Senior Building Controls Surveyor -Local Authority

Senior Building Control Surveyor - Local Authorities

RESPONSIBLE TO: Head of Building Control Team Leader

RESPONSIBLE FOR: Five Building Control Surveyors/Assistant Building Control officers and to support the Head of Building Control with the Technical Support workload


OBJECTIVES

1. To apply significant and wide ranging knowledge and experience in the area of Building Control to lead and manage groups of professional Building Control staff to provide professional Building Control services on behalf of the Local Authority within a defined area of the Borough and for projects that take place beyond the authority as well.

2. To support the Head of Building Control in the delivery of cost effective, customer focused building control services – including taking responsibility for service wide and area based initiatives that support continued improvement in the quality, cost and effectiveness of the service to support delivery of the outcomes in the corporate plan.

3. To support the Head of Building Control in the generation of new work and income to underpin continued delivery of the Building Control service within the local authority.

4. To provide effective management and leadership of specific elements of non fee earning works on behalf of the local Authority, including supporting the delivery of out of hours dangerous structure and emergency planning services.

5. To lead initiatives and support the Head of Building Control in the deliver y of fee earning activities that reinforce the service offer to customers – including Building Control consultancy services, charged pre-application services, Party Wall agreements, Safety at Sports Grounds, Event licensing, General Surveying practices, preparation of professional reports, Fire Risk Assessments etc.

6. Provide leadership and guidance to the Assistant building control officers to ensure the optimised processing and performance management of building regulation and related applications.

7. To develop cross-working across the Planning service in order to deliver service improvements and closer working with Development Management.

8. Using their knowledge and advanced level negotiating skills, the post holder is expected to be able to act as the “lead officer” on more complex building control and related matters; including engagement with and effective management of all stakeholders and to prepare and present to a range of audiences comprehensive reports on complex and technically challenging planning and related development matters consistent with the post.

9. In accordance with the scheme of delegation, the post holder will be responsible for decision making on applications for building regulations and the enforcement and management of development under the Building Act, plus decision making in respect of key areas of work undertaken by Building Control services (including safety at sports grounds and Entertainment Licensing etc).

10. To support as directed, the implementation of corporate and workforce development programmes within the team and follow and promote corporate governance and compliance requirements.

11. To deputise for the Assistant Head of Team Leader, Building Control in the delivery and efficient administration of all services provided by the team (including supporting junior staff).

12. In addition, the post holder is expected to take responsibility for a personal portfolio of work commensurate with the position within the service and the responsibilities above.


RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Contribute to the delivery of the Corporate Plan and the effective operation of the Service in line with the Councils workforce values.

2. Consult, engage and advise customers, communities, colleagues, elected Members and other interested parties as required by legislation, Council policy and professional good practice and ensure effective and high quality responses to all enquiries and comments (including corporate complaints).

3. Present at Council meetings and other high level public meetings.

4. Take responsibility for the development, coaching and mentoring of individual staff in accordance with the objectives of the Council Workforce Strategy

5. Promote, support and deliver Council transformation programmes, in line with the Corporate Values and with the corporate plan commitment to ensuring efficient, cost effective service delivery and continuous improvement.

6. Ensure the effective promotion of customer offers and services consistent with the delivery of income targets and effective customer fulfilment across the Building Control team and wider Directorate.

7. Promote and enable smart working across the service and take responsibility for the delivery of the Council people strategy within the team, including taking responsibility for own career and personal development.

8. Carry out other duties within the competence of the post holder as may be reasonably required from time to time.

9. To be responsible for the effective delivery of Services, which are responsive to the needs of the community, through the establishment of appropriate consultation systems and in the provision of timely advice, information and assistance.

10. To provide cover for other officers within Building Control during periods of absence.

11. To develop additional partnerships, with the aim of increasing income streams.

12. To act as account managers for our partners.

13. To understand, have knowledge of and the ability to follow guidelines that ensure compliance to Health and Safety at Work, Data Protection and other statutory requirements.

14. To act at all times in accordance with Health and Safety policies/aspects/issues, first aid/manual handling etc in relation to working environment, i.e. Hazardous materials and relevant processes/legislations etc.

15. To lead on the marketing of Building Control Services, seeking to maximise the take up of services and income generation, including assisting with the development of relevant publicity strategies.

16. To act as lead officer in one or more areas of specialisation Borough wide. (e.g. validations, means of escape in case of fire, entertainment licensing, safety at sports grounds, access for the disabled, contaminated sites, training or Local Authority development, cross Service or Directorate liaison etc).

17. To be responsible for Building Regulations, Safety at Sports Grounds and/or Entertainment Licensing, for an area of the Borough, including co-ordination within the Directorate/Council.

18. In accordance with the Service duty rota, provide emergency and out of hours cover in respect of Safety at Sports Grounds, Event licensing and the provision of Emergency response cover in respect of dangerous structures within and beyond the Borough.

19. To manage, train, develop and advise Building Control staff.

20. To inspect work on site at all stages of construction and carry out appropriate tests of fittings and materials.

21. To make inspections and write reports concerning dangerous structures, unauthorised buildings and contravention’s of the Building Regulations, Public Health Acts, etc.

22. To be available approximately one week per month to deal with dangerous structures outside normal office hours.

23. To assist in the emergency planning organisation and arrangements within the local authority, undertaking any necessary training and instruction, and participating in any response to civil emergencies as required.

24. To prepare evidence and attend Court as an expert witness on behalf of the Council.

25. To enforce the provisions of means of escape in case of fire for certain new and existing buildings.

26. To enforce requirements under the Regulatory Reform Order, Safety at Sports Grounds Acts and Entertainments Licensing Legislation.

27. To ensure that they are up to date with constantly changing building legislation.

28. To represent the Local Authority at outside organisations e.g. London District Surveyors Association on all Building Control matters.

29. To maintain a good understanding and awareness of the local authorities policies and procedures for safeguarding children, vulnerable adults and people affected by domestic violence, and alert Children’s Services and/or Adult Social Care where it is suspected that a child or vulnerable adult might be being abused, neglected or harmed, or that a child is residing with a perpetrator of domestic violence.

30. To be able to work flexibly and take responsibility for own career and personal development

31. To understand and commit to promoting and implementing the Council’s Equal Opportunities policies.

32. To deputise for the Head of Building Control as and when required.

33. To help maintain and update procedures within the office.

34. To help develop and enhance the use of IT systems, in particular the mobile working system.