Somerset Council
Senior Technical Officer
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Closing Date: 04 August 2026 Salary: Grade 10 ranging from £37,280 to £41,771 per annum
This is a unique opportunity to apply your technical and professional expertise to work that genuinely changes lives. As a Senior Technical Surveyor – Home Adaptations, you will help people of all ages live more independently, safely, and comfortably in their own homes. From small modifications to complex, high-value adaptation projects, your work will directly support individuals with disabilities to maintain their independence and wellbeing.
Working closely with clients, families, health professionals, housing providers, and contractors, you will manage a wide range of construction projects with compassion, professionalism, and technical confidence. Every project you deliver will have a lasting, positive impact on people, communities, and the quality of life across Somerset.
Role Summary
The Senior Technical Surveyor is responsible for managing and delivering a programme of home adaptation projects under the Council’s housing assistance policy, including Disabled Facilities Grants. The role ensures projects are designed, procured, and delivered safely, compliantly, and to a high standard, while effectively managing budgets, risk, and stakeholder expectations. Acting as Principal Designer, the postholder provides professional expertise across the full project lifecycle and works closely with people with disabilities to ensure adaptations meet their needs with empathy and professionalism.
What you'll do - Key Responsibilities
- Manage and deliver a range of home adaptation construction projects from feasibility through to completion
- Act as Principal Designer, ensuring compliance with CDM Regulations and health and safety legislation
- Work directly with clients with a wide range of disabilities, building trust and understanding individual needs
- Assess eligibility, practicality, and funding options for housing adaptations and financial assistance
- Prepare drawings, specifications, and schedules of work using AutoCAD
- Obtain, assess, and manage quotations, tenders, budgets, and contractor performance
- Monitor project progress, quality, and costs through site inspections and reporting
- Manage grant expenditure, approve payments, and ensure accurate financial and case records
- Provide professional guidance, mentoring, and support to technical officers and caseworkers
- Contribute to service improvement, best practice, and transformational change initiatives
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What We’re Looking For – Knowledge, Experience and Skills
Knowledge
- Comprehensive knowledge of Building Regulations, planning processes (including listed buildings), and housing construction, design, maintenance, and retrofit
- Good working knowledge of construction processes, practices, and procedures
- Detailed knowledge of statutory legislation relating to home adaptations, including the Disabled Facilities Grant process
- Detailed knowledge and practical application of CDM Regulations, including the Principal Designer role and preparation of pre-construction information and Health & Safety files
- Detailed knowledge of the Control of Asbestos Regulations and Housing Health and Safety Rating System legislation
- Good understanding of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the context of housing and social care
- Proficiency in relevant software, including AutoCAD, to produce architectural drawings and technical schematics
Experience
- Experience working as a Building Surveyor or Architect
- Experience undertaking feasibility studies and managing construction projects
- Proven experience of financial, project, and contract management
- Experience preparing scopes of work, briefs, and managing external contractors
- Ability to analyse, interpret, and evaluate complex technical information
- Strong communication skills, including explaining technical information to non-technical audiences
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Skills
- Ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritise workloads, and meet deadlines with attention to detail
- Strong problem-solving skills and a solution-focused approach
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a wide range of stakeholders
- Ability to process data, use databases, and manage records accurately
- Ability to manage applicant expectations with empathy while applying council policies
- Ability to work flexibly, use initiative, and operate effectively with limited supervision
Desirable
- Experience working within a local authority, housing service, or home improvement agency
Any Additional Information
- 30 days’ annual leave (additional to bank holidays).
- Hours: Full Time – 37 hours
- The role involves visiting clients in their homes across Somerset, including rural locations
- Regular travel is required; a current driving licence and access to a vehicle are essential
- The role may involve physical effort, including working at height and accessing varied property types and appropriate PPE must be worn as required
- This role may involve working with confidential information and supporting statutory or time-critical processes. Some flexibility may be required to meet service demands, in line with Somerset Council’s working arrangements.
- Regretfully, we are unable to offer sponsorship for this role. We are only able to proceed with candidates who already have the right to work in the UK without the need for VISA sponsorship.
For an informal chat about the role, you can contact Karen Wilcox, DFG Manager via email karen.wilcox@somerset.gov.uk or Chloe Cox, Service Manager via email at chloe.cox@somerset.gov.uk
A full job description will be provided to shortlisted candidates or on request.
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