Building Control Surveyor in Taunton

Salary: Grade 9 - We offer a competitive salary within Grade 9 (£41,771 – £46,142 per annum), plus a time limited recruitment allowance of £3,300 per annum until 31/10/2028.

Are you passionate about ensuring buildings are safe, compliant, and built to the highest standards? As a Building Control Surveyor at Somerset Council, you will play a pivotal role in delivering a high-quality, compliant and safe built environment across a diverse and vibrant county. Working as a Registered Building Inspector, you will apply your technical expertise across a wide range of developments, from new builds to complex refurbishments, carrying out plan assessments, site inspections, and ensuring full compliance with Building Regulations and associated legislation.

You will be at the forefront of protecting communities, making key life-safety decisions and helping to ensure that buildings are safe, sustainable and fit for purpose. This is an opportunity to take ownership of a varied and technically challenging workload, while also contributing to enforcement action where required and supporting the service in meeting its statutory responsibilities. This is more than just a role, it’s an opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the communities we serve, while developing your career as part of a modern, ambitious Building Control service.

Role Summary

In this role, you will play a key part in making sure buildings across Somerset are safe, compliant, and built to the highest standards. As a Building Control Surveyor, you’ll assess plans, carry out site inspections, and work closely with developers, contractors, and partners to ensure all work meets Building Regulations and relevant legislation. You’ll use your professional judgement to provide guidance, resolve challenges, and, where necessary, take enforcement action to achieve compliance. Your work will span a wide range of projects, giving you the opportunity to apply your expertise across different building types while supporting safe and sustainable development.

By combining technical knowledge with a customer-focused approach, you’ll help protect communities, maintain high construction standards, and ensure Somerset Council meets its statutory responsibilities—making a real, visible difference to the built environment and the people who live and work within it.

What you'll do - Key Responsibilities

• Carry out the role of a Registered Building Inspector (licensed profession) undertaking plans examination, site inspections, and control of demolitions and dangerous structures in accordance with the Building Act 1984 and associated legislation.
• Represent the authority to ensure building developments and alterations meet Building Regulations and provide safe, healthy environments.
• Manage compliance across a range of project types within Building Safety Act class limitations.
• Provide technical expertise and act as a Building Control professional for a defined geographical area and specialist areas such as fire safety.
• Support and mentor less experienced staff to ensure compliance and service standards are achieved.
• Support enforcement activity including issuing legal notices and representing the service in legal proceedings where required.
• Attend emergency callouts for dangerous structures and determine immediate actions to safeguard the public.
• Maintain a technical workload in line with performance standards and regulatory requirements.
• Work in accordance with the Registered Building Inspector’s Code of Conduct and competence framework.

What We’re Looking For – Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• The ability to exercise judgement, make balanced assessments using standard technical guidance along with specialist knowledge to put forward rational, evidence-based recommendations.
• Can apply a robust knowledge of the Building Regulations (and associated legislation) to ensure all projects achieve the required level of compliance.
• This role will require key life safety decision and technical expertise to ensure buildings are safe and compliant for occupants in Somerset.
• The ability to support the management team where they represent the service in legal proceedings and lead on taking effective enforcement where required.
• To be able to fulfil their function as a Registered Building Inspector and carry out tasks that are registered to do so under the Building Inspector Competency Framework.
• Achieved or working towards a minimum of Class 2 registration – Note any offer will be subject to this being achieved prior to an agreed upon date.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, sufficient to write technical reports and associated correspondence.
• Writes clearly, succinctly, and correctly; in a well-structured and logical way; Uses technology to achieve work objectives.
• The ability to undertake all necessary site inspections, surveys and meetings away from the office.
• In addition to be able to climb ladders, work in confined spaces and capable of entering a typical construction site environment.
• 5 years Building Control experience, either with a local authority or a private organisation.
• Degree, HNC or degree equivalent in a construction related discipline.
• Membership of a professional body such as RICS, CABE or CIOB.

Additional Information

• 30 days’ annual leave, plus bank holidays.
• Permanent - 37 hours per week.
• A generous benefits package that supports your wellbeing, work-life balance and ongoing development.

Regretfully, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. A full job description will be provided to shortlisted candidates or on request via recruitment@somerset.gov.uk.