Development Surveyor – Rural Property

The Ernest Cook Trust

The Ernest Cook Trust is an educational charity and one of the UK’s foremost providers and
funders of Outdoor Learning. Our vision is for an environmentally engaged society with better connections to nature. 

Our mission is to improve life chances of children and young people through a range of Outdoor
Learning experiences, enabling them to learn from nature, empowering them to have a positive
impact on the environment. We do this through grant support, direct delivery, research and
advocacy.

The Role

In this new role as a Development Surveyor at the Trust, you’ll play an important part in
advancing our Property Strategy, taking forward capital projects, in support of extending our
charitable impact and growing our income to do so. Working closely with the Property Director,
you’ll lead multiple capital projects of differing scales and varying timelines, focusing on
the redevelopment of rural assets, brownfield sites, and new developments focused on rural land
and property.

Your expertise will be instrumental in managing relationships with partners, planning
authorities, consultants and influential stakeholders to ensure successful project outcomes.
You’ll be part of the Head Office-based Property team, with occasional travel to our rural
landholdings across England.

Main Accountabilities:

• Assess and manage the Trust’s portfolio of capital projects with a focus on maximising
  value and impact.
• Lead the development process from inception to completion, ensuring alignment with the
  Trust’s strategic objectives and values.
• Cultivate and maintain productive relationships with stakeholders and potential partners to
  advance development projects.
• Serve as a Trust ambassador, representing our interests in various forums and engagements.
• Provide expertise in financial and development appraisals to guide decision-making.
• Provide regular progress updates to the Property Director, addressing risks and
  opportunities.
• Oversee local consultations and stakeholder engagement to ensure project alignment.
• Manage contracts and negotiations to ensure timely and cost-effective project delivery.
• Co-ordinate design team meetings and liaise with professionals to drive project success.
• Conduct post-completion evaluations to capture feedback and improve future processes.

Person Specification:

Specific Requirements

• Proven track record in managing development projects, with a focus on rural property.
• Understanding of rural property characteristics and relevant legal frameworks.
• Proficiency in Health & Safety laws and regulations.
• Strong grasp of technical and contractual aspects of project development.
• Experience in financial modelling and analysis.
• Skilled in co-ordinating multiple external consultants, contractors, and planners.
• Ability to effectively communicate complex concepts and findings.

Personal Qualities

• Motivated and results-driven with a commitment to excellence.
• Confident leadership skills with the ability to influence and engage stakeholders.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Detail-oriented with excellent organisational skills.
• Ability to thrive under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
• Collaborative mindset with a focus on cross-organisational alignment.
• Comfortable navigating complex contracts and commercial environments under time
  constraints.

Skills and Knowledge

• Degree or equivalent qualification or experience in surveying, property management or
  development, pre-construction project management (client side), or related field.
• Membership in a relevant professional body (eg, RICS, PMI).
• Proficiency in MS Office suite and development-specific software.
• Experience with GIS mapping software is desirable.

How to Apply

In the first instance, please download, complete and save the Application Form
available via The Ernest Cook Trust website.

Upload your completed application form to:
hr.breathehr.com/v/development-surveyor-rural-property-35035

(CVs will not be accepted)

Closing Date

Monday 13 May 2024 at 17:00.

1st Interviews

Monday 3 June 2024 at Fairford, Gloucestershire GL7 4JH. 

What3words:
w3w.co/otters.laying.campus

2nd Interviews

Monday 17 June 2024 at Fairford, Gloucestershire GL7 4JH. 

What3words:
w3w.co/otters.laying.campus

Find more information about The Ernest Cook Trust on our website.

We look forward to hearing from you.

ABOUT US

As a landowning educational charity, the Trust is uniquely placed to share its woodlands, farms
and natural habitats to inspire a greater love and understanding of the natural world, farming
and sustainability. We do this for children, young people, their families and communities,
particularly those who face barriers to accessing and participating in the outdoors.

We are part of an impressive community of networks and organisations across the UK, working to
help create a more environmentally engaged society. Our work is increasingly done in
collaborations and partnerships with like-minded organisations, particularly with our funding
partners, whose contribution significantly boosts the scale and reach of our work.

To discover more about The Ernest Cook Trust, visit our website.

The Trust’s Estates

The Trust owns and manages over 9,000 hectares of land and property made up of mainly let
farmland but also 584 hectares of woodland, houses, cottages and a growing commercial
portfolio. Land is owned in six counties: Buckinghamshire, Cumbria, Dorset, Gloucestershire,
Leicestershire and Oxfordshire. These rural landholdings are managed for income return and
capital growth, whilst seeking ways to improve the environment and important habitats, evolving
and protecting the landscapes.

Active management dictates that we are constantly looking for new opportunities and ways to
evolve and improve our income stream in support of the Trust’s overall charitable object, which
is education. These already include long-term housing development proposals, natural capital
and carbon, and biodiversity net gain projects alongside other long-term ambitious plans.

OUR VALUES

The unique spirit of The Ernest Cook Trust is best expressed through our values:

Cultivating Connections

At the heart of our work lies the belief that meaningful and lasting change happens through the
cultivation of connections. We value the relationships we build with the people and communities
we serve, as well as each other and the partnerships we form with like-minded organisations. We
understand that these connections create the conditions for people and places to flourish.

Freedom to Try

We embrace a culture of innovation and resilience, where both our team members and the
individuals we serve have the freedom to try new things. This value encourages a dynamic and
adaptable approach, nurturing trust and courage in ourselves and others.

Progressive Stewardship

We believe in responsible, forward-thinking management of our outdoor resources, as places
where diversity can thrive. By actively caring for the environment, we ensure that the beauty
and benefits of the outdoors are accessible to all, changing lives through individual and
shared positive experiences.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Join our growing team at the Trust for a friendly and rewarding experience. We offer
competitive salaries, a range of benefits plus a training budget for your personal growth.

We currently have around 45 members of staff based either at our Gloucestershire Head Office,
across our UK landholdings and in our regional hubs (Gloucestershire, Cumbria/Lancashire,
Leicestershire) or working hybridly.

Enjoy our generous benefits:

• 10% employer pension contribution (5% from employees)
• 27 days annual leave, plus statutory holidays.
• Life Assurance.
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme, providing 24/7 support for health, mental
  wellbeing, and more.
• Dynamic, creative, and welcoming work environment.

Working for us will involve wellies, because we firmly believe that everything is
better outdoors!

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Embracing diversity is an essential part of the work of The Ernest Cook Trust. We are committed
to treating everyone as a unique individual, fairly and with respect, irrespective of race,
disability, age, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, or religion. We are committed to
ensuring equality, respect, and safety for all, and prioritising the wellbeing of the children,
young people and vulnerable adults we support. Our safeguarding policy can be found here.

The appointment will be subject to satisfactory background checks including Disclosure
and Barring Service and relevant online searches to comply with best practices in Safeguarding,
and proof of the right to work in the UK.