Principal Building Surveyor

We are looking for a Principal Building Surveyor to join our Capital Projects service. This is a full time, permanent role based at the Civic Offices in Portsmouth, with hybrid working. This role would be perfect for newly chartered surveyors or experienced surveyors seeking a change.

Your new role

This role sits within the Housing, Neighbourhoods and Building Services directorate, delivering professional building surveying services and project work across a varied portfolio of housing and corporate assets. You will lead a team responsible for refurbishment schemes, planned maintenance, compliance works and building safety projects, supporting the council to maintain and improve its properties. The work will be diverse, ranging from smaller maintenance schemes through to large-scale projects, including retrofit and Net Zero initiatives, with responsibility for project management, contract administration and technical delivery. [Principal...June 2026 | Word]

As the Principal Building Surveyor, you will manage resources, budgets, contractors and consultants to ensure projects are delivered effectively and in line with legislation and policy. You will oversee workloads, support the development of your team, and maintain high professional standards across surveying services. You will also work closely with clients and stakeholders, prepare briefs, advise on options and costs, and support informed decision-making to deliver successful outcomes across the council’s property portfolio.

Please see the job profile attached at the bottom of this page for all details of the role and what it will involve.

Who is the person summary

We are looking for a qualified and experienced Chartered Building Surveyor (MRICS) with a strong technical background and a degree in a relevant construction discipline. You will bring a broad understanding of building surveying practice, including contract management (particularly JCT), building legislation, and construction health and safety. With proven experience delivering professional surveying services and managing projects, you will demonstrate sound commercial awareness, including cost control and value-for-money decision making. Strong IT skills, including the use of Microsoft packages and design software such as AutoCAD, are essential.

You will be an effective leader and communicator, capable of managing and developing a team while working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders. Organised and methodical, you will confidently oversee multiple projects, provide clear professional advice, and contribute to high-quality service delivery. A commitment to supporting the professional development of others, particularly through the RICS APC pathway, is key. Due to the nature of the role, you will either hold a full driving licence with access to a vehicle or be willing to learn to drive to support travel across sites in and around Portsmouth.

If you are enthusiastic, a good communicator and a Chartered Building Surveyor with experience of providing a range of building surveying professional services and managing building related projects then we would love to hear from you!

About Portsmouth City Council

Portsmouth City Council is a unique organisation, committed to making a difference, and is guided by core values that set who we are as people, what we stand for, and how we act.

We are committed to our values of respect, integrity, collaboration, inclusivity and being people-focussed. These values set out how we can contribute to the success of the council and our own success as individuals. Learn more about our values and behaviours.

Additional Information

If you have any questions, or would like an informal discussion about the role, please call David Lavender on 07500 579146 or emaildavid.lavender@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Our recruitment process

Full information about our recruitment process can be found on our support for applicants' page: Support for applicants - Careers portal

You must demonstrate why you are suitable against each of the points described in the 'Who is the Person'points on the Job Profile using examples from your experience or transferable skills. This might be through qualifications or descriptive examples from your work / personal experience, which clearly illustrates what you did and the effect it had. If you apply without a detailed personal statement, it is unlikely that you will be successful.

We are a disability confident employer and Armed Forces Covenant gold standard. More information can be found at Equality, diversity and inclusion - Careers portal

You will need to demonstrate that you have the Right to Work in the UK. No post will be offered without it.

Read more about working at Portsmouth City Council and our benefits on our career's portal homepage: Careers Portal - Find jobs with Portsmouth City Council

Should you require any support in completing the application form please contact recruit@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or call the recruitment team on 023 92 616 800.