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Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
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About the job
Job summary
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) are the public sectors property valuation experts and advisers. We are one of the largest employers of surveyors in the country offering access to a whole host of learning and development opportunities to support your career development.
Were looking for talented people who are eager to contribute to vital public services and assist us to deliver taxation and benefits support to the government and local authorities. Your skills and experience will enable us to provide an efficient, effective service right at the heart of the public interest.
At the heart of the agency, we are committed to providing our people with a work environment which is accommodating and accessible to all and which values diversity and inclusion in everything we do. We encourage our people to bring their whole selves to work by providing a culture that values different perspectives to help tackle complex problems, promote innovation, and deliver stronger decision making in a safe and supportive environment. We therefore welcome applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds to join our organisation and enable us to be representative of the communities we serve.
Our people have the freedom to manage their own diaries and are empowered to deliver under their own autonomy. We trust our people and look forward to welcoming your skills into the VOAs Surveying community.
Job description
Principal Valuation Surveying Lead Role Overview
This is a technical surveying and leadership role primarily involving project management of valuation work for national clients.
You will provide valuation advice to high profile Central Government clients as well as Local Authorities nationally. This will include valuations for financial reporting purposes, regeneration, acquisition (purchase and lease), disposal, rent reviews and planning viability. Negotiations in this regard will be highly complex and require sensitive negotiations, often, with property developers.
The successful candidate will support the Senior Management Team and work closely with Team Leaders in the transferring of skills across the sector to build capability and deliver to agreed KPIs. They will also provide management duties to valuers carrying out work for Central and Local Government clients.
Key Responsibilities:
- Maintaining and applying an advanced level of valuation surveying knowledge to casework activity and review high profile or complex valuations.
- Project manage valuation work for national clients.
- Provide technical leadership, guidance, and support to caseworkers within DVS primarily on a regional basis. This may also be required nationally from time to time.
- Have an awareness of the wider political, economic, social, technical, environmental, and legislative agendas that impact District Valuer Service (DVS), Central and Local Government clients.
- Pro-actively market our professional services to existing and potential clients, developing and maintaining client relationships. Identify and develop new products and services as required by clients.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with clients to ensure customer satisfaction. Understand and challenge the needs of the client.
- Report to stakeholders up to Sector Head where necessary.
- Act as an expert witness, appearing before arbitrators or completing the submission of evidence to independent experts and Lands Tribunals where required.
Person specification
Our ideal candidate is someone with advanced technical surveying knowledge who can project manage large valuation exercises.
You will have strong leadership skills with the ability to engage with, and influence, stakeholders at all levels.
Essential Criteria
- Full RICS or IRRV Surveying Qualification. The candidate must be eligible to join the RICS Valuer Registration Scheme (VRS), criteria as determined by the RICS is as follows: https://www.rics.org/globalassets/rics-website/media/upholding-professional-standards/regulation/rules-for-registration-of-schemes_2020.pdf
- A full UK driving licence.
- Willingness to travel We are reasonable with our expectations and provide flexible working arrangements to support this need.
- A strong understanding of Local Authority sectors and a good understanding of client requirements reflecting the current market.
- Strong leadership and communication skills – the ability to build trusted and credible relationships with clients, peers, and direct reports.
- Line management experience and a willingness to coach, support and encourage individuals to excel.
- Horizon scanning and risk mitigation skills.
Licences
Qualifications
Memberships
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Technical skills
We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- The technical part of the interview provides an opportunity for you to demonstrate your professional knowledge and experience as a Chartered Surveyor and how this relates to the role.
Benefits
£14,750 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
The VOA operates a Flexible Working policy, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments.
The VOA also operates Hybrid Working your role will be a combination of office and home working.
We offer a generous leave allowance that starts at 25 days and goes up to 30 days after 5 years service.
- Pay In the last few years, we have increased both the minimum and maximum pay points for everyone in the VOA.
- Pension – We make contributions to our colleagues Alpha pension equal to approximately 27% of their salary. Please click on this link for further information Civil Service Pension
- Family friendly policies Our maternity, adoption or shared parental leave encompasses 26 weeks with full pay followed by 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid at your discretion. We also offer paternity leave of 4 weeks at full pay.
- Personal support We offer extensive special leave to help balance your life and work commitments, a variety of non-financial rewards (including a Cycle to Work scheme of up to £4000) and we work with professional providers to provide occupational health and full mental and physical wellbeing services.
- Coaching and development We are committed to continuous professional and personal development. You will be supported by colleagues with a wealth of knowledge and experience to continually grow in your role.
- Essential Equipment – VOA will support everyone to get additional essential kit and equipment, to make sure they have a suitable and safe home working environment.
Download the Employee Value Proposition for full details of the benefits of being a VOA employee at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/valuation-office-agency/about/recruitment
Things you need to know
Selection process details
If you can meet our person requirements above we are keen to hear from you.
To apply for this post, you must complete an online application with the following:
A CV setting out your Job History/Full Qualifications/Previous skills and experiences.
