Building Standards - What job and career opportunities are there?

Building Standards departments within Scottish local authorities have a range of job titles, reflecting the different levels of responsibility and specialisms within the service. These roles are crucial for ensuring the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of buildings across Scotland. 

Here's a breakdown of common job titles you might find: 

Core Professional Roles:

• Building Standards Officer: This is a common entry-level or foundational role. Officers are responsible for assessing submitted building plans for compliance with regulations, visiting construction sites to check work in progress, advising builders and developers, investigating unsafe practices, and writing reports. They are sometimes also known as a Building Standards Surveyor.
• Senior Building Standards Surveyor / Senior Building Standards Officer: These roles typically involve processing more complex building warrant applications, providing support to line managers, inspecting dangerous or defective buildings, and potentially supervising junior staff. They require significant experience and often chartered membership of a professional body like RICS or CABE.
• Principal Building Standards Surveyor / Principal Building Standards Officer: These positions hold more senior responsibility, often overseeing a team or specific areas of work, and contributing to policy and strategic development within the department.
• Team Leader - Building Standards: Responsible for managing a team of building standards professionals, overseeing their workload, and ensuring the efficient delivery of the service.
• Building Standards Manager / Head of Building Standards: These are leadership roles, responsible for the overall management, performance, and strategic direction of the entire Building Standards department within a local authority.

Support and Specialised Roles:

• Assistant Building Standards Surveyor / Assistant Building Standards Officer: Often a developmental role for those new to the profession, working under supervision on less complex projects.
• Building Standards Inspector: While often integrated into the "Officer" or "Surveyor" roles, some authorities might have dedicated inspection roles focused primarily on site visits and compliance checks.
• Building Standards Support Surveyor – Technical / Admin: These roles provide technical or administrative support to the surveying team, which could involve data entry, managing applications, or assisting with technical documentation.
• Trainee/Apprentice Building Standards Surveyor/Officer: Entry-level positions for individuals undergoing training and qualifications to become a fully qualified building standards professional.

Key Responsibilities Across Roles (varying by seniority):

• Assessing building plans and specifications for compliance with building regulations.
• Conducting site inspections to ensure work meets standards.
• Issuing and managing building warrants and completion certificates.
• Advising stakeholders (public, architects, builders, engineers) on regulations.
• Investigating dangerous or defective buildings.
• Keeping up-to-date with changes in legislation and industry best practice.
• Preparing and issuing technical reports.
• Contributing to the development and improvement of the building standards service.

Many of these roles require qualifications in areas such as building surveying, structural/civil engineering, architecture, or construction management, and professional accreditation from bodies like the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE).