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Job Information Pack

Building Surveyor

TAFF/422

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Advert Taff Housing Association is successful and award winning with high levels of tenant and staff satisfaction. Based at our Head Office near Cardiff city centre, we manage just over 1500 homes in vibrant and mixed communities. We now have an exciting opportunity for a Surveyor to join our Repairs Team. The Surveyor role will give a wide range of experience for the successful applicant, including:

Contributing to investment programmes

Delivery of the responsive, planned and proactive annual programme

Undertaking inspections and specifying responsive repairs and improvement to properties

Working with a range of properties from new build to over 100 years old

Contributing to options and refurbishments for large properties

Partnership working What can we offer you?

Offices based in the city centre located in the heart of vibrant Canton in Cardiff

A competitive market tested salary

A commitment to your professional development.

A benefits package including: 35 hour working week; generous annual leave entitlement of 25 days plus statutory bank holidays and 4 concessionary days a year; flexible working arrangements to support your work life balance; Simplyhealth cash plan; access to Perk box; access to private medical insurance to support in times of need as well as access to specialist medical opinion for you and your family.

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About Taff

Our Head Office is located in Canton, Cardiff, within easy reach of our Tenants. As an ‘anchor’ organisation, Taff has always tried to create inclusive communities, building on people’s strengths and abilities. We are here to support and encourage innovative and creative solutions driven by our people – customers and staff.

We continue to develop new Social Housing, and invest in our existing stock. But we also work with individuals and communities to develop their resilience, aspirations and ambitions.

Taff is about nurturing ‘whole places’, which are kind, inclusive, energetic and creative.

We have committed to ‘Build Foundations for Better Futures’ in our plan which takes us to 2022. Our ambitions are to: • BUILD A REPUTATION FOR DELIVERING GREAT SERVICE & INNOVATION – we want our customers to value our services, and think of new, more efficient ways to work with them •BUILD HOMES & COMMUNITIES – we will build at least 50 homes each year, and promote safe, cohesive communities • BUILD RESILIENCE AND ASPIRATIONS – we will work with people to find their strengths, and help them achieve what’s important to them. We will give them tools to cope independently • BUILD A GREAT PLACE TO WORK - we want people to feel part of Taff, and to take leadership roles wherever they are in the organisation • BUILD FOUNDATIONS FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS – if we want to be innovative and use technology to help us grow, we need to ensure all our systems work well – financial, IT, document management etc. • BUILD COMMERCIAL CAPACITY – healthy surpluses allow us to build homes and to try out new ventures; research and development will underpin all new business ideas We recognise that our success depends on the quality, skills and commitment of the people who work for us. We are committed to equality and embrace diversity, and welcome applications from all.

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The Job - Building Surveyor Responsible to: Asset & Compliance Manager Purpose of the post:

Main Functions:

Key duties:

Managing maintenance contracts and contractor performance ensuring a wide range of health & safety policies, procedures and controls are implemented.

Provide a high quality planned (investment) and responsive maintenance service to the Association’s tenants and maintain the quality of the Association's stock.

Assisting the Asset Manager in planning investment, procurement of works/contracts and undertaking stock condition surveys.

Ensure high quality improvements, responsive repairs and planned maintenance is delivered in a timely and cost effective way, complying with all relevant legislation.

Provide technical guidance and insight to colleagues in other teams as required. Liaise and consult with tenants on all aspects of the maintenance service and ensure that Taff

HA`s intentions for equality and diversity are met. Procure external contractors and ensure value for money in tender rates and works carried

out. Manage contracts to deliver planned maintenance and improvements. Ensure delivery to

time, quality and cost. Undertake stock surveys and assist in the investment planning process. Undertake property risk assessment/surveys. Participate as a member of the Repairs team ensuring Health & Safety issues in relation to

construction and maintenance (such as Fire Safety, Asbestos, HHSRS & CDM 2015) are robustly controlled.

Work closely and flexibly with other staff in delivering a high quality service to tenants and other customers.

Undertake reactive repairs and specify works to contractors and in house repairs team. Produce regular reports on contractor performance, tenant satisfaction and performance

against budget. Inspect vacant properties and conducting mutual exchanges specifying and supervising

contractors to bring the properties up to the lettable standards within the required timescales.

Provide technical advice and support to the tenant services team as required. Undertake tenant consultation and liaison in relation to the asset service and contracts. Procure and manage contracts to deliver the Association’s planned maintenance and

improvement strategy. Manage external building consultants as necessary. Apply for and administer grant applications as required, to augment the investment

programme. Undertake property surveys (including risk assessments) procure and manage effective

contracts delivering the cyclical and service contracts.

