Estates Surveyor

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Opportunity

An excellent opportunity has arisen for a surveyor to join Fife Council’s Estates Team within Property Services. This is a professional role within a supportive and experienced team, managing and advising on one of Scotland’s most diverse and interesting local authority property portfolios.

While a full-time appointment is preferred, we are equally keen to hear from those seeking flexible or part-time arrangements.

About the Team and Portfolio

The Estates Team manages approximately 1,400 non-housing assets, encompassing:

• A broad commercial estate
• Agricultural land and community facilities
• Halls, centres, telecoms and utilities infrastructure
• We provide professional advice across the Council to support corporate priorities, drive best use of the property portfolio, and deliver an effective, customer-focused property service.

The Role

This is a varied and rewarding role, offering exposure to a wide range of estate management and professional surveying activities. Duties can be tailored to suit the skills and experience of the successful candidate, with opportunities in the following areas:

Property Management

• Contribute to the management of a leased-out portfolio generating circa £5m p.a.
• Undertake lease management, rent reviews, lease renewals and negotiations with tenants and their agents.
• Work alongside colleagues dealing with billing, compliance and repairs.

Acquisitions, Sales & Leasing

• Negotiate acquisitions for Council projects such as new cemeteries, schools, care homes and infrastructure projects.
• Manage disposals of surplus assets to deliver capital receipts (e.g. former schools, surplus offices, industrial units).
• Involve yourself in a wide range of commercial agency work.

Valuation

• Provide valuations for acquisitions, disposals, asset accounting, and statutory purposes.
• Assess values for access rights, servitudes and wayleaves.
• Support the annual Asset Valuation programme contributing to financial reporting.

About You

You’ll be a surveyor with professional experience and a pragmatic approach to problem-solving.

You will demonstrate:

• Sound professional judgement and an ability to interpret and apply legislation.
• Strong communication, interpersonal and negotiation skills.
• The ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• A proactive, customer-focused mindset with a commitment to continuous improvement.
• The ideal candidate will possess a relevant property degree and worked within a professional surveying environment. Holding professional membership of the RICS or willingness to achieve such status would be advantageous.
• You must have the ability to travel to a variety of locations across Fife.
• The position requires someone who is committed, self-motivated, with a positive, professional, and responsible attitude, with the ability to work to tight timescales.
• This is a role suited to a surveyor who values professional challenge, enjoys variety, and wants to contribute directly to the ongoing development and regeneration of Fife’s communities.

The Person

You will hold a degree-level qualification in a property-related discipline, with experience of working in a professional surveying environment. You’ll understand the property market and have a sound grasp of relevant legislation and professional standards.

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

Professional Qualification: 

Educated to SCQF level 7 (which includes HNC or Advanced Highers or equivalent) or to SCQF level 9 (which includes a degree or equivalent, in a property related discipline).

Professional Experience: 

Work within professional local government estates or private surveying office environment. Holding professional membership of the RICS or willingness to achieve such status would be advantageous.

• Experience in one or more of the following – commercial property valuation, leasing, acquisitions, disposals, and development. Experience within a local authority or public sector context would be advantageous but not essential.
• Communication: Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the confidence to engage effectively with colleagues, stakeholders, and external partners.
• Organisation: Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise and manage a varied workload.
• Flexibility: A positive, self-motivated, adaptable attitude and the capacity to respond to changing priorities and service demands with the ability to work to tight timescales
• Teamwork: A collaborative approach and the ability to contribute effectively as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

What Fife Council Offers

• Fife Council offers a 36-hour working week for full-time employees, with 25 days’ annual leave (rising to 30 days after five years’ service) plus 8 public holidays.
• We promote a healthy work–life balance through flexible working hours and hybrid home/office working (subject to service requirements). While the significant part of the role can and will be carried out remotely, candidates must be able to travel to and attend various locations throughout Fife.
• In addition, you will benefit from a generous Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) pension scheme, along with opportunities for ongoing professional development and career progression within a large and supportive organisation.

As a progressive employer, we offer the opportunity to work in this role as a “blended working” arrangement with home-working opportunities and occasional office-working as required. While the significant part of the role can and will be carried out remotely, candidates should be able to travel to and attend office locations in Fife as required.

For more information, please contact: David Campbell, Lead Professional Estates david.campbell@fife.gov.uk