Assistant Rural Surveyor

We have an opportunity for an Assistant Rural Surveyor to join the RSPB Scotland’s Land Team. The successful applicant will become part of a team of 7 Rural Surveyors. RSPB will support you in gaining your RICS qualification, and provide in-house training and support as well as supporting external training and CPD opportunities. The role is based in our Edinburgh office with hybrid working in place.
RSPB Scotland is passionate about nature and dedicated to saving it. The RSPB nature reserves are seen as a vital mechanism to conserving nature. Currently, there are 78 nature reserves across Scotland, cover 72,300 hectares, making RSPB Scotland one of the top 10 land managers by area in Scotland.
Key Responsibilities:
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, and compliance with grant conditions. Advising on agricultural matters and farming systems, agri-environment agreement work, granting leases and licences, e.g. sporting, fishing, grazing, negotiating wayleaves and servitudes.
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 and include land and building valuations.
Land and property disposal. - Appraising, advising and delivering on the acquisition of land alongside the delivery of the disposal of land, houses, offices and properties that are 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 agri-environment grant schemes. Provided professional support to area teams and project managers and assisted in producing codes of practice and guidance for staff.
Team working. - The Scotland Rural Surveyors 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 support the Area Managers and their teams. 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 nature reserves. You will demonstrate initiative, motivation and flair to spot income opportunities.
RSPB will support you in maintaining your RICS qualification and provide in-house and external support to meet CPD requirements. Some site visits will involve overnight stays away from home.
Benefits:
Employees benefit from flexible working while maintaining a sensible home/work balance. There are various options, such as flexitime, TOIL, and parental leave. After 5 years of continuous service, and each 5 years thereafter, all employees are entitled to a 4-week sabbatical. A chance to take time out of your busy day-to-day job to research, volunteer, learn a new skill or travel.
Essentials:
• Demonstrable 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 Scotland 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 internal and external credibility.• 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
• Closing date – 31st of May 2024.• Interview dates will be the week commencing the 10th of June • Contact for further information: charlotte.playfair-hannay@rspb.org.uk
You will be required to complete an online application form where you will have the opportunity to explain how you meet the criteria set above.
We seek applications from individuals identifying as people of colour and/or disabled, as they are currently underrepresented in the sector.
Please read through the candidate guidance notes attached to this advert before applying.
We reserve the right to close this advert at any time.