Placement Student (12 MTH FTC)

Why Southwark?

Kickstart your career in commercial estate management with Southwark Council. This placement offers you a unique opportunity to combine academic learning with hands-on experience in a vibrant, real-world setting. Join a supportive team and gain exposure to a wide range of property types, develop RICS-compliant skills, and build the foundations for a career in surveying and estate management.

Why this role stands out:

• Hands-on learning: Directly assist Principal Surveyors in managing a diverse portfolio of shops, offices, and workshops.
• Career-ready experience: Gain practical skills in property inspections, valuations, compliance, and lease management.
• Professional development: Receive tailored training to enhance your knowledge of commercial estate management and RICS practices.

What You'll Be Doing

• Support the Portfolio Management team in delivering effective commercial property management.
• Collect and analyse market evidence for rent reviews, lease renewals, and new lettings.
• Assist with property inspections, plans, and valuations.
• Manage vacant properties, including utility arrangements, clearances, and invoice checks.
• Conduct compliance checks on tenants, ensuring statutory documentation is in place.
• Order and monitor reactive repairs through contractors.
• Assist with rent collection and recovery actions where necessary.
• Support the maintenance of property records, including the asbestos register and commercial database systems.
• Work alongside Telecoms and Housing teams to coordinate site access and maintenance.
• Contribute to the preparation of Right to Buy valuation reports.

What We're Looking For

• Currently enrolled in an Estate Management degree or similar RICS-exempting course.
• Basic understanding of property law, local government regulations, and market trends.
• Some experience producing technical statements, reports, or correspondence.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain complex matters clearly.
• Ability to work independently, meet deadlines, and adapt to new IT systems.
• Interest in negotiation and problem-solving within a property management context.
• Clear, professional communication skills across written, verbal and face-to-face interactions
• The ability to juggle priorities in a fast-moving environment without losing attention to detail

• Sound judgement, discretion and a commitment to confidentiality
• A practical, solution-focused mindset and a collaborative approach
• This role offers flexible home working blended with travel into our London Bridge HQ.

Additional Information

About Southwark Council

Southwark Council is the largest local authority social landlord in London, managing 55,000 homes lived in by 40% of Southwark’s residents. We are home to over 18,300 businesses including iconic London venues such as The Shard, The Tate Modern and Borough Market along with many social enterprises and we have a young, diverse, and growing population.

At Southwark we are committed to making our borough just and fair and are taking positive action to tackle inequalities. Our residents and communities are our greatest asset and the passion we have for Southwark is shared by millions of Londoners who enjoy our outstanding cultural offer, use our hospitals and attend our universities.

Our refreshed borough plan and focus on Southwark Stands Together (which is our work with Southwark’s communities and the council’s staff to tackle racism, injustice and inequality), underpins all that we do.

Benefits and more information:

Working for Southwark Council – Southwark

Salary Range: £30,654

Application Closing Date: 11:59pm on 13th of February 2026

Interview Date: W/C the 2nd of March 2026

We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities.

This is demonstrated through our council-wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together initiative.

We particularly welcome applications from members of the black, Asian, and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care or have previously been in care.
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition.

Attachments

• Job Description & Person Specification