At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage and improve diverse properties while leading exciting building projects.
- Company: Join Canterbury City Council and make a real difference in your community.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, flexible working, generous leave, and professional development support.
- Other info: Work-life balance with a full week off over Christmas and access to employee perks.
- Why this job: Be part of a team that ensures buildings are safe, sustainable, and fit for purpose.
- Qualifications: Degree in a relevant field and membership in a recognised professional body required.
The predicted salary is between 48963 - 55048 £ per year.
- Canterbury City Council
- Make a difference - work for your local council
- Full Time
- Permanent
- Canterbury, Kent
- Posted 3 days ago
- Closes: 25 September 2026
Website Canterbury City Council Make a difference - work for your local council A fantastic Building Surveyor job opportunity in Canterbury, Kent.
Canterbury City Council is looking for an experienced and motivated Building Surveyor to join our Professional Services Team.
This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in the management, maintenance and improvement of a diverse property portfolio.
You will work in a team on a wide range of projects, from repairs and refurbishments through to major capital works, ensuring our buildings remain safe, compliant, sustainable and fit for purpose.
What’s in it for you?
- A starting salary of £48,963.69 – £55,048.77
- Flexible workingarrangements that support and encourage a good work-life balance.
- We’ll cover your relevant Professional Registration Fees for you (eg, RICS, CABE, CIOB)
- We’ll support and encourage your career by providing excellent opportunities for training and development.
- Generous annual leave entitlement, starting at 23 days (increasing to 28) PLUS 3 additional days over the Christmas period whilst the Council offices are closed.
- We do not work on Bank Holidays.
- A fantastic local government pension scheme.
- Employee perks, including multiple retailer and lifestyle discounts to tackle the cost of living and help you enjoy your free time.
- Free use of Canterbury’s Park and Ride for an easier commute.
- About This Building Surveyor Opportunity In Canterbury
As part of a team of Building Surveyors, you will undertake a wide range of building surveying duties, providing high quality, expert advice to other departments or teams on building and building envelope related issues including refurbishment, disrepairs and capital projects.
Key Responsibilities Include
- Leading building projects, including specification writing, procurement, contract administration, budget management and obtaining statutory consents.
- Carrying out inspections and surveys of council-owned and leased properties, including condition surveys, repairs, alterations and improvements.
- Providing expert professional advice on building defects, refurbishment projects, disrepair matters and property maintenance issues.
- Managing contractors, consultants and other resources to ensure projects are delivered safely and efficiently.
- Acting as the Council’s lead contact for insurance claims, disrepair claims and related legal matters, working closely with legal colleagues where required.
- Preparing specifications, schedules of work, dilapidation reports, condition surveys and damage reports.
- Obtaining statutory permissions and grant‑aid funding where applicable prior to works
- Ensuring our legal liabilities are fully met and attain best value for the Council
- Maintaining accurate asset records and contributing to budgeting, maintenance planning and works programming.
- Ensuring compliance with procurement regulations, contract standing orders, CDM Regulations, health and safety legislation and relevant building standards.
- Undertaking party wall matters, defect diagnosis, contract management and general building surveying duties.
- Working Pattern Of Our Building Surveyors
- Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays.
- 37 hours per week.
- Permanent full-time contract.
- A full week off over Christmas! Plus 23 days of annual leave to use throughout the rest of the year, increasing to 28 days after 5 years of service.
- This role will be primarily home based with site visits and meetings at the council offices/hubs and contractors’ offices when required.
Access to an office space is available if preferred or wherever appropriate.
About you, the ideal Building Surveyor for Canterbury City Council
- You Will Have
- Degree-level education in a relevant discipline.
- Membership of a recognised professional body such as RICS, CABE or CIOB.
- Strong knowledge of building construction, building pathology and defect diagnosis.
- Experience preparing specifications and managing projects under JCT contracts.
- Good understanding of contract management, building regulations and planning processes.
- Experience producing reports and presenting technical information to a range of stakeholders.
- The ability to manage multiple projects and competing priorities effectively.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- A full driving licence and access to a vehicle.
Please note that this role does require us to undertake a basic DBS check should we offer you the job.
For an informal chat about the role or to find out what it’s like to work for Canterbury City Council as part of its Facilities Management team, please call Tim Odlin on 07782173779 Tim is our Senior Building Surveyor and he would very much welcome your call.
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion at Canterbury City Council.
We are committed to promoting equality and diversity in everything we do. We provide a safe and welcoming environment where everyone is valued, included and respected.
Our diversity strengthens our ability to serve the diverse communities we support through our work.
To demonstrate this through our actions, all applications are anonymised for the shortlisting panel, allowing all applicants to be assessed on merit alone.
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Building Surveyor in Canterbury employer: Local Government South East
Reading Borough Council is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises employee well-being and professional growth. With the opportunity to lead impactful initiatives in Adult Social Care while enjoying hybrid working arrangements and generous benefits, including access to the Local Government Pension Scheme, this role provides a meaningful career path in a vibrant community setting.
Contact Details:
Local Government South East Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Building Surveyor in Canterbury
✨Join Construction Networks
Get yourself involved in local construction networks or industry events. They often have job boards, and networking can lead to unadvertised positions. Plus, it’s a great way to meet potential future colleagues!
✨Show Off Your Skills on Site
If you’ve done any hands-on work, whether it's through internships or personal projects, make sure you can showcase it. Consider volunteering for local construction projects or getting involved in community build days; it’s a solid way to demonstrate your skills and build connections.
✨Utilise Construction Job Sites
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✨Tailor Your Application for Full-Time Roles
Make your application stand out by tailoring it specifically for full-time positions. Highlight how your previous projects align with the company's work. At StudySmarter, we encourage you to demonstrate your commitment and long-term interest in the industry when applying for roles like Building Surveyor at Local Government South East.
We think you need these skills to ace Building Surveyor in Canterbury
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:In the construction industry, it's essential to highlight any hands-on experience you have. Whether it’s past projects you've worked on or specific roles you've held, make sure your CV emphasises your practical skills and contributions to construction sites.
Include Certifications and Qualifications:Don’t forget to list any certifications relevant to construction, like CSCS cards or other safety qualifications. These can really set you apart from other candidates and show that you’re serious about health and safety on-site.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Construction:When writing your cover letter for a construction role, focus on your problem-solving capabilities and teamwork. Construction relies heavily on collaboration, so mention how you’ve worked successfully with others to complete projects on time and within budget.
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How to prepare for a job interview at Local Government South East
✨Brush Up on Technical Knowledge
For a construction role, it's crucial we have a solid grasp of industry standards, safety protocols, and specific tools used on-site. Make sure you're familiar with relevant regulations and can talk confidently about them, as these often come up in interviews.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Since this is a full-time position, be ready to discuss any previous construction projects you've worked on. Bring a portfolio or have detailed descriptions that highlight your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them—this’ll show you’re not just book-smart but also practically savvy.
✨Understand the Team Dynamics
Construction is all about teamwork, so prepare to discuss how you interact with different stakeholders like architects, engineers, and contractors. Maybe think of examples from past experiences to illustrate your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
✨Prepare for On-the-Spot Problem Solving
Be ready for some practical questions or scenarios where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Interviewers might present you with a hypothetical construction issue to solve, so practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically—this could really set you apart!