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*This job description is indicative of the range of current duties and responsibilities for the post. It is not comprehensive. This post is expected to develop overtime with the skills and knowledge of the post holder and it is essential therefore, that it is regarded with a degree of flexibility, so that changing needs and circumstances can be met. All changes will be discussed with the post holder.

Undertake stock condition surveys and maintain stock condition database and property records.

Complete EPCs on the Association’s properties. Inspect complex property defects and identify solutions. To comply with the Association’s policies and procedures. Follow financial procedures in managing contracts, checking completed works, certifying and

authorising invoices within financial limits to ensure proper control of expenditure. Monitor and manage the repairs budget and work orders raised by the CSA team in relation to

reactive repairs. Investigate tenant’s complaints relating to the quality and delivery of the Service. Deal with property insurance claims for the Association and in response to third party claims. Produce reports on maintenance budgets and work programmes. To develop and sustain positive working relationships with colleagues in the team and across

the Association. Provide guidance to contractors in dealing with out of hours emergencies as required and

attend emergencies out of hours when required. Complete EPCs on the Association’s properties. Inspect complex property defects and identify solutions. To comply with the Association’s policies and procedures. Follow financial procedures in managing contracts, checking completed works, certifying and

authorising invoices within financial limits to ensure proper control of expenditure. Monitor and manage the repairs budget and work orders raised by the CSA team in relation to

reactive repairs. Investigate tenant’s complaints relating to the quality and delivery of the Service. Deal with property insurance claims for the Association and in response to third party claims. Produce reports on maintenance budgets and work programmes. To develop and sustain positive working relationships with colleagues in the team and across

the Association. Provide guidance to contractors in dealing with out of hours emergencies as required and

attend emergencies out of hours when required. To undertake any other duties within the remit of the post.

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The Person – Knowledge/Skills/Experience Education

Essential: Construction related qualifications at HNC level or higher, or trade qualification and

practical work experience

Desirable: Professional qualification in building maintenance, surveying or other relevant

discipline. e.g. RICS, CIOB

Domestic Energy Assessor Qualification Asbestos P405 (Management of Asbestos) SMSTS – Site Management Safety Training Scheme IOSH - Managing Safety CSCS Managers and Professional (White/Black Card) Nebosh Fire Certificate Nebosh Construction Certificate City & Guilds – Legionella (Duty Holder & Responsible Person)

Experience & Knowledge Essential: Post qualification experience Experience of procuring contractors Experience of inspecting and solving building defects Experience of undertaking stock condition surveys Knowledge of building construction, reactive repairs and planned maintenance Knowledge of the legislation and regulation relevant to housing associations Knowledge of current best practice in managing planned improvement work Knowledge of Welsh Housing Quality Standard Knowledge of Health & Safety issues in relation to construction and maintenance (such

as CDM, Fire Safety, Water Management, Asbestos Management, Gas Management, Electrical Safety)

Desirable: Experience of working in a Housing Association Knowledge of computerised stock condition/asset databases

Skills and Aptitude Essential: Good negotiation and interpersonal skills Good customer service skills Good communication (written and verbal) skills including report writing Good numeracy skills and ability to manage budgets

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Desirable: Ability to use property and housing IT systems Ability to contribute to review of policies and procedures Ability to communicate in Welsh

The Person – Characteristics Personal Qualities

Essential: A commitment to the Association’s values

A Commitment to team working

A flexible and creative approach to problems and a positive approach to change. Ability to work under pressure, to prioritise and programme work to meet targets and

deadlines Ability to drive and daily access to a car Desirable: Ability to attend occasional evening meetings Ability to inspect all parts of buildings and sites

Diversity Essential: To encourage individuals to value diversity and challenge behaviour which undermines the

ethos of equality

Demonstrate and respond to the diverse requirements and needs of individuals

To demonstrate an awareness and understanding of the legal, ethical and strategic reasons for supporting workplace diversity

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Conditions of Service Salary: £29,981 - £31,835 per annum

Contract Type Permanent

Working Week 35 hours a week, normally Monday - Friday Flexible working in accordance with our Work life Balance Policy

Annual Leave 25 days annual leave (extra 1 day leave after 5 and 10 years’ service – total of 27 days) plus 4 extra statutory days plus 8 bank holidays

Location Head Office, Canton, Cardiff. CF5 1JD

Criminal Records Basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check will be necessary for the successful applicant, and appointment will not be confirmed before a satisfactory disclosure is received.

References:

Two satisfactory professional references covering the last 3 years; including one from your current employer. (Family members cannot provide references)

Probationary Period: 6 months

For further information about this role contact the People Services Team on 02920 259 173 Closing Date: Wednesday 9th October 2019 at 9am

Interviews & Assessment Thursday 17th October 2019

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