Managing Director of Building Surveying

Manchester, Lancashire
James & Partners

Managing Director

Location: Manchester HQ (hybrid – 1 day per week in Manchester office)

Package: Circa 6 figure basic salary + performance bonus

Overview

An ambitious, multi-entity building and construction consultancy group is seeking a commercially astute and operationally strong Managing Director to lead and scale its Building Surveying and Engineering businesses.

The group operates across three aligned but independently structured companies covering:

• Traditional Building Consultancy (commercial & residential)
• Surveying & Engineering (structural and commercial focus)
• Main Contracting (refurbishment, structural works & public sector delivery)

With offices in Manchester, London and the Midlands, the group works with major clients including NHS Trusts, local authorities, education providers, institutional landlords, and blue-chip occupiers.

There is already strong inbound enquiry flow and an established client base. The requirement is for a senior leader capable of building infrastructure, driving utilisation and profitability, improving governance and quality standards, and scaling the professional services arms of the business to the next level. This is a Board-level opportunity with genuine strategic influence and a pathway to equity.

The Opportunity

The Managing Director will assume full operational leadership of the Building Consultancy and Surveying & Engineering businesses, while providing strategic oversight and alignment support to the group’s contracting arm where required. This role requires far more than technical surveying capability. It demands commercial ownership, operational structure, team leadership and strategic growth delivery.

Core Responsibilities

1. Strategic & Commercial Leadership

• Translate the group’s 5-year growth vision into a structured, deliverable operational roadmap
• Lead quarterly strategic planning with the Executive Director and senior leadership team
• Implement scalable systems across billing, utilisation, performance metrics and reporting
• Improve margin control, consultant performance and cost discipline
• Develop and execute a proactive business development strategy alongside inbound marketing flow
• Represent the group at networking events, frameworks and tender interviews

2. Revenue & Business Development

• Deliver target per month billing in the Building Consultancy arm
• Deliver target per month billing in the Surveying & Engineering arm
• Personally lead high-value client engagement and complex tender submissions
• Build long-term account management strategies for institutional and public-sector clients
• Identify and convert new frameworks, long-term contracts and multi-disciplinary opportunities
• Work alongside procurement support to win larger value tenders

Candidates with an existing client portfolio or established professional relationships will be particularly attractive.

3. Operational Management & Infrastructure

• Take ownership of day-to-day running of the professional services businesses
• Oversee project allocation across the group’s businesses to ensure correct service alignment
• Introduce structured operational workflows and reporting processes
• Oversee finance coordination, monthly performance reviews and forecasting
• Improve internal systems around resourcing, logistics and delivery coordination
• Build capacity within the surveying and engineering teams to support growth

This role requires someone who can professionalise structure without damaging agility.

4. Technical & Professional Oversight

• Act as senior Chartered Surveyor and signatory where required
• Oversee complex instructions including:
• Dilapidations (landlord & tenant)
• Technical due diligence & pre-acquisition surveys
• Building condition surveys & defect diagnosis
• Feasibility studies & project monitoring
• Structural appraisals and engineering-led investigations
• Provide oversight on high-rise compliance matters and structural considerations
• Mentor junior surveyors through APC and CPD frameworks
• Introduce consistent QA standards across all reporting

The successful individual will strengthen technical credibility while elevating commercial performance.

5. Client Account Leadership

• Serve as senior relationship lead on key accounts (public sector, property managers, education, NHS and institutional clients)
• Ensure retention, repeat work and upsell of complementary services
• Resolve escalated project issues
• Implement structured onboarding for new major contracts

6. Governance, Accreditations & Compliance

• Lead RICS firm registration and compliance strategy for Surveying & Engineering
• Maintain audit readiness and QA frameworks
• Standardise reporting quality across both businesses
• Implement structured CPD pathways and QPR frameworks
• Drive professional culture and accountability

Candidate Profile

• MRICS or FRICS Chartered Building Surveyor
• 10+ years’ post-qualification experience
• Proven leadership within a building consultancy, surveying practice or multi-disciplinary environment
• Demonstrable experience growing revenue and improving profitability
• Strong knowledge of commercial building surveying, dilapidations, defect diagnosis and project management
• Financial literacy and understanding of P&L ownership
• Experience managing teams and consultants
• Commercially confident and client-facing