Senior Estates Surveyor

Gwynedd Council offers an attractive employment package, for more information please Gwynedd Council operates internally through the medium of Welsh, and offers all its services bilingually. The applicant will be required to reach the linguistic level noted as one of the essential skills in the Person Specification.We encourage everyone who applies for a job with Gwynedd Council to submit job applications in Welsh or bilingually.(Applications submitted in English only or Welsh only will always be treated equally, but we ask applicants to consider carefully what the linguistic requirements of the job in question is and if it would be more appropriate to submit an application in Welsh.)For further information about this post please contact Swyddi@gwynedd.llyw.cymru Interview date to be confirmed.Application forms are available from Support Service, Gwynedd Council, Council Offices, Caernarfon, LL55 1SHTel: 01286 679076E-Mail: Swyddi@gwynedd.llyw.cymruCLOSING DATE: 10:00 AM, 03/09/2026If you are successful to be short listed for an interview you will be contacted by E-MAIL using the address provided on your application form. You need to ensure that you check your email regularly.

Person Specification

Personal attributesEssentialA person who can work independently and as part of a team.Excellent verbal and written communication and negotiating skills.Displays personal enterprise and the ability to deal with people on all levels in a courteous and professional manner.Experience of working to tight timetables and the ability to prioritise key tasks.Desirable-Qualifications and relevant trainingEssentialFull member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) within a relevant field, or evidence of having started the Professional Competence Assessment (APC) process in order to secure membership.DesirableA Degree in a field related to property, construction or law.Relevant experienceEssentialExperience of every aspect of property management including sale and purchase, and lease management.Experience of valuing all types of properties.Experience of negotiating rent reviews.DesirableExperience of Compulsory Purchase matters / purchase of land under the shadow of Compulsory Purchase powers.Experience of the management of agricultural leases.Skills and specialist knowledgeEssentialKnowledge of the local property market, and property law.DesirableInformation technology skills (MS Office).Language requirementsListening and Speaking - HigherAble to follow a conversation or discussion through the medium of Welsh and English on a professional level and discuss general day to day topics in the field in order to present information and express opinions.Able to give a pre-prepared presentation and respond to any comments and questions on it in Welsh or English.Reading and Understanding - HigherAble to understand standard written Welsh and English; both formal and informal.Able to gather information from various sources such as letters, reports, articles through the medium of Welsh and English in order to fulfil the post.Writing - HigherPresent written information confidently by letter, more detailed and technical report formats, and respond to written requests conveying information, ideas and opinion in Welsh and English (help is available to check the work).

Job Description

Purpose of the post

• Ensure that the people of Gwynedd are at the heart of everything we do.
• Contributing towards the provision of a comprehensive estate management and valuation service, including purchasing, selling and managing land and buildings.

Responsibility for functions

• Equipment - Personal technical equipment for undertaking valuation work, digital camera, “Disto” digital measuring tool, measuring tapes etc.

Main duties

• Responsibility for self-development.
• Ensure compliance with Health and Safety rules in the workplace in accordance with the responsibilities noted in the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Council’s Health and Safety Policy.
• Operate within the Council’s policies in relation to equal opportunities and equality.
• Responsible for managing information in accordance with the Council’s information management guidelines. Ensure that personal information is treated in accordance with Data Protection legislation.
• Commitment to reducing the Council’s carbon emissions in accordance with the Carbon Management Plan, and to encourage others to act positively towards reducing the Council’s Carbon Footprint.
• Undertake any other reasonable duty which corresponds to the salary level and responsibility level of the job.
• Responsibility to report any concern or suspicion that a child or vulnerable adult is being abused
• Negotiation of terms for purchasing land and property on behalf of The Council’s Service Departments.
• Lease management including negotiating terms for new leases, renewing leases, reviewing rents etc.
• Preparation of valuations of the Council’s assets in accordance with RICS and CIPFA guidance.
• Preparation of capital valuations for the private property of the Council’s care home residents, and valuations of private property in connection with the ‘Monmouth Scheme’.
• Preparation of non-domestic rates appeals for Council properties, and represent the Council in rates tribunals as required.
• Representation of external public bodies when cases of buying, selling, leasing or other professional property matters as required.
• Conducting the sale of property declared surplus to the Council’s requirements, whilst ensuring the best interest for the Council in all cases in accordance with the requirements of the Local Government Act 1972 and the Council's policies.
• Consideration of the appropriateness of using the General Disposal Consent (Wales) Order 2003 when disposing of property in accordance with legislative requirements for less than market value.
• Provision of expert professional advice to Council Departments on matters relating to property and asset management.
• Application of specialized knowledge and professional experience to solve the Council’s property related problems and prepare recommendations on the effective management of the Council's assets.
• Oversee the work of the Assistant Estates Surveyors including supporting and providing technical and professional guidance as required. Allocate work tasks for the Assistant Estates Surveyors and ensure they effectively prioritise their work load to support the unit’s performance as a team.
• Consideration and negotiation of terms pursuant to applications to sub-let, assign, undertake building works, lifting restrictive conditions etc. on Council property.
• Preparation of licences for various uses of Council land.
• Work closely with the Legal Unit to protect Council property against trespassers, adverse possession claims etc.
• Preparation of reports to Cabinet and the Council Board, in addition to Cabinet Member’s Decision Notices in relation to property management matters.
• Negotiation of terms pursuant to land compensation claims against the Council.
• Acquisition of land in accordance with Compulsory Purchase Powers (CPO) / or in the shadow of compulsory purchase powers.
• Assisting in developing and updating the Estates Unit’s information recording systems including the Geographical Information System.

Special circumstances

• The need to conduct site inspections all year round.
• Travel to meetings throughout the County
• Likely to meet difficult circumstances when negotiating terms and undertaking enforcement duties.