Development Surveyor - Working for Essex

About the role

Development Surveyor

Fixed Term / Secondment (23 months), Full Time

£58,507 to £68,831 per annum

Location: Chelmsford*

Closing Date: 23:59 19th February 2026

Provisional Interview Date: 2nd March 2026

*This is a hybrid-working role contractually based in Chelmsford. You will work from the Chelmsford office 2-3 days per month, and across our operational area on other days, depending on business need.

Please note this opportunity will be offered as fixed-term contract or secondment for 23 months.

This wide-ranging role will be responsible for managing and overseeing a portfolio of housing development sites from site identification and inception right the way through to practical completion and sales. The role will require significant commercial acumen and judgement, the ability to forge excellent relationships with a wide range of stakeholders in the public and private sectors as well as the capacity to manage a range of complex and competing priorities.

The post holder will need to be a self-starter with a good understanding of housing and will be responsible for ensuring the projects are viable on both financial and practical terms.

The role is very varied and the post holder may have experience in site acquisitions, the design and planning process, or construction.

The role will comprise working with partners to identify public and/or private sector land that could be suitable for housing; to work with selected professional advisors to assess development options; drafting business cases for internal decision making; to assist overseeing schemes during the construction phase through to completion on behalf of ECC and partners as appropriate.

The opportunity

Reporting to a Head of Development Surveying, this critical role involves delivering a pipeline of residential development from the initial identification and appraisal of sites, the design and planning process and through to the construction and sale of housing units.

The post holder will be responsible for the delivery of a portfolio of development schemes and deal with related programme, budgetary and regulatory requirements to ensure the successful delivery of high quality, financially viable schemes which help meet the housing needs of Essex residents.

The post holder will need to be able to work independently and have a high degree of financial and commercial acumen with a strong understanding of development.

Duties include:

Responsible as an internal residential expert within Essex Housing to commission and ensure the robustness and quality of advice from a range of professional service providers.

Supporting the undertaking of financial viability analysis, market appraisals and due diligence processes to manage financial risks to the Council as well as to develop a detailed rationale to develop business cases and recommendations for site development.

Support the team by using the expertise and advice available to formulate recommendations and support decision making to ensure multi-million development programmes are delivered to the highest standards and quality, meet the specialist housing needs of residents where required, and maximise financial returns, especially on open-market housing.

Responsible for identifying and undertaking detailed due diligence to ensure the suitability of land or buildings for development purposes which meet the needs of both the public and private sector in Essex as part of a broader portfolio of sites overseen by a Senior Development Surveyor.

Responsible for progressing a number of sites through the entire development lifecycle of a portfolio of sites from inception through to the completion of the build, monitoring progress to ensure business case requirements (of price, quality and time) are met using the RIBA Plan of Works.

Work collaboratively with stakeholders and external partners to delivery exemplary housing developments to meet the needs of the residents of Essex.

Responsible for commissioning design teams to develop viable scheme proposals and working with works contractors to ensure schemes are delivered in accordance with our standards and requirements.

Specific individual and shared targets and objectives are defined annually within the performance management framework.

The experience you’ll bring

Educated to A-level, degree standard, or equivalent by experience

Strong and detailed knowledge of housing development including design or construction

An understanding of the planning system and/or the construction industry

Experience/ understanding of delivery which meets commissioner requirements

Please note that the job role requires you to be mobile throughout an operational area. Therefore, the post holder will need to have a driving licence and access to a vehicle, or the ability to meet the mobility requirements of the role through other means.

To read more about us please visit: Policy, Economy, Investment and Property - Working for Essex

Why Essex Housing?

Essex Housing is Essex County Council’s housing development arm. It was set up to build general needs, affordable and specialist housing, as well as improving and creating new community facilities.

Essex Housing delivers well-designed homes and neighbourhoods and reinvests any surpluses into public services through Essex County Council.

Over the next 5 years, Essex Housing will deliver 1,028 homes, 49% of which are specialist or affordable, as well as a number of community assets such as new libraries.

Essex County Council has a location to be proud of. Our 1,300 square miles stretch from Constable Country to the Thames Estuary, from the dynamic M11 corridor to the traditional seaside resorts of Clacton and Walton. England’s oldest town, Colchester, and two of its newest – Basildon and Harlow – are right here. Along with the City of Chelmsford, the county town, they form our major population centres. It means real choice and makes Essex the ideal place for your career. Read more about us here.

Essex County Council is proud to be a Disability Confident Leader. We’re committed to interview all disabled applicants who choose to apply under our Job Interview Scheme if they meet the minimum requirements of the job. Please speak to our Recruiters if you require any reasonable adjustments during the process.

We’re also committed to interview all veterans and care leavers, who meet the minimum requirements of the role for which they are applying.

At Essex County Council, we value integrity and ethical behaviour. We kindly ask that you embrace our code of conduct and the Nolan principles, including throughout the recruitment process. Your commitment to these standards helps us maintain a positive and respectful workplace for everyone.

Essex County Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, and expects all employees and volunteers to share this commitment.

If you would like to be kept up to date on other relevant opportunities, blogs, news, events and industry related news at Essex County Council, please join The Essex Talent Community here.

If you have queries on this role or require anything further, please email resourcing.team@essex.gov.uk

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