A Personal Statement (maximum 1000 words), Please outline your suitability for the role. Please pay particular attention to the Key Responsibilities, Person Specification and Essential Requirements outlined in the advert when writing your answer..
Sift – 7th November 2023
We will assess you on CV, Qualifications and Personal Statement.
Interviews – 22nd November 2023
Interviews are currently taking place using Microsoft Teams Video. We will provide more detail if you are shortlisted for interview.
We will assess you on the Behaviours listed in the job description, Strengths and Presentation.
Candidates may be asked Technical questions related to the role during their interview.
At the interview, the panel can then probe further and ask applicants to provide further specific examples that show how they best demonstrate their skills.
Behaviours
The distinguishing Behaviours (the required skills, knowledge and behaviours) for this role are set out in the Civil Service Behaviours Framework 2018 (Success Profiles – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)) and should be referred to when making this application.
You are required, under the Behaviours approach, to describe how you have dealt with a specific situation.
You must give evidence of your knowledge, skills and behaviours and how you have applied this, such as what you did or said and how you interacted with other people.
When you are giving your examples, do not spend too many words on description and background information. Avoid using general or unspecific statements. Instead say what the situation was, what you did what your thought process was and so on.
At the interview, the panel can then probe further and ask applicants to provide further specific examples that show how they best demonstrate their skills.
Presentation
You will also be required to conduct a 10-minute presentation on a complex valuation exercise you have undertaken. The topic will be provided to you if you are shortlisted for interview.
Technical
The Technical part of the interview provides an opportunity for you to demonstrate your professional knowledge and experience as a Chartered Surveyor and how this relates to the role.
Further Information
The Internal role title will be G7 Sector Leader.
This post is full time however those applicants who do or wish to work an alternative working pattern are welcome to apply. The preferred working pattern may or may not be available. You should discuss this with the vacancy holder.
As part of the application process you will be asked to tell us which of the locations available, you can work in. You will be able to specify up to 3 options.
Due to the way the CS Jobs system is set up, when choosing your preferred locations, you will find that the Wembley & Canary Wharf location will not appear on the list of options. They are replaced by Harlesden & Tower Hamlets.
Should you wish to choose Wembley as a location then please select Harlesden
Should you wish to choose Canary Wharf as a location then please select Tower Hamlets.
Please note the Tower Hamlets location is our Canary Wharf location, 10 South Colonnade, E14 4PU.
Some sites are difficult to access via public transport and therefore a full UK Driving Licence is essential to the role. However, if you are considered disabled under the Equality Act 2010 and do not hold a full driving licence, we will consider your application. Please contact resourcingteam@voa.gov.uk with your details to discuss this further.
Any move to VOA from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
VOA employees only: If you are currently in receipt of DTA as a result of a VOA office closure/restructure and it is agreed for you to take up this role in your current location, you may continue to receive DTA for the remainder of the period you can claim for. Please check with the Vacancy Holder on preferred locations for this role before you apply.
The VOA is an office-based organisation, however as all of our roles have aspects which can be completed from home, all colleagues have the ability to work a hybrid working pattern. The amount that colleagues work from home or office is defined by several factors including the nature of the work they carry out, the needs of their stakeholders, their development needs and personal circumstances such as caring responsibilities. To learn more about the hybrid working arrangements that could be available in this role, please contact the vacancy holder.
Pre-employment Checks
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland/Access NI on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter.
Reasonable Adjustment
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
Contact Government Recruitment Service via voarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Complete the Assistance required section in the Additional requirements page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if youre deaf, a Language Service Professional.
Terms & Conditions
Voluntary terms apply.
Please note that the VOA has updated its terms and conditions of employment as part of Civil Service Reform. For more information on how this will affect you, please see attached FAQ document.
Reserve Lists
If we have more successful candidates than available vacancies, we will hold a 6-month reserve list as standard.
During that time, we may use the list to fill the same, or similar roles with closely matching essential criteria, without further testing of merit. Any appointments from the Reserve list will be made in strict merit order.
Starting Work
The successful candidate will normally take up duty within one month from notification of successful completion of pre-employment checks.
Applying
All applications for these vacancies must be made online. There are limited exceptions to this. Paper applications will only be considered if you have a disability that will prevent you from applying online. If this is the case, please email voarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
Once you have submitted your application it cannot be amended; only submit your application when you have completely finished and answered all the relevant questions.
Please note that late applications will not be accepted.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the ‘Contact point for applicants’ section.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Concerns/Complaints
The Valuation Office Agencys recruitment processes are underpinned by the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Principles, which outlines that selection for appointment is made on merit based on fair and open competition.
If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the values in the Civil Service Code and/or if you feel the recruitment has been conducted in such a way that conflicts with the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Principles, you may make a complaint, by contacting the Central Recruitment Team at the following address resourcingteam@voa.gov.uk
If you are not content with the outcome of your complaint you have the right to complain to the Civil Service Commissioners.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Tim Johns
- Email : tim.johns@voa.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : VOARecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
