Permanent – Full-time

We are Chester Zoo, and for over 80 years we’ve been a leading conservation and education charity, and an amazing, award-winning visitor attraction.

We’re also a team of passionate, talented, enthusiastic and expert people, doing everything we can to keep the zoo going, from feeding the animals to discovering new conservation ideas, and giving our 1.9 million visitors an inspirational day out.

We work hard because we love animals, we care about nature, we love Chester Zoo and we want to be the best zoo in the world!

If you think you can help us to achieve that, then we’d love to hear from you.

We currently have an exciting vacancy for a Building Surveyor to join our Capital Development team, to undertake a project lead and management role on small works projects, assist the Project Managers with elements of work/duties on certain projects and to undertake a Clerk of Works role on major projects. The post holder will also provide accurate budget and detailed cost estimates to inform proposed strategic development projects and develop a costing database using historical data which can be used to simplify the budget setting and cost estimating of capital projects.

The Role:

• To take the lead on the appropriate design, costing, procurement and development of small works projects related to Chester Zoo
• Prepare schedules and estimates for works
• To prepare budget estimates and cost plans (ranging from: order of costs to pre-tender estimate) to inform the Zoo’s decision making process
• To project manage individual projects from inception to hand-over including the implementations of the Capital Development directorate procedures regarding stakeholder engagement, change control and handover
• To be responsible for the appointment and management of external contractors and consultants to ensure delivery requirements are achieved
• To complete relevant KPI’s regarding the performance of consultants and contractors
• To undertake building and measured surveys
• To produce design works using AutoCAD to enable the delivery of small projects from inception to handover without the need to engage external resources
• To ensure all contracts/appointments are procured in accordance with the Zoo’s financial regulations and procedures as well as meeting other relevant legislation, regulations and codes of practice in relation to buildings and services 

The successful candidate will have:

• A degree in a relevant technical discipline, an equivalent qualification or experience
• Significant experience working in a project management role
• Proven experience of managing small building and estate projects from inception to completion
• Extensive knowledge of building design and specification across a broad spectrum of building types
• Proven experience of preparing budget estimates for annual programmes of works and preparation of detailed Bills of Quantities
• A working knowledge of building technology in respect of construction and maintenance
• Experience of working in a collaborative and diplomatic manner with a broad range of stakeholder groups
• Knowledge of health & safety risk management
• A thorough knowledge of planning law building regulations and other appropriate legislation
• Knowledge and understanding of construction design management regulations
• Practical experience in specification writing and using NBS standard software
• Experience in the use of AutoCAD 2014, or a later version, particularly for design and detailing