Rural Surveyor

Do you want a role where you know you are making a positive difference for nature in Scotland using your professional expertise? From access rights to carbon credit sales and listed buildings to significant acquisitions, you’ll be involved. We know no-one has all the skills and experience detailed, but please drop RSPB an e-mail to explore what might be possible.

We are recruiting for a full-time permanent Rural Surveyor to join the RSPB Scotland’s surveying team. This Scotland wide team includes rural surveyors, a building surveyor, a land management support specialist and a livestock and grazing advisor. You will have a specific geographic portfolio of reserves to provide professional advice to and will support the wider delivery of the departmental casework as required across Scotland. The location of the role is flexible within the Scotland mainland and is home-based. Some site visits will involve overnight stays away from home.

The RSPB is passionate about nature and dedicated to saving it. The RSPB’s nature reserves are a vital mechanism to conserving nature and they cover approximately 72,000 hectares in more than 70 locations across Scotland.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Land and Property Management: Carrying out due diligence to identify, mitigate and manage the legal, financial and reputational aspects of rural property including land, buildings, and offices including rent reviews, repairing obligations, landlord consents, land management contracts, compliance with grant conditions.  Advising on agricultural property law, forestry and agri-environment agreement work, granting leases/licences e.g. sporting, fishing, grazing;
• Reserve acquisition work: Appraising, negotiating and concluding acquisitions to establish new reserves, extend existing reserves, and acquire property e.g. offices, workshops, and farm buildings by purchase, lease or management agreement and include land and building valuations;
• Land and Property disposal: Appraising, advising and delivering disposals of land, houses, offices and properties that are surplus to operational need;
• Risk management and project support: Supporting the development and implementation of systems to manage the RSPB’s exposure to legal, financial and reputational risk arising from its land and property operations. Undertaking internal audits to ensure compliance with forestry and agri-environment grant schemes. Providing professional support to Area Teams and project managers, and assisting in the production of codes of practice and guidance for staff.
• Team working: The Scottish surveying team work together with a strong team ethos, enthusiasm and dedication and share professional expertise, knowledge, and information at regular departmental meetings.  You will be encouraged to be out of the office, providing professional advice to staff, to minimise risk and optimise financial returns for the RSPB nature reserves.  You will demonstrate initiative, motivation, and flair to spot income opportunities.  RSPB will support you in maintaining your Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) professional membership and provide support to meet the associated requirements for continuing professional development (CPD).

Essential qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience:

• Chartered member of Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS) or another equivalent professional organisation and capable of gaining RICS chartered membership, both with recent experience of rural practice preferably in Scotland or A relevant surveying degree accredited by RICS OR have a relevant degree followed by a minimum 5 years of relevant experience.
• A full UK Driving Licence to drive cars;
• Demonstrable post qualification knowledge and experience of estate management, land and property acquisition and disposal work in the Scottish rural environment;
• An up to date understanding of agricultural subsidy schemes and associated cross compliance requirements in Scotland;
• Significant experience of Scotland specific legislation relating to rural property;
• Knowledge and experience of project management principles and their application;
• Ability to clearly communicate verbally, and in writing, complex estate management issues to all levels within RSPB and to external audiences;
• Ability to make quick, pragmatic, and practical decisions/ recommendations/ alternatives based on sound analysis and reason;
• Ability to positively influence wider audiences and demonstrate credibility both internally and externally;
• Ability to manage and prioritise high volume competing objectives, work alone and as part of a multi-disciplinary team &
• Ability to travel widely including by car and public transport. This role will require occasional overnight stays away from home.

Additional Information

Permanent/Full-Time roles working 37.5hrs/week or Part-Time considered?

Closing date for applications is Mon, 28th July 2025. Date for interview will be w/c Mon 4th August 2025. Please note that we are actively recruiting for this vacancy, and reserve the right to close once sufficient applications have been received.

For further information please contact - [email protected]

As part of this application process, you will be asked to complete an application form including evidence on how you meet the skills, knowledge, and experience listed above.

The RSPB is an equal opportunities employer. This role is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.