About Clear Surveys
Clear Surveys is a growing building surveying practice based in Seaford, East Sussex, providing practical, commercially informed advice to domestic and commercial clients across Sussex and the surrounding areas. The business delivers a varied mix of home surveys, damp and defects analysis, condition surveys, project support and contract administration and services for domestic and block management clients. Its work combines strong technical surveying knowledge with real construction and project delivery experience, allowing clients to receive clear advice, practical next steps and realistic budget guidance. Clear Surveys has built its reputation on being responsive, thorough and straightforward, with a strong emphasis on client care, high-quality reporting and concise, evidence-based advice. The company also operates with a clear ethical and sustainable approach, aiming to grow in a way that is commercially successful and beneficial to its employees. Clear Surveys offers a supportive, people-first working environment where high standards, professional judgement and work-life balance are all highly valued. The business has a collaborative culture where ideas, technical input and commercial contribution are welcomed. Clear Surveys is also committed to making a positive contribution beyond its client work. The company donates 1% of all sales to charitable causes, and employees are involved in how these funds are distributed. This positive contribution includes considering sustainability within its own operations and encouraging practical, proportionate and environmentally conscious solutions within the projects it undertakes.
Role purpose
The Associate Director role is a senior commercial and operational leadership position, bridging senior technical delivery and Director-level responsibility. The role holder will balance fee-earning surveying and project work with wider commercial and operational responsibility, including taking ownership of key client projects, supporting quality assurance and professional risk management, and providing day-to-day leadership to surveyors within the practice. They will also take broader responsibility for people, clients, standards, commercial performance and the future growth of Clear Surveys. The Associate Director role is a key appointment in the next stage of Clear Surveys’ growth. The company has a strong pipeline of varied surveys and projects, including large domestic extensions and refurbishments, Section 20 major works for low-rise and High Risk Buildings, and commercial fit outs. This role offers a genuine opportunity to help shape the future of an ethical, ambitious and well-regarded local surveying practice.
Key Responsibilities
- Act as an additional senior technical reference point for the practice on complex, disputed, higher-value or risk matters.
- Working alongside the existing management and administration team, support professional standards, quality assurance, risk management, and PI insurance compliance across the practice.
- Lead key survey instructions, project support work and contract administration projects from inception to completion.
- Prepare, review and approve reports, specifications, schedules and professional advice to the required standard.
- Undertake appropriate on-site surveying work, including defect inspections, condition reports, planned maintenance or PPM surveys and higher-value instructions.
- Prepare or oversee basic planning and building regulations applications where required. Own and develop important client relationships, maintaining high standards of responsiveness, clarity and professional care.
- Monitor fee recovery, billing discipline and commercial performance within agreed areas of responsibility. Lead, manage, mentor and support trainees, assistants, building surveyors and chartered surveyors as required.
- Help identify gaps in capability, training, resourcing, quality assurance and business process.
- Help structure workloads, allocate work appropriately and support consistent quality across the team.
- Contribute to recruitment, onboarding, development conversations and performance management where required.
- Generate opportunities for additional Clear Surveys services and support bids, proposals, networking and reputation-led business development.
- Promote a professional, collaborative and commercially aware team culture.
Minimum Requirements
Full MRICS or FRICS status. Significant building surveying and contract administration experience, normally 7+ years or equivalent. Strong technical competence across building pathology, defects analysis, contract administration and professional reporting. Strong working knowledge of contemporary building regulations, planning constraints and relevant professional standards. Proven ability to manage complex instructions, client expectations, contractors, deadlines and professional risk. Experience of mentoring, supervising or line managing surveyors or technical staff. Commercial awareness, including fee generation, time recording, recovery rates, client retention and business development. Strong IT skills and willingness to adopt new systems, templates and working practices. Professional conduct consistent with RICS standards and Clear Surveys’ values.
Benefits
- A generous performance bonus scheme designed to share business success with those responsible for creating it.
- Flexible working hours to support work-life balance, including those with parental or relative care responsibilities.
- Achievable billable targets, aligned to the seniority and wider leadership responsibilities of the role.
- 33 days’ paid leave per annum, increasing by one additional day for each completed year of service, up to a maximum of 38 days, in accordance with the Company’s holiday policy.
- Workplace pension scheme with employer contributions.
- Home-based working, with a future option for hybrid working through part office and part home working.
- Predominantly local work with limited travel, supporting better work-life balance and reducing unnecessary time spent on the road.
- Company vehicle or vehicle allowance, subject to agreement.
- Clear progression route towards Director-level responsibility.
Career progression (Associate Director to Director)
For the right candidate, this role offers a clear pathway towards Director-level responsibility.Progression will be based on sustained contribution to the growth and performance of the business, including strong fee generation, effective people leadership, sound commercial judgement, risk awareness and the ability to help shape the long-term direction of Clear Surveys. The successful candidate will be encouraged to develop and deliver growth plans for key service lines or areas of work, with increasing involvement in firm-wide profitability, governance and strategic decision-making.
Notes
Successful candidates who wish to retain their own vehicle may be reimbursed via a flat-rate vehicle allowance added to salary or mileage reimbursement, subject to agreement. It is company policy that company-supplied vehicles are electric. The candidate will need suitable arrangements to charge a company vehicle overnight if this option is agreed. Bonus arrangements, vehicle arrangements and any enhanced benefits are subject to the terms of the offer, scheme rules and business requirements in place from time to time.
Pay: £70,000.00-£117,200.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company car
- Company pension
- Work from home
Experience:
- Building surveying and contract administration : 7 years (required)
Licence/Certification:
- Driving Licence (required)
- mrics or Frics status (required)
Work Location: In person
