Chartered Building Surveyor / Project Manager (Residential Children’s Homes Programme)
Greater Manchester Council – £450 per day (Umbrella LTD)
Contract Role
Greater Manchester based Council is seeking an experienced Chartered Building Surveyor to support a high-profile residential care transformation programme. The role will focus on the acquisition, refurbishment, and delivery of up to 10 children’s homes, improving quality standards, Ofsted compliance, and long-term life-cycle management of assets.
This is a hybrid technical and project leadership role requiring strong experience in project management, contract administration, acquisitions, and refurbishment delivery within a public sector or regulated environment.
Purpose of the Programme
Improve quality and standards of residential children’s homes
Deliver the acquisition of up to 10 homes across Greater Manchester
Reduce long-term revenue costs through smarter asset management
Improve wellbeing and educational outcomes through environment-led design
Achieve Ofsted certification and regulatory compliance
Strengthen lease, asset lifecycle, and property management strategiesKey Responsibilities Pre-Acquisition
Identify and assess acquisition opportunities for children’s residential homes on a rolling 4-week cycle
Maintain and update acquisition trackers and pipeline reporting
Coordinate with service providers and local authorities to shortlist viable properties
Lead joint property inspections and stakeholder site visits
Present opportunities to internal Property Advisory Groups for approvalDue Diligence & Acquisition
Commission and manage RICS Level 3 surveys, valuations, and technical due diligence
Oversee legal due diligence and conveyancing processes through to completion
Manage planning risk assessments and title investigations
Produce and present board-level reports for approvals and governance sign-offPost-Acquisition Delivery
Lead onboarding of properties into the Council’s estate portfolio
Coordinate Estates, Insurance, Utilities, and Finance handover requirements
Manage external consultants delivering design, planning, and compliance outputs
Develop and agree detailed descriptions of works (DOW) aligned to Skyline standards
Ensure full documentation readiness for procurement and delivery phasesRefurbishment & Project Delivery
Lead refurbishment projects from inception to completion
Manage cost control, programme delivery, risk, and quality assurance
Act as technical lead for RFIs, clarifications, and design coordination
Undertake full contract administration under JCT conditions
Issue variation orders, certify payments, and manage practical completion processes
Chair monthly progress meetings and undertake regular site inspections
Maintain accurate contract records and formal meeting minutesProcurement
Lead procurement of property consultants including scope definition and appointment
Manage contractor procurement via framework mini-competitions
Ensure full compliance, transparency, and robust evaluation processes
Support procurement approvals and award recommendationsRequirements
MRICS Chartered Building Surveyor (essential)
Strong background in project management and contract administration
Experience delivering refurbishment or capital works programmes
Strong understanding of JCT contracts and public sector governance
Experience in acquisitions, due diligence, and property lifecycle management
Ability to manage multiple stakeholders across technical and social care environments
Strong reporting, communication, and board-level presentation skillsContact Contact: James Glover at Service Care Solutions on (phone number removed) or via email at (url removed)