At Plowman Craven, our people are at the heart of everything we do. One of those people is Alex Daviss, our Operations Manager, whose career journey reflects long-term growth, trust and opportunity.
Alex joined Plowman Craven in 2006 as a Graduate Junior Surveyor. Over the past 19 years, he’s worked his way through a variety of roles, gaining hands-on experience across the business. From Surveyor and Senior Surveyor to Delivery Manager, Commercial Survey Manager and briefly Head of Delivery, Alex’s path has been shaped by learning, progression and taking on new challenges.
“I started as a graduate and gradually took on more responsibility,” says Alex. “Each role helped me understand the business better and build experience across different areas, before settling into operations and delivery.”
Today, Alex plays a key role in keeping projects moving. As Operations Manager, his day-to-day work involves reviewing new instructions, advising project managers and lead surveyors, and making sure the right people and resources are in place for each project. He works with a mix of office-based and site surveyors, as well as trusted external partners, to deliver work efficiently and to a high standard.
Adaptability, problem-solving and communication are central to the role. “You need to balance technical knowledge with people management,” Alex explains. “It’s about understanding the detail while also supporting your team and managing multiple priorities.”
Over the years, Alex has worked on some truly memorable projects, including measuring The Shard, supporting the pre-construction of the Harry Potter film studios, surveying NHS estates across the UK and contributing to many well-known London landmarks.
Career milestones include achieving Chartered status with RICS and completing an ILM qualification in Leadership and Management. Both have helped shape how Alex supports others in their development.
For those considering a career in surveying or operations, Alex’s advice is simple: start with a graduate role, get hands-on experience and think carefully about what you enjoy most. “Whether it’s asset management, engineering, working with people or working independently, plan your training and career path around what motivates you.”
Outside of work, Alex is a proud dad to two young children, who currently take centre stage in his life. When time allows, he enjoys being outdoors, following sport and unwinding with music.
For Alex, what makes Plowman Craven special is the trust and flexibility. “You’re given the freedom to manage your work, your input is valued, and there’s real support for learning and development. That makes a huge difference.”
Alex’s story is a great example of how a career at Plowman Craven can grow and evolve over time, built on opportunity, support and shared success.
Interested in a career like Alex’s? View our latest vacancies on our website.
