We have a new opportunity for a self-motivated Rural Surveyor to join RSPB England’s Land Team. Currently, this is a part-time role for 3 days a week (22.5 hrs/week) and will involve dual location working (partly office/site and home).  

The successful applicant will work with the rural surveying team to deliver a wide range of estate management casework across our nature reserves and property in England.  Additionally, the role will focus on rural surveying support to specific RSPB reserves and projects across the Midlands. The reserves in this area extend to over 1,000 hectares of freehold and leased land and include diverse species and habitats found in ancient woodlands, wetlands, and peri-urban sites and their associated offices, houses, and visitor centres.  
This role offers a varied and rewarding work programme to deliver our conservation objectives and will cover: estate management, land and building valuations, purchases, disposals, farm management, land management, forestry, renewable energy, landlord and tenant issues, residential lettings, commercial property issues, planning and development, sporting management, BPS and agri-environment agreement work and project management. You will be encouraged to be out of the office, providing professional advice to staff, to minimise risk and optimise financial returns for the RSPB’s nature reserves. 

Key activities include:

Land and Property Management - Carrying out due diligence to identify, mitigate and manage the legal, reputational and financial aspects of rural property over land, buildings, offices and business premises including rent reviews, repairing obligations, landlord consents, land management contracts, compliance with grant conditions.  Advising on agricultural matters and farming systems, drafting Basic Payment Scheme claims, granting leases and licences e.g. sporting, fishing, grazing, negotiating wayleaves and easements.

Reserve acquisition work - Appraising, negotiating and concluding acquisitions to establish new reserves, extend existing reserves, and acquire property e.g. offices, workshops, farm buildings and residential properties by purchase, lease or management agreement.  

Land and property disposal - Appraising, advising and concluding the disposal of land, houses, offices and properties surplus to operational need.

Risk management and project support - Supporting the development and implementation of systems to manage the RSPB’s exposure to legal, reputational and financial risk arising from its land and property operations.  Undertaking internal audits to ensure compliance with BPS, Environmental Stewardship schemes. Providing professional support to Area Teams and Project Managers and assisting in the production of codes of practice and guidance for staff.

Team working - The England Surveying Team comprises 9 Rural Surveyors, a senior administrator and Agri-Environment grants Manager.  We work together with a strong team ethos, enthusiasm and dedication and share professional expertise, knowledge and information at regular Team meetings. You will work alongside the building surveyors and Head of Estate Management and support the Area Managers and their operational teams.  We look to develop opportunities for staff to use their expertise wherever it is required and have a clear programme of supporting and paying for CPD.

What we need from you:

Essentials:

•    Chartered member of RICS (Rural) or another equivalent professional organisation.
•    Demonstrable post qualification knowledge of estate management, land and property acquisition and disposal work in the rural environment.
•    An up to date understanding of agricultural subsidy schemes in England and associated cross compliance requirements.
•    Knowledge of project management principles and their application.
•    Ability to clearly communicate verbally, and in writing, complex estate management issues to all levels within RSPB and to external audiences.
•    Ability to make quick, pragmatic and practical decisions/recommendations/alternatives based on sound analysis and reason. 
•    Ability to positively influence wider audiences and demonstrate credibility both internally and externally.
•    Ability to negotiate and achieve the required corporate outcomes.  An awareness of the requirements of the Charities’ Act, guidance and learning opportunities can be given.
•    Ability to manage and prioritise high volume competing objectives, work alone and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
•    Ability to travel widely including by car and public transport and this role will require occasional overnight stays away from home.

Additional Information

We are looking to conduct interviews for this position from 22nd August 2022  - For further information please contact - jon.haw@rspb.org.uk 

It is a fixed-term contract for 2 years. However, the RSPB reserves the right to extend or make this role permanent without further advertising dependent on business needs at the end of the contract term.

As part of this application process, you will be asked to complete an application form where you will have the opportunity to tell us how you meet the criteria set above.

Before applying we recommend reading through the candidate guidance notes attached to the top of this advert.

For the successful candidate, the RSPB will support CPD and cover annual membership fees for one professional body e.g. RICS or CAAV.