Job description
Location: Council House
Hours: hours a week
Closing Date: 30th May 2026
Contract Type: Permanent
Take the lead on high-profile projects and shape the built environment in a role where your expertise truly matters. As a Principal Building Surveyor, you’ll operate at the forefront of technical excellence, guiding complex schemes from concept to completion while influencing strategic decisions that have lasting impact. This is an opportunity to step into a visible, senior position where your knowledge and judgement are valued at every level.
The Principal Building Surveyor will play a pivotal role within a collaborative and forward-thinking team, providing leadership, mentoring junior colleagues, and driving best practice across a diverse property portfolio. If you thrive on responsibility, enjoy solving technical challenges, and are motivated by delivering quality outcomes, this role offers both autonomy and meaningful impact.
With clear scope for progression and the chance to further enhance your professional standing, the Principal Building Surveyor position offers a rewarding next step for an ambitious surveyor ready to elevate their career within a supportive and well-structured environment.
Who We Are
Here at Derby City Council, we’re dedicated to delivering nearly 250 first-class services to citizens and businesses in the heart of the Midlands. People are at the centre of all that we do, and we have an outstanding track record of recruiting and developing talented individuals by providing them with varied and fulfilling career opportunities. Find out more about what it’s like to work for us.
What We Offer
You too could be part of something brilliant by becoming a colleague at Derby City Council; in addition to making a difference to the lives of people across the city, you’ll also receive:
• Flexible work/life balance scheme
• Hybrid working
• Modern office environment
• Continued professional development opportunities & career conversations
• 27 days annual leave (rising to 32 days after 5 years' service), plus bank holidays (depending on contract)
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Team Derby Rewards – retail and leisure discounts
• Tusker Car Benefit Scheme
• Cycle2Work Scheme & free cycle training
• Employee Assistance Programme, Wellbeing Calendar and Support
• Access to our Equality Employee Networks – LGBTQ+, Disabled Employee Network & Carers and our Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic Employee Support Network and Neurodiversity Network
• Support for colleagues who are carers
The Opportunity
In the role of Principal Building Surveyor, here’s an example of what you’ll be doing to make an impact:
Take the lead on high-profile projects and shape the built environment in a role where your expertise truly matters. As a Principal Building Surveyor, you’ll operate at the forefront of technical excellence, guiding complex schemes from concept to completion while influencing strategic decisions that have lasting impact. This is an opportunity to step into a visible, senior position where your knowledge and judgement are valued at every level.
The Principal Building Surveyor will play a pivotal role within a collaborative and forward-thinking team, providing leadership, mentoring junior colleagues, and driving best practice across a diverse property portfolio. If you thrive on responsibility, enjoy solving technical challenges, and are motivated by delivering quality outcomes, this role offers both autonomy and meaningful impact. With clear scope for progression and the chance to further enhance your professional standing, the Principal Building Surveyor position offers a rewarding next step for an ambitious surveyor ready to elevate their career within a supportive and well-structured environment.
In this role, you will:
• Lead and oversee major building projects, from initial surveys and feasibility work through to completion on site.
• Provide expert advice on building condition, defects, compliance, and refurbishment strategies across a varied property portfolio.
• Manage budgets, procurement processes, and external consultants to ensure projects are delivered on time and within cost.
• Support and develop junior surveyors, setting technical standards and promoting high-quality professional practice.
• Act as a key point of contact for stakeholders, translating complex technical matters into clear, practical guidance.
About You
To be successful in this role, you’ll ideally have…
• Professionally qualified Building Surveyor MRICS, CIOB or equivalent) or able to demonstrate significant post-qualification experience at a senior level.
• Substantial experience delivering building surveying services across a varied property portfolio, including project management and contract administration.
• Strong technical knowledge of building construction, defects diagnosis, refurbishment and maintenance practices.
• Sound understanding of current building legislation, health and safety requirements, and industry standards.
• Proven experience managing budgets and overseeing external consultants and contractors to deliver projects successfully.
• Ability to provide clear, practical advice to a range of stakeholders, translating technical information into accessible guidance.
• Experience supervising, mentoring or providing technical support to other surveyors or team members.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise workloads and manage multiple projects effectively.
Next Steps
If you would like to apply for this vacancy via an