree level in a relevant subject (e.g., Building Surveying, Civil Engineering, or Construction Management) or equivalent professional experience.
• Current registration with the Building Safety Regulator to undertake building control work in England, with a minimum Registered Building Inspector Class 2D registration.
• Chartered or accredited membership of a relevant professional body (e.g., Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), or (CABE) Chartered Association of Building Engineers).
• Evidence of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) to maintain up-to-date knowledge of legislation, standards, and best practice in building control.
• Demonstrable experience in advanced building control practices, including statutory compliance, inspections, enforcement, and appeals.
• Professional qualification or strong experience in managing and leading teams within a Building Control or related regulatory environment.
• Must be registered with the Building Safety Regulator to perform building control work within England. Minimum hold of RBI registration with the Building Safety Regulator for Class 2D.
• In-depth knowledge of Building Control legislation, statutory regulations, codes of practice, and associated health and safety requirements.
• Understanding of local authority governance, planning regulations, and enforcement processes.
• Knowledge of service delivery, continuous improvement, and quality assurance principles in a public sector context.
• Awareness of emerging trends, technologies, and best practice in building design, construction, and regulatory compliance.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to assess complex building control issues and determine appropriate solutions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear reports, business cases, and formal documentation.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and complex workloads in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
• Proficiency in relevant IT systems, including Microsoft 365 applications and building control software systems.
• Confident presenting technical information to a range of stakeholders, including senior officers, Members, and external partners.
• Ability to deputise for Building Control Manager when required.
• Extensive experience in building control, including inspections, enforcement, applications, and appeals.
• Proven track record of working effectively with internal and external stakeholders, including developers, architects, contractors, and regulatory bodies.
• Demonstrable experience of delivering customer-focused services while maintaining compliance with legislation and professional standards.

Maldon District Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of vulnerable groups including children, young people and adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Disclosure and Barring checks will be undertaken according to the responsibilities of the role. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, culture and experience. Applicants will be considered regardless of race, sex, disability or marital status.

Maldon District Council is committed to the employment and career development of disabled people. To demonstrate our commitment, we have been accredited as a Disability Confident Employer. As a Disability Confident Employer we take various actions in order to successfully employ and retain disabled people and those with health conditions.

For more information on this position, please email essexsharedservices@essex.gov.uk.