Lead Surveyor Lake District National Park Authority

Visit Lake District; Oxenholme; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent conservation authority in the Lake District is seeking an experienced surveyor to manage their land and property portfolio. The role involves leading a team, maximizing asset value, and securing funding for environmental initiatives. The ideal candidate will have RICS membership and a strong background in rural estate management, coupled with excellent negotiation and leadership skills. This position offers a hybrid working model and comprehensive benefits including a pension scheme and wellbeing support.

Benefits

Local Government Pension Scheme

Electric car and Cycle to Work schemes

Free parking in our carparks

Paid time off to volunteer

Subsidised healthcare scheme

Commitment to wellbeing

Qualifications

• Membership of RICS and Registered Valuer status is mandatory.
• Experience in rural estate management with strong negotiation skills.
• A proven track record in leadership and team management.
• Ability to develop and manage projects with operational budgets.
• Excellent communication skills for diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Own the Property Asset Management Strategy to maximize property advantage.
• Deliver investment schemes and secure external funding.
• Manage landowner obligations with focus on tenant matters.
• Act as lead professional valuer to ensure compliance.

Skills

Organisational skills

Negotiation skills

Presentation skills

Team leadership

Project Management

Education

Membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

Job description

Overview

Combine your rural surveying expertise with ours to manage a unique portfolio of land, assets, and natural capital in the Lake District.

We are seeking an experienced and innovative surveyor to lead the direction and management of the Authority’s land and property portfolio to deliver our strategic ambitions for nature, culture, and climate by optimising the environmental and social value of our portfolio.

Workplace Culture

What’s it like to work here? Our people of the Park are passionate about the landscape and proud of the work we do to look after it and help people enjoy it. We are innovative and agile in our approach to work, ensuring we get the best from our resources.

We’re a medium size organisation, which puts us in a good position to be adaptive and able to act on our decisions. Whatsmore, our staff know each other and can quickly form workplace relationships to make great team players and problem solvers.

Leadership & Team

You will lead the property team of up to five direct reports, fostering a collaborative culture to deliver management of our portfolio. You will work closely with other services, notably the Ranger Service, to deliver a joined‑up approach.

We operate a hybrid way of working combining working from home and days at our office base at Wayfaring House, Kendal. You’ll be provided with a laptop to enable you to access our secure IT network when working remotely.

Role Responsibilities

• Strategic Asset Management: Own the Property Asset Management Strategy (PAMS) to maximise property advantage.
• Nature Recovery & Investment: Deliver investment schemes on the ‘green estate,’ securing external funding and nature‑based finance markets.
• Operational Leadership: Manage Authority obligations as landowner with focus on Common Land, landlord and tenant matters, and oversee specialist assets including permissive trails, dams, and legacy mining infrastructure.
• Valuation & Compliance: Act as the Authority’s lead professional valuer to ensure compliance with obligations.

About You

This opportunity would suit a highly organised leader who can think commercially while balancing financial returns with public benefits for nature and climate.

Qualifications

• Professional Qualification: Membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and status as a Registered Valuer.
• Experience: Substantial experience in rural estate management, including landlord and tenant negotiations, and valuation of land, property, and natural capital assets.
• Leadership: Track record of leading and motivating teams, performance management and mentoring.
• Project Management: Initiating and developing projects through external funding and managing operational budgets.
• Communication: Excellent negotiation and presentation skills, engaging diverse audiences on technical and non‑technical matters.

Benefits

• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Electric car and Cycle to Work schemes
• Free parking in our carparks
• Paid time off to volunteer
• Subsidised healthcare scheme
• Commitment to wellbeing

Contact

For an informal chat and to find out more, please contact Rob Allison, Head of Strategy and Partnerships on 01539 792672 (after 6th January 2026).

We reserve the right to close this advert early should we receive sufficient applications, so please apply early to avoid missing this opportunity.

Diversity and Inclusion

As an equal opportunities’ employer, the Lake District National Park Authority is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination based on age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership.

Disability Confident Employer

We guarantee to interview anyone with a disability whose application meets the minimum criteria for the role. By ‘minimum criteria’ we mean that you must provide evidence in your application which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required under each of the essential criteria, as well as meeting any of the qualification, skills or experience defined as essential.