Director of Professional Services in Manchester

Director of Professional Services (Building Surveying)

📍 Manchester | National remit | Hybrid working

We’re recruiting on behalf of a long‑established, highly respected property and construction consultancy renowned for its expertise in building surveying, compliance, asset management and professional advisory services.

This business is known for its high standards, strong client relationships and refreshingly non‑corporate culture. Many of the senior leadership team began their careers here as graduates, creating a unique environment built on progression, stability and long‑term success.

This is a high‑impact, Director‑level appointment with responsibility for shaping operational excellence, commercial performance and team capability across the North, with interim support to the South. You’ll lead a graduate‑heavy workforce, build future leaders, tighten commercial controls and champion the use of modern surveying technology across the business.

The Opportunity

As Director of Professional Services, you’ll lead, grow and modernise the function — driving technical excellence, commercial discipline and client satisfaction, while building long‑term capability across all surveying and advisory service lines.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

Strategic Leadership

• Setting the vision and direction for the Professional Services function
• Strengthening commercial governance, forecasting accuracy and financial discipline
• Creating a scalable North/South delivery model to support future regional leadership
• Embedding a high‑performance culture within junior‑heavy teams
• Driving adoption of digital surveying tools and continuous innovation

Leadership & Talent Development

• Leading, coaching and mentoring a team of 12 early‑career surveyors and apprentices
• Designing structured APC pathways, technical competency frameworks and development plans
• Guiding surveyors through the full APC journey
• Identifying high‑potential individuals and building succession pipelines
• Fostering a culture of accountability, development and learning

Technical & Professional Delivery

• Overseeing delivery of condition surveys, stock condition assessments, compliance inspections, damp & mould services and technical advisory work
• Acting as the senior technical escalation point for complex or high‑risk casesStandardising methodologies, templates, survey processes and QA frameworks
• Ensuring consistency, technical accuracy and quality across all outputs
• Leading continuous improvement and service modernisation
• Acting as senior client lead across major frameworks and accounts
• Leading fee proposals, tenders, frameworks and bid submissions
• Owning regional forecasting, performance reporting and commercial decision‑making
• Strengthening margin control, utilisation and profitability
• Identifying opportunities to expand service offerings and deepen relationships

Operational Excellence & Governance

• Allocating resources across North and interim South in line with demand and capability
• Implementing KPIs, performance dashboards and governance frameworks
• Ensuring compliance with regulatory and contractual standards
• Influencing long‑term operational planning and investment decisions

Technology & Innovation

• Championing digital surveying and data‑led reporting tools
• Driving adoption, training and behavioural change
• Positioning the function as an early adopter of modern, efficient workflows

About You

• MRICS Chartered Building Surveyor
• Significant experience delivering building surveying and professional services
• Proven experience leading junior or APC‑track surveyors in structured environments
• Experience guiding candidates through the full APC process
• Exposure to regulated sectors such as social housing, healthcare/NHS or education
• Strong commercial acumen with forecasting and financial discipline
• Regional or multi‑site leadership experience
• Experience with digital surveying tools or asset management systems
• Strong bid, tender and framework background
• Previous responsibility for commercial performance or P&L

Package & Location

• 📦 Pension and full benefits
• 📍 Manchester‑based, with national travel (North‑led, some South involvement)
• 🏡 Hybrid working available

This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of a respected Professional Services function, build the next generation of surveying professionals and make a lasting impact at Director level.

📩 Interested? Apply via LinkedIn or message for a confidential discussion.