Job Description

Overall Job Purpose

Are you a RICS or CIOB qualified Building Surveyor with a minimum of 3-5 years post qualification experience, with experience in delivering professional reports to internal clients and proven ability to successfully prioritise tasks within budget, looking for a role where your skills can make a real difference?

Join our Diocese Estates Team where you will have the opportunity to develop your knowledge through training, whilst working on a diverse property portfolio including Grade II listed historical buildings.

In this role, you will:

Assist the Diocese and Estates team, by scheduling, instructing and overseeing 5 yearly cycling building condition surveys (known as Quinquennial reports) and prioritising the resulting recommended remedial repair works by agreement with each Parish on the Diocese's churches, halls, offices and residential properties to include listed buildings. Proactively reduce the current backlog of circa 28m remedial repair work resulting from building condition surveys. Improve the value for money spent on both the building condition surveys and the resulting repair works. Provide tailored project management services to ensure the professional procurement and delivery of major and minor capital projects ranging from new buildings and church campus improvements to alterations, extensions and refurbishment projects. Prioritise, oversee and project manage works resulting from building surveys. Act on Joint Contracts Tribunal construction contracts dispute resolution and prepare the information required to support the litigation of contracted works or collateral warranty claims.
This is an exciting time to join our friendly, busy, and supportive team as we implement our 10-year Mission Plan, shaping the future of our Diocese and the communities we serve.

Covering Hampshire, Berkshire, South Oxford, and the Channel Islands, our Diocese is home to 87 parishes and 50 schools, serving over 27,000 practising Catholics and supporting 32,000 children and their families. Our work is both challenging and deeply rewarding, offering the opportunity to be part of something truly meaningful.

The role is based at St. Edmund House, Bishop Crispian Way, Portsmouth, PO1 3QA.

Some out of office hours and travel are required across the Diocese including the Channel Islands. You must have a full clean driving licence and your own transport.

Building Surveyor - Full

Main Duties

Oversee and later complete building surveys on Diocese church properties. Prioritise, oversee and project manage works resulting from building surveys. Work with relevant Parish representatives to develop and implement a planned works and later preventative maintenance programmes for church properties. Establish best value from both Parish building surveys and the resulting works via the introduction of improved contractor selection and increasing competition. Developing and implementing building projects with Parishes. Provide tailored project management services to ensure the professional procurement and delivery of major and minor capital projects ranging from new buildings and church campus improvements to alterations, extensions and refurbishment projects. Act on Joint Contracts Tribunal construction contracts dispute resolution and prepare the information required to support the litigation of contracted works or collateral warranty claims. Be accountable for and submit individual proposal reports, block program updates and general performance reports to the Parish, Director of Estates and Diocesan Committees as required.

Governance and Compliance

Ensure parishes comply with all relevant Diocesan policies. Assist with insurance claims and annually review the extent of insurance coverage.

Professionalism and values

Uphold and promote the ethos and values of the Catholic Church. Work collaboratively with the Parish Team to ensure the Parish Priest remains supported.

Building Surveyor - Person Specification

Essential

RICS or CIOB qualified Building Surveyor with a minimum of 3-5 years post qualification experience. Demonstrated experience in delivering high quality professional reports to internal clients. Proven ability to successfully prioritise tasks within available budgets. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to engage with people at all levels. Ability to provide and maintain trusted advice to lay persons. High level of proficiency in IT, including Microsoft Office and financial software. Strong organisational and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities. Knowledge of building pathology, property management, including maintenance and health and safety compliance. Valid driving licence and access to a vehicle.

Desirable

Knowledge of the values and teachings of the Catholic Church. Experience working in a parish, charity or non-profit organisation. Knowledge of safeguarding and data protection practices. Knowledge of Listed Buildings.

How to Apply

Please send a comprehensive and up to date Curriculum Vitae along with a covering letter setting out your suitability for the role and motivation in applying (no more than 2 sides A4) to recruitment@portsmouthdiocese.org.uk Please state 'Building Surveyor' in the subject line of your email.

The Diocese of Portsmouth is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all who support the ethos and values of the Catholic Church.

We encourage an early application as we may close this advertisement at our discretion before the date stated, if a high number of applicants apply.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 17th August, at 10pm.

Interview Details

You will be notified shortly after the closing date, should we wish to progress your application and invite you to an interview.

Appointment

Any offer of employment to work at the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth is conditional upon receipt of two satisfactory employment references, provision of relevant certification of qualifications held, and completion of pre-employment checks.

You must have a valid UK Right to Work, as the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth does not offer UK Visa Sponsorship.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 55,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Company pension Health & wellbeing programme Life insurance On-site parking Sick pay
Schedule:

Monday to Friday
Application question(s):

Do you a valid UK Right to Work, as the Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth does not offer UK Visa Sponsorship? Are you a RICS or CIOB qualified Building Surveyor? Do you have a minimum of 3-5 years post qualification experience, with experience in delivering professional reports to internal clients?
Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 17/08/2025
Reference ID: Building Surveyor