Principal Estates Surveyor, Infrastructure

Job Description

About the Trust

We're one of the UK’s biggest charities and we care for 2,000 miles of canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs because we believe life is better by water. We're looking for people who support our cause and want to make a difference for future generations. Could this be you?

Along with our waterways we also manage museums, archives and the country's third largest collection of historic buildings, as well as the nature and wildlife that calls our canals home. All of this enables us to provide wellbeing opportunities for millions of people each year.

Join Our Team: Principal Estates Surveyor - Infrastructure opportunity

Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.

The Trust holds several legacy assets that do not directly support its core charitable purpose and generate limited operational or commercial return. These non-core assets carry ongoing maintenance, compliance and reputational exposure and require active management.

The purpose of this role is to provide estates and property expertise to reduce asset liability exposure, improve financial resilience and enable selective investment to unlock disposal of non-core legacy assets. The role will reside in a multi-disciplinary team dedicated to this project and will include Legal and Project Management professionals. Examples of non-core legacy assets include vacant buildings, surplus docks, unadopted roads, bridges, river structures, jetties and surplus reservoirs.

Working Hours & Location

This role follows 37 hours, Monday to Friday working pattern. The vacancy will be offered on a remote working basis, with a requirement to attend our main hub spaces as and when required. Regular travel across our network will be required. See here: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/canals-and-rivers

Relevant Hubs: Leeds, Ellesmere Port, Burnley, Birmingham, Milton Keynes, Gloucester.

A valid UK driving licence and access to a vehicle are essential.

Role Overview

You will manage and deliver a complex portfolio of surplus assets, driving value through appraisal, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement to progress high‑value transactions efficiently to completion.

Key responsibilities

Manage and deliver a complex and diverse caseload of surplus non-core legacy assets with a view to releasing value and/or reducing cost through capital investment or disposal.
Asset valuation and commercial appraisal.
Review & analysis of complex property and legal issues.
Preparation & negotiation of disposal terms.
Management & preparation of Designated Adviser Reports to comply with Charities Act.
Significant stakeholder and market engagement.
Supporting financial modelling and viability assessment.
Presenting issues, solutions and recommendations in a clear and succinct format.
Focus on progressing transactions at pace to completion.

About You

Skills & Qualifications

Technical skills

RICS qualified with a minimum of 5 years’ post‑qualification experience.
Experience managing infrastructure or development‑related projects.
Proven ability to analyse, structure, and deliver complex, high‑value commercial property transactions within strict timescales.
Strong estate management expertise, including preparing and analysing cash‑flow models and interpreting complex legal documentation.
Ability to manage and oversee a range of professional consultants (e.g. valuers, chartered surveyors, legal advisors).
Full driving licence.

General skills

Self‑starter with the ability to deliver challenging outcomes to tight deadlines.
Strong written and verbal communication skills across all organisational levels.
Effective negotiation, influencing, and project management skills.

Contact & Application

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at CRT.recruitment@canalrivertrust.org.uk. We encourage early applications as we may close the vacancy once we receive enough suitable candidates.

What We Offer

In addition to your annual base salary of c.£55,000, we also offer Car Cash Allowance (£450 per month), a competitive pension scheme, increasing holiday entitlement, and a range of employee benefits. For a full breakdown of our benefits, check out our brochure here: EVP - 1.

Learn more: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/our-benefits

#INDHP

Our values

We care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce where everyone can thrive. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.

We want everyone to have the opportunity to perform at their best during our recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments - whether for a disability, neurodiversity, or health condition - please let us know what you need and how we can support you. We’ll work with you to make any necessary changes.

All of our jobs can be considered on a part time, flexible or job share basis.

We operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. You are considered disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. We recognise not everyone who is classified as disabled under the Equality Act personally identifies this way, or with this definition of disability. Please do not let this discourage you from applying under the scheme.

At Canal & River Trust, we are committed to fair, transparent, and ethical recruitment practices. As part of our hiring process, we may use AI to analyse applications and support us work more efficiently. However, all hiring decisions – without exception - are made by our hiring managers.

Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.

Find out more about us on our website: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us