Senior Rural Surveyor

We have a wonderful opportunity for an experienced and self-motivated Senior Rural Surveyor to
join the RSPB’s England Land Team to be based in the Southeast of England, an operational area
extending from Hampshire and Surrey through to Kent and Essex. The successful applicant will
join an England wide team of 11 Rural Surveyors. You will have a specific portfolio of
properties in the region to manage and will support the wider delivery of the departmental
casework as required across the Country. The location of the role is flexible within this area.

The work will include a wide range of estate management casework across England with focus on
rural surveying support to specific RSPB nature reserves and projects across the southeast and
surrounding counties.

The reserves within the area include woodlands, wetlands and peri-urban sites, they have a
diverse range of habitats, species and landscapes along with active visitor operations and
facilities. Work on these sites includes rural practice work as well as landlord and tenant
leasehold arrangements for various offices.

This role offers a varied and rewarding work programme and by providing professional advice to
staff, you will help to deliver our conservation and estate management objectives, minimise
risk and optimise financial returns. Key activities include:

Land and Property Management:

Carrying out due diligence to identify, mitigate and manage the legal, reputational and
financial aspects of rural property over land, buildings, offices and business premises
including rent reviews, repairing obligations, landlord consents, land management contracts,
compliance with grant conditions. Advising on agricultural matters and farming systems,
agri-environment agreement work, granting leases and licences e.g. sporting, fishing, grazing,
negotiating wayleaves and easements. 

Reserve acquisition and disposal work.

Appraising, negotiating and concluding acquisitions to establish new reserves, extend existing
reserves, and acquire property e.g. offices, workshops, farm buildings and residential
properties by purchase, lease or management agreement and include land and building valuations.
Appraising, advising and delivering disposals of land, houses, offices an dproperties that are
surplus to operational need.

Risk management and project support.

Supporting the development and implementation of systems to manage the RSPB’s exposure to
legal, reputational and financial risk arising from its land and property operations.
Undertaking internal audits to ensure compliance with current GAEC’s and SMR’s and any
successor regulations and agri-environment grant schemes. Providing professional support to
Area Managers, Reserve Site Teams and Project Managers. Assisting in the production of internal
codes of practice and guidance for staff.

Team working.

The England Rural Surveyors work together with a strong team ethos, enthusiasm and dedication
and share professional expertise, knowledge and information at regular Team meetings. You will
work alongside the building surveyors as well as supporting the Area Managers and their teams.
You will be encouraged to be out of the office, providing professional advice to staff, to
minimise risk and optimise financial returns for the RSPB nature reserves. You will demonstrate
initiative, motivation and flair to spot income opportunities..

Line management.

You would be a direct line manager for a Rural Surveyor, working with them on complex cases and
supporting their learning and career progression.

Essential qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience:

• Chartered member of RICS (Rural) or another equivalent professional organisation RSPB will
  support you in maintaining your RICS qualification and provide in-house and external support to
  meet CPD requirements.
• Significant demonstrable post qualification knowledge and experience of estate management,
  land and property acquisition and disposal work in the rural environment.
• Knowledge and experience of line management and leadership skills. Experience of ensuring
  professional development, performance management and pastoral care.
• Appropriate mentoring skills and guidance to Site staff
• An up to date understanding of agricultural markets and income opportunities in England and
  .
• Significant experience of country specific legislation relating to rural property.
• Demonstrable knowledge and experience of project management principles and their
  application.
• Ability to lead multifunctional project teams
• Excellent communicate skills both verbally, and in writing, in respect complex estate
  management issues to all levels within RSPB and to external audiences.
• Ability to make quick, pragmatic and practical decisions/recommendations/alternatives based
  on sound analysis and reason.
• Ability to positively influence wider audiences and demonstrate credibility both internally
  and externally.
• Excellent negotiation skills to deal effectively with complex casework and achieve the
  required corporate outcomes. 
• An awareness of the requirements of the Charities’ Act, (guidance and learning
  opportunities can be given).
• Ability to manage and prioritise high volume competing objectives, work alone and as part
  of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Significant demonstrable interest in farming, rural and conservation interests.
• Ability to travel widely including by car and public transport and this role will require
  occasional overnight stays away from home 

This is a permanent role for 37.5 hours per week.

Closing date for applications is Monday 4thDecember 2023.

Dates for interview will be confirmed at a later date.

For further information please contact – [email protected]

As part of this application process, you will be asked to complete an application form
including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

The RSPB is committed to training and development and will support appropriate CPD and cover
annual membership fees for one professional body e.g. RICS/CAAV.