If you are an experienced Surveyor and chartered member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), then we want to hear from you!
Principal Surveyor
Working hours Full time 37 hours per week (flexible working arrangements, including part-time will be considered)
Permanent
Salary up to £74,000 per year (depending on experience)
Location office base at Hanningfield, Chelmsford, Essex with hybrid working
About the role
We have a new opportunity to join the Estates team as our Principal Surveyor, leading on land access and acquisition activities to support Essex and Suffolk Water’s (ESW) capital projects and estate’s function.
ESW has a significant and growing capital programme across Essex and Suffolk, alongside a diverse non‑operational estate. There is a need for a senior, visible Estates lead in‑region who can take ownership, build relationships, and shape how land and property matters are delivered on the ground.
This is an opportunity to:
- Act as the on the ground Estates lead for the ESW region
- Take increasing autonomy over land, access, capital delivery and operations compensation.
- Shape the operating model for Estates in ESW
There may be scope to build and lead a team over time, as workload and maturity increase
For the right individual, this role has clear headroom to evolve into a regional lead position with influence across capital delivery, operations and property strategy
As Principal Surveyor (ESW), you will:
- Lead land access, acquisition, compensation and land rights activity supporting ESW’s capital delivery programme
- Act as the point of accountability for Estates matters in Essex & Suffolk
- Take ownership of complex negotiations with landowners, agents and tenants.
- Serve statutory notices, oversee schedules of condition, and manage compensation claims to settlement
- Provide day‑to‑day professional leadership to internal project managers, engineers and operational teams
- Interface with external suppliers and agents, ensuring quality, consistency and value for money
- Play a growing role in managing and improving the non‑operational estate, including agricultural, residential and commercial assets
- Identify opportunities to increase income, reduce risk and improve asset performance
- Maintain robust cost forecasting and reporting to support budget control
Crucially, you will help define how Estates operates in ESW – improving visibility, integration and outcomes across the region.
PLEASE NOTE - This vacancy may close early. If you are interested, please do not delay in submitting your application.
About you
You’ll be experienced in land acquisition, access negotiations and compensation settlements. Your strong background in agricultural land use, landowner and tenant negotiations will allow you to negotiate compensation claims and lease agreements.
You’ll use your strong negotiation and stakeholder engagement skills to build relationships and advise landowners, agents and surveyors. Your technical knowledge of land property law, valuation principles and statutory compliance is key as you’ll provide specialist guidance.
We’re also seeking strong financial awareness, including compensation valuations and forecasting for budget setting as you will maximise property income and increase revenue. This will be underpinned by strong organisational and project management skills
You may have experience in utilities, infrastructure or water industry estate management. However, we can provide training to support your development in this area too.
Here at Northumbrian Water/Essex & Suffolk Water, we embrace and value Diversity, Inclusion and Equity, and encourage all colleagues to bring their most authentic self to work.
Our colleague network groups include our Rainbow Support Network (LGBTQIA+), REACH (Race, Ethnicity, and Cultural Heritage), WiSTEM (Women in STEM) and Thisability (disability and neurodiversity) networks. They provide a safe space for colleagues from diverse backgrounds, welcoming all colleagues regardless of their personal characteristics to participate in valuable conversation that improves our organisational awareness, understanding and inclusivity.
We encourage and welcome all applications, as we strive to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to having diverse communities represented within all our teams, structures, and organisation.
Please note this role will require a DBS to be completed prior to employment.
NWG are an inclusive employer who support the rehabilitation of offenders, we will not, however consider candidates who have certain unspent convictions to ensure our commitment to fostering a safe and secure working environment for all OR colleagues, suppliers, customers and third parties.
About us
Here are NWG we strive to make Northumbrian Water Group (NWG) a Great Place to Work, for all. We embrace and value Diversity, Inclusion and Equity and encourage you to bring your full self to work. As an equal opportunity employer we’re committed to having a diverse community represented across our business.
We’re aware that not everyone will have every skill listed in the job description, however if you have some of the skills listed, we'd encourage you to apply
NWG at a glance:
Our purpose at NWG is caring for the essential needs of our communities and environment, now and for generations to come. We do this by providing reliable and affordable water and wastewater services for our customers.
We make a positive difference by operating efficiently and investing prudently, to maintain a sustainable and resilient business. Our vision is to be the national leader in the provision of sustainable water and wastewater services. To support us in achieving our vision, we have five core values which are the guiding principles, defining who we are, what we do and how we do it.
Our benefits
We’re a Great Place to Work because of the amazing people who work for us, and to say thank you we offer a range of benefits to colleagues. Our ‘Tap Into’ benefits include:
- Generous holiday entitlement starting at 26 days plus bank holidays and additional time off on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. There’s also the option to buy or sell holidays.
- Company pension scheme, where we’ll double match your contributions up to an employer contribution of 11%.
- Free access to local attractions.
- A fantastic discount scheme, with savings on days out, shopping, travel and more.
- Award winning ‘Living Well’ wellbeing support, including access to a digital GP service for you and your family members.
- Support with sustainable travel – through salary sacrifice cars and a cycle to work scheme.
- Financial wellbeing support – access our community savings scheme, financial education and low cost loans through Salary Finance. We also provide 4 x Life Assurance and an Income Protection Scheme.
- Support with your development – we offer a range of development opportunities, can support you through an interest free qualification loan and we’ll even pay for any relevant professional body subscription.
This role has also been defined as a safety or security critical role and as a condition of a formal offer of employment you’ll be required to undergo a drug and alcohol test after the job offer has been made. This will be prior to or within four weeks of their start date.
Prospective employees and agency workers who fail a pre-employment urine drug screen will have their sample analysed by the Company appointed laboratory as a matter of course. Failing a pre-employment drugs or alcohol test may lead to the job offer being revoked.