Surveyor / Senior Surveyor

Role Title: Surveyor / Senior Surveyor

Location: Birmingham with travel as required (we offer hybrid working supported by a Smart Working Policy)

Full or Part Time: Full Time

Directorate: Land Assembly

Salary: Competitive

Company Overview:

Ardent is the UK’s leading provider of land, consent management and stakeholder engagement services to support major infrastructure and regeneration projects from concept to delivery.

We are Project Managers, Chartered Surveyors, Transport Planners and Land Referencers, based in London, Birmingham, Warrington, Leeds, Glasgow and Dublin and supporting projects throughout the UK and Ireland.

Established in 1992 to provide a 'one stop shop’ for land and property matters for major infrastructure projects, our client portfolio includes some of the biggest players across our four core sectors of transport, renewables, utilities and regeneration.

We are passionate about delivering life-improving change for communities and future generations and we are proud to play a key role in facilitating and delivering the UK and Ireland’s net zero agenda, improving connectivity, enabling the repurposing of high streets and town centres and delivering new homes for the people who need them most.

We are problem-solvers, can-doers and solution-drivers working collaboratively with our clients to provide proactive and strategic advice to identify and mitigate risks, deliver efficiencies and, ultimately, achieve deliverable consents and build projects that positively impact people’s lives and the world that we live in.

Key Accountabilities & Job Overview:

As a compulsory purchase, land acquisition and compensation focused company, Ardent are currently the leading land advisors for DCOs having been involved in over 75 DCO projects to date. Based in London, Birmingham, Warrington or Leeds, the role will be to support the provision of CPO advice to clients working on a complex portfolio of projects. The role will involve some travel and working from client’s offices; attending client meetings; drafting acquisition strategies; undertaking site visits; consulting affected parties; meeting with landowners and stakeholders; negotiating survey access and land rights, negotiating Heads of Terms, drafting various application documents, expert witness at examination and tribunal and securing land entry.

To be driven and confident with an emphasis on quality, attention to detail and the following:

• To provide a wide range of professional Compulsory Purchase and surveying property services for the promotion and delivery of nationally significant infrastructure, utility, renewable and regeneration projects;
• To play an active role in the delivery of projects with guidance from the appropriate Line Manager;
• Oversee and manage junior project team members, both as a direct Line Manager and as part of the wider project team, providing guidance and support across day-to-day work;
• To provide guidance and advice to clients in a technical capacity, within limits of knowledge and experience, deferring to more senior colleagues where appropriate;
• To manage the financial aspect of projects reporting to the appropriate Director with regards to project completion and invoicing;
• Contribute to Team Meetings, reporting to Line Manager and Project Managers on resource requirements for projects and any day-to-day project or company issues;
• Contribute to business development for the company by inputting into tenders, representing the company at functions and creating relationships with clients and other disciplines through project work;
• Develop professional and commercial awareness and keeping abreast of work-related and industry updates.

Knowledge, Experience & Skills Required:

• A good understanding of Compulsory Purchase Legislation & Compensation Code. DCO, TWAO or CPO experience
• Experience of negotiating Heads of Terms (HoTs) and private agreements
• ·Experience of engaging with landowners and land agents
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing to a variety of audiences from clients to claimants
• Self-motivated and proactive, able to manage time efficiently working as part of a team or in isolation and meet deadlines
• Good commercial acumen
• Good communication skills
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and deliver to challenging timescales
• Experience of dealing with and managing confrontational situations
• Project Management experience
• Willingness to accept responsibility and develop new skills
• Good working knowledge of IT

Desirable:

• Experience of being part of a DCO project
• Experience of consultation and engagement on infrastructure projects
• Line management experience
• Formal qualification to degree level accredited by the RICS
• MRICS and or FAAV

Behavioural Skills Required (Based on our Values) :

Thirst for Knowledge (We embrace opportunities to learn and improve for personal and professional growth) - Demonstrate a strong commitment to the development of yourself, and your people, for your role in a growth company and future role. Coach and mentor others (or actively engage with your Coach) to have a deep understanding of their knowledge and experience. Actively supporting with areas of development and career goals, extending beyond a technical remit and actively developing your business knowledge on an on-going basis.

Own It (We do what we say we will. We own our individual actions, are accountable for them and take pride in adding value) - Act like it matters, take pride and caring about the outcome of people in your team, or who you work with, and your clients objectives.

Be the Difference (Focus energy to make things happen. Be beyond process. Stand up, Stand out) - Be confident in your decisions and implementing them, taking into account the wider structure and objectives of the business, working with or alongside peers across the business. Be more than any other competent person in your role.

Enjoy the Journey (Have fun, be engaged and be proud to be Ardent) - Translating goals and visions of the business into meaningful objectives for your team in a positive and engaging manner (delivering excellence in your own objectives), demonstrating your commitment to Ardent and the wellbeing and development of your team and colleagues. Understand the needs of your people and colleagues to have, purpose/fulfilment, personal growth, engagement, team culture and fair pay.

Adapt (We drive change and innovation to deliver growth and new opportunities in an ever-changing world) - As a growth company Ardent is all about change. You must be a change maker. Demonstrate ability to drive and/or implement change to enable Ardent to continue to excel. Listen to your team and people you work with to actively search for opportunities to create change. Exhibit a resilient attitude, communicate key information in a clear and engaging way to influence others.

Ardent is an equal opportunities employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We positively encourage applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of race, colour, religion or belief, age, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability status or other legally protected characteristics.

With people at the core of our business, we offer employees an unrivalled career opportunity rather than simply a job. In a fast growing organisation, we train, develop and support our staff to grow and achieve their career goals. This is supported by a number of initiatives to look after the wellbeing of our employees whilst allowing employees to work flexibility and maintain a positive work life balance.

We offer an attractive benefits package to include :-

• Hybrid working
• Smart Working Policy
• Medical health plan
• Career progression
• Coaching
• Cycle to Work
• Electric Car Scheme
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay

For more information, please see our services page on our website at www.ardent-management.com

Interested? Get in touch

Should you be interested in hearing more about the position or wish to send your cv in to HR@ardent-management.com or contact Stuart Thomas stuartthomas@ardent-management.com