Land and property asset surveyor

Salary: £36,574 – £41,169

Directorate: Housing, property and regeneration

Roles Purpose:

WMCA is committed to building a healthier, happier, better connected and more prosperous West Midlands. This is their vision.

Their values are central to how they work and interact with their wider partners and their stakeholders. They encourage their colleagues to:

Be Collaborative, Be Innovative, Be Driven, and Be Inclusive

The role will be working as part of the Asset Management Team, to be responsible for the provision and coordination of an effective asset and property management service.

Responsibilities include:

• Ensure that the property and asset aspects of the West Midlands Combined Authority’s businesses (WMCA) are managed and discharged effectively.
• Advise on the strategy for land and property to support WMCA’s Property Strategy and Asset Management objectives
• Support our WMCA Property Strategy and objective to maximize income from our portfolio
• Give and procure advice on lettings, land and property strategy and to maximize income streams
• Responsible for negotiating optimal suitable terms in respect of leases, licenses, sales, acquisitions, easements, options, break clauses and other land and property related matters in relation to land and property interests
• Undertake and ensure all lettings are completed effectively and efficiently, procure the appointment of letting agents and act as the WMCA’s representative in relation to matters relating to the letting property including any relevant Health & Safety issues and liaison with the WMCA’s Health & Safety Manager
• Where appropriate, to commission and coordinate internal legal advice to draft and complete lease and license arrangements, land purchase or other tasks requiring legal support
• Work closely with our internal Legal and Finance partners
• Manage current tenancy arrangements, forging strong relationships through proactive consultation and communication optimising customer satisfaction
• Act as the single point of contact for contract management and liaison with the panel of professional property advisors including relevant surveyors, valuers, consultants, agents and letting agents to reduce the amount of empty property and maximise on income streams from new tenants
• Ensure that any external property and asset management services in relation to land and property are managed effectively and secure value for money
• Monitor the requirement for and to prepare/approve notices required in relation to land and property matters in order to derive maximum benefit from the WMCA’s property portfolio including rent review notices, service charges and termination notices and any other notices as required
• Identify, submit and procure appropriate consents required for dealings connected with land and property including projects
• Commission regular site visits, inspections and appropriate maintenance works for non-operational assets to ensure that any risks to H&S, insurance or otherwise are mitigated, including adverse possession claims
• Support the gathering and systemisation of accurate asset information about WMCA’s land and property portfolio, ensure that good records are kept and take ownership of commercial records and asset information
• Manage the contractual and day to day relationships relating to tenant
  management with the nominated contractual partner including management of the service charge in conjunction with the WMCA’s finance team
• Undertake regular reviews of rates, rents and other costs concentrating on continuous improvement and optimisation
• Check and approve invoices in relation to rates, rents and similar; to
  coordinate any adjustments or corrections required
• Ensure regular asset valuations are sourced and undertaken for financial and insurance purposes and in line with audit recommendations.
• Minimise the impact of environmental performance on any tenancies,
  providing support and advice to improve ratings to mitigate any risk
• Prepare Board papers and reports provide regular updates to our Asset Delivery Group and Strategic Assets Board
• Provide assistance where necessary to ensure that standard
  documentation in relation to license and lease renewals and consents
  regarding the WMCA’s land and property interests fully reflect the WMCA’s requirements
• Provide advice to property enquiries in relation to the WMCA’s land and property assets and projects as appropriate

Required Skills

• Demonstrable experience in dealing with property and asset management and valuation matters, including knowledge and experience of:- of commercial and residential lettings,
  conveyancing, landlord and tenant matters, portfolio
  performance, service charges, capital and maintenance
  budgets, business rates, procuring and managing external
  professional services, and financial reporting
• Experience of carrying out site investigations
• Able to work in a corporate manner and establish good
  working relationships with colleagues from other disciplines

Desirables

• Ideally an appropriate professional qualification (Member of
  the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors)
• Educated to degree level or equivalent

Rewards:

• £75,000
• Flexible Working Hours –
  • Designed to provide flexibility over start, finish and lunch breaks allowing people to better balance their work and home commitments.
• 27 days annual leave
  • Plus public holidays, which increases after 5 and 10 years of service
• Local government pension
• Annual Salary Progression
  • Progression is on 1 April each year provided performance is satisfactory and you have completed six months of service within the post. Increments are applied where no other salary increase has been received six months prior to 1 April.
• Discounted gym membership
• Free breakdown cover for essential car users
• Discounted Gourmet Society membership
• Free approved professional development
• Occupational health support
• Free Yoga sessions
• Cycle to work scheme

If you’re committed to a vibrant, diverse Birmingham and would like to join a great team of talented professionals and use your experience and leadership to drive improvement, please contact our retained consultant at Joshua Robert for further information as detailed below: