Location: Kendal, UK
Salary: £34,453.00
Working Hours: 37.00 per week

Job Purpose

To provide a comprehensive professional surveying service to teams within the Wholesale Directorate of United Utilities Water Limited, to include advice on land and property issues on all capital projects. 

Such advice to include the positioning and routing of pipelines, mitigation of costs involved in acquisition and compensation for disturbance, loss and damage to property. 

Ensuring minimal impact on the environment and adverse publicity whilst complying with statutory obligations and budgetary constraints.

Job Accountabilities

• Provide a comprehensive cost effective access and acquisition valuation service, to ensure timely possession of all land and sites required for the capital programme
• Assisting with the production of reports, plans and budgets, identifying savings, opportunities to mitigate costs by way of reducing land take, site selection, alternative pipeline routes and better timing/phasing of works
• Closely liaise and integrate with project teams to ensure correct planning and programming of land acquisitions to enable schemes to gain entry to land on time
• Represent United Utilities at meetings with Local Authorities, Property Advisors, National Farmers Union, Country Land Owners Association, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, local MPs, to limit adverse PR and maximise recognition of the Company's Code of Practice and responsibilities to minimise disruption and damage to land and property
• Obtaining information on the ownership and occupancy of land and property and any statutory designations. Prepare Records of Condition of land or property.  Agree accommodation and restoration works
• Ensure correct serving of statutory notices under the Water Industry Act 1991 for entry onto land and to ensure timely possession of sites for the allocated projects. Obtaining any statutory consents required to enter land that is subject to statutory or other designations
• Provide advice on mitigation of compensation before, during and after construction of the project. Negotiate and settlement of compensation claims with affected land owners or occupiers or their professional representatives and to ensure that compensation is paid in good time
• Assist Project Teams in the preparation of “Scope Books” to ensure adequacy of clauses relating to accommodation works, pre and post construction land drainage, topsoil stripping and conservation, subsoil treatment and use of specialist reinstatement contractors, ensuring design complies with the provisions of the Code of Practice
• Liaise with Project Teams, owners and occupiers of property and third party professional advisors to minimise the impact of major schemes
• Provide advice upon outstanding reinstatement and, when requested by the Project Manager, to plan, procure and supervise such reinstatement
• To assist with any other aspects in Property Services contract which may be appropriate i.e. operational property management, lease renewals, rent reviews, identifying surplus assets
• Undertake negotiations and settlement of compensation arising from burst water mains often in agricultural property and to report accordingly to the Claims and Insurance Manager

Knowledge and Skills

• Qualified Chartered Surveyor preferably with relevant experience in dealing with land access work for a utility company
• Commercial skills and business understanding is essential together with experience in controlling costs associated with capital schemes
• To adapt to constant change, be flexible and have the ability to initiate change where required
• The role also requires liaison with a range of individuals and organisations both within and outside the Company and therefore good communication skills, both oral and written, are essential
• The role holder requires good planning, time management and organisational skills in order to:
• Manage a heavy and varied workload, identify priorities and achieve target dates to the satisfaction of capital delivery
• Establish and develop working relationships with colleagues, alliance partner, contractors and consultant agents
• Assist in monitoring of external consultants to ensure compliance with their contracts and ensure value for money

Desirable Criteria

• Good negotiating skills and a sound commercial approach are essential requirements together with the commitment and resilience to deal with a heavy and varied workload
• The ability to brief and co-ordinate professional consultants, including land agents, surveyors and solicitors is essential on a continual and regular basis
• Self-confidence, drive, influencing skills and considerable social skills are therefore vital to protect and enhance the image of the Company
• The role holder will be a key player in the delivery of the access and acquisition service relating to all land and easement acquisitions for United Utilities' capital programme ensuring expenditure is within agreed parameters

Additional Information

• The role holder is an important member of the Access and Acquisitions Team and must be able to establish and maintain good working relationships with all members of their own team, Property Services and other United Utilities teams
• External relationships include professional advisers (land agents, surveyors, solicitors, commercial agents, planning consultants etc.), customers, members of the general public, councilors and MPs
• The post holder with also liaise with members of NFU, DEFRA, CLA or other professional bodies
• Due to the nature of the post, the holder is occasionally required to work outside normal business hours.  Travel to sites is also required in performing the duties
• The role operates within a framework of custom and practice, legislation and company policies/codes of practice.  A high level of autonomy is required and some valuation decisions need to be taken, within delegated Authority levels, without assistance due to the nature of the role.  The ability to assess how and which decisions to defer is essential
• Decisions to be referred to the Area Manager or Senior Surveyor includes: contentious settlements, referrals to arbitration, Upper Chamber or Court and applications for Compulsory Purchase Orders

We are an equal opportunity employer and committed to creating a diverse environment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, belief, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age.
If you are offered a job with us, a number of pre-employment checks need to be carried out before your appointment can be confirmed. Any offer of employment with United Utilities will be subject to a satisfactory checking report from the Disclosure Scotland / the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Closing Date: 17/02/19