Heritage Building Surveyor

Who we are

VIVO provides facilities management and accommodation maintenance for the UK military and its partners. VIVO embodies both experience and innovation.

What we do

We put our Customers and Families First. They are the driving force behind everything we do. We drive forward improvements for them to ensure the service they receive, whether reactive repairs or a major project, is completed safely and on time. In order to achieve this, we have 4 core values: open, caring, agile and collaborative. These are at the heart of everything we do.

Location: Mobile role, Candidates must be based in Central England

Permanent, Full time

Salary: Up to £70,000 depending on experience, plus company car/car allowance

If you have a passion for preserving the past while ensuring buildings are fit for the future, this Heritage Building Surveyor role at VIVO Defence Services offers the chance to work on some of the UK’s most historically significant sites. You’ll combine deep technical expertise with a love of heritage to protect, restore, and enhance historic buildings that form part of our Defence estate.

The Role

In this role, your days will be filled with variety—from carrying out detailed condition surveys and conservation assessments, to producing high-quality reports that shape how we care for these treasured assets. You’ll bring your knowledge of traditional construction techniques, historic building materials, and conservation best practice to every decision, ensuring works are both sympathetic and sustainable. You’ll navigate the complexities of heritage legislation, including Listed Building Consent requirements, and work closely with stakeholders to develop solutions that balance conservation needs with operational requirements.

You’ll also play a key role in risk management, producing clear and robust Risk Assessments and Method Statements, and advising site teams, contractors, and end users on the best technical and conservation approaches. Working hand in hand with compliance managers and other specialists, you’ll ensure knowledge is shared, records are accurate, and that your area of responsibility is managed to the highest standard.

Commercial awareness will be just as important as technical skill. You’ll manage costs and expectations with care, always seeking value for money without compromising on heritage standards. By supporting economic, practical solutions and ensuring works are delivered efficiently, you’ll help maintain VIVO’s reputation for quality and profitability.

Collaboration is at the heart of this role. You’ll build close working relationships with site teams, Defence stakeholders, heritage authorities, and contractors—acting as a trusted advisor who understands operational pressures while championing conservation priorities. You’ll influence and negotiate where needed, using your expertise to guide projects towards the right outcomes for both the building and its users.

Due to the nature of the business, candidates must pass SC Clearance as a condition of employment.

What You'll Bring

To thrive, you’ll need a solid background in historic building surveying, ideally with experience working alongside Historic England, local authorities, or conservation charities. Strong communication skills are essential, as is the ability to make timely, well-informed decisions. Familiarity with heritage surveying software, CAD, and systems like Maximo would be an advantage, and a commitment to environmental sustainability will be welcomed.

If you’re ready to bring heritage buildings to life for generations to come, while ensuring they continue to serve today’s Defence community, this role offers the perfect blend of history, technical challenge, and professional reward.

What We Offer

• 6% employee matched pension contribution
• 25 days annual leave
• Single private medical cover
• Company car/car allowance
• Life assurance 2x annual salary

VIVO Defence Services

The role you have applied for is with VIVO Defence Services, a joint venture between Serco and EQUANS. By applying for this role, please be aware that information contained within your CV may be shared between VIVO Defence Services, Serco and EQUANS during the recruitment process.

At VIVO, we are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organisation that supports the needs of all. Therefore, we will make reasonable adjustments at interview through to employment for our candidates and strongly encourage applications from a diverse candidate pool.

We are open to discussions around flexibility and flexible working and operate a hybrid work structure in many of our business areas. We are proudly a Disability Confident Leader. Disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the job will be given the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities at an interview.