We're hiring: Historic Building Surveyor

We are looking for a talented and motivated Historic Building Surveyor to play a key role in the next stage of our heritage journey. This is a hands-on technical role with a strong emphasis on surveying, diagnosing defects and developing clear, conservation-led solutions. Your ability to investigate, understand and articulate building issues - and present them through high-quality written reports, schedules and recommendations - will be central to your work.

Alongside delivering exceptional technical outputs, you will also help strengthen, shape and grow our building surveying service. Working within an established heritage team, you will have the opportunity to develop existing client relationships, foster new ones, and help build a talented and well-respected surveying offer within the studio. There is genuine scope for career progression, leadership and personal development, and we will support you to grow your role in a direction that suits your strengths and ambitions.

This is a rare opportunity to work on some of the UK’s most important historic buildings and estates, while also helping to define and lead the surveying specialism within Buttress.

Architecture for an Equitable Tomorrow: Buttress is an employee-owned, B Corp certified practice united by the belief that architecture has the power to improve lives. We work with care, curiosity and purpose, creating and conserving buildings and places that contribute positively to people and communities. 

Heritage and conservation are at the heart of our practice. We have the privilege of working on some of the country’s most significant historic buildings, and we are committed to safeguarding them for future generations through thoughtful, collaborative and well-crafted design.

In this role you will:

• Undertake detailed building surveys, condition assessments and fabric investigations, particularly on listed and traditionally constructed buildings.

• Diagnose defects, analyse causes and risks, and present clear, practical and conservation-focused solutions.

• Produce high-quality written reports, schedules of work and technical documentation, communicating complex findings in an accessible and authoritative manner.

• Develop conservation-led repair and maintenance strategies, specifying appropriate traditional materials and methods.

• Prepare heritage statements, impact assessments and documentation for planning and Listed Building Consent submissions.

• Support and manage projects through procurement, contractor liaison, site inspection and quality assurance.

• Champion preventive conservation and long-term stewardship approaches.

• Help develop and grow our building surveying service, including supporting business development, relationship-building and team expansion.

• Act as an ambassador for Buttress’ values — putting people, place and purpose at the centre of decision-making.

The following are essential to the role:

• Full professional membership of RICS.

• Strong experience in surveying historic buildings, diagnosing defects and producing robust, well-considered technical recommendations.

• Excellent written communication skills with the ability to create clear, articulate and engaging reports.

• Strong understanding of traditional building construction, materials and pathology.

• Knowledge of UK heritage legislation, planning processes and conservation best practice.

• Confident working with clients, stakeholders and multi-disciplinary teams.

• Passionate about heritage and the meaningful role historic buildings play in society.

• Curious, analytical and methodical - with a problem-solving mindset.

• Collaborative, positive and confident in engaging others.

• Self-motivated and proactive, with a desire to help shape and grow a service.

• The opportunity to work on landmark historic buildings of national importance.

• A supportive employee-owned studio culture that values people, purpose and growth.

• Clear scope for career progression, leadership and specialism development.

• CPD, mentoring and support toward professional conservation accreditation.

• Competitive benefits package and flexible working approach.

Please apply via our recruitment portal: https://talent.sage.hr/jobs/987027b1-4d6e-468e-83e2-da51558ee532

Closing date: December 12th.

Please note that we reserve the right to close the advert if we find a suitable candidate during this period.