Land and Property officer - REQ004642

Job title: Land and Property Officer x 2

Salary: PO2 £39,862 - £42,839

Hours: 37 hours per week

Contract: Permanent

Location: Merrion House, Leeds & Hybrid Working

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

There are two positions available, each with a slightly different emphasis in terms of their role within the team. The team are responsible for a wide range of commercial assets, to include shops, offices, small industrial units and telecommunication equipment. For one role, we are seeking a motivated and detail focussed Commercial Property Valuer who will work primarily on commercially let accommodation. The second role will have a focus on telecommunications infrastructure but also will be required to provide a broad Estate Management role for council owned commercial and domestic assets.

About you

As a Land and Property Officer, you will bring to the role:

Self-motivation with strong analytical skills and ideally an existing understanding of property valuation processes
An ability to provide advice and strategic management on property assets
A proven ability to learn in order to be able to support the management of telecommunication installations on council owned assets
An ability to deal with a wide range of stakeholders e.g. tenants, members of the public, Ward Members, agents and other officers/ colleagues to deliver successful outcomes
An ability to maintain accurate data within management systems as part of a dedicated team
Excellent time management and work prioritisation skills

About the role

As our next Land and Property Officer you will be given the opportunity to become involved in a broad range of Estate Management and valuation activities which is commensurate with the extensive and varied council owned estate. The roles offer the chance to work both out on site and be office based; each day can be varied with new challenges and experiences. You will work as part of a larger team with a proactive culture to help deliver our estate strategy and service objectives.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

How to apply

Complete the online application form.

Read our guidancefor further advice on completing your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role contact Patrick Powders, Land and Property Officer. Call 07712 100572 or email Patrick.Powders@leeds.gov.uk

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visaroute before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job purpose: To co-ordinate and support a range of work streams which support the work of the Asset Management and Regeneration service, with specific focus on the delivery of development initiatives and regeneration programmes for the city.

Responsibilities

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.
To support the management of workloads in your area to achieve the service plan in order to deliver Value for Money services to customers in line with Council priorities ensuring that the work incorporates the council’s cultural values.
To assist with the delivery of the service plan for your area so that it achieves its corporate and service objectives and outcomes.
To coach and mentor staff within your area to assist in the achievement of the service plan objectives.
To promote and deliver positive solutions to achieving diversity and equality in all aspects of your service delivery focussing on equality of outcome.
To support organisational development and continuous improvement by contributing to cross Council projects and supporting the Asset Management & Regeneration Management Team.
To maintain effective consultation and communications with staff, service users, Councillors, trade unions, partners and other stakeholders.
To work as part of the team for Leeds, in ways which are open, inclusive, responsive and accountable, to develop and maintain good working relationships with internal and external customers, other stakeholders and partners to achieve excellent outcomes for the citizens of Leeds.
To work responsibly to ensure the safety of staff, service users and contractors in accordance with all statutory obligations and the council’s Health and Safety Policy.
To work with appropriate stakeholders in ways which support open, responsive and accountable government.
To work responsibly to deliver workloads within approved budgets, to defined timescales, achieving the required quality and procurement processes.
To work flexibly as required to meet directorate and corporate priorities.

Property Related Responsibilities

Provide an input into the delivery of the City Council's property work in context and in the spirit of the Council’s Asset Management Plan.
Initiate and co-ordinate a review of the Council owned properties identifying opportunities involving the maximising of economic value of the City Council and private sector land and premises.
Undertake valuations and negotiations for acquisitions, disposal of land and premises, lease renewals, rent reviews and surrender and renewals of long leases.
Provide professional advice on feasibility studies in respect of industrial, commercial and residential development projects and other property related matters.
Undertake the management of the Council’s non-operational property portfolio and surplus property, rating list assessment and appeals and undertake asset valuations.
To assist with the preparation of briefs and contracts for the procurement of external property work and the contract management of external property work.
Deliver efficient, effective and quality professional property services by way of flexible working and acceptance of responsibility.
Promote economic growth and employment generally, initially through initiatives involving the acquisition by agreement or through compulsory purchase and disposal and letting of land and premises.
Identify and initiate more efficient ways to manage the Council’s property portfolio, particularly concerning budgeting, property audits, reviews and reporting through best Asset Management practice.

Qualifications

Degree or equivalent qualification or with commensurate operational experience

For property related functions:

1) Fully qualified Chartered Surveyor

2) or a relevant surveying degree with 2 years work experience

3) or a minimum of 5 years relevant surveying and or property experience

Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following essential requirements.

Skills

Ability to interpret corporate visions and values and put into practice through agreed policies and strategies.

Ability to contribute to change programmes, improve service quality and support culture that drives up standards and performance.

Ability to make an effective contribution to internal and external meetings to arrive at a positive outcome.

Ability to resolve conflict amongst stakeholders

Ability to develop and contribute to partnerships involving various stakeholders to achieve positive outcomes.

Ability to develop productive working relationships that command respect, trust and confidence.

Ability to manage competing priorities whilst delivering on a range of projects and adapting to changing circumstances and priorities.

Ability to work within, as well as support, a team

Ability to produce and present reports – verbal and written.

Ability to work to strict deadlines often under pressure.

Ability to contribute to and the development of innovative approaches to problem solving.

Knowledge / Qualifications

Degree or equivalent qualification or with commensurate operational experience in an area relevant to regeneration and / or asset management

Knowledge of issues in relation to the successful delivery Asset Management & Regeneration initiatives and programmes.

Possess or be undertaking APC for professional membership of the RICS or have the relevant number of years of property experience

Experience

Minimum of two years relevant experience of coordinating and delivering projects and initiatives in a service or operational area relevant to the post.
Experience of achieving results in a politically sensitive context.
Experience of managing services to meet customer needs.
Ability to take forward initiatives and policies from inception, through development to implementation.
Experience of working effectively with others to deliver cross projects.
Working in a partnership with a range of service providers.
Experience of managing property, using property management techniques and reporting recommendations
Experience of undertaking valuation work on a wide range of different property transactions
Experience of disposing and acquiring property via different means of transaction including open market disposals and the acquisition of property by agreement and CPO.
Relevant numbers of years’ experience to negotiate property transactions

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Willingness to actively participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Apply for this job