Property Surveyor - Property Acquisition & Delivery

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 strategies

Key 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 approval

Due 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-off

Post-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 phases

Refurbishment & 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 minutes

Procurement

• 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 recommendations

Requirements

• 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 skills

Contact Contact: James Glover at Service Care Solutions on 01772 208967 or via email at james.glover@servicecare.org.uk