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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 offer 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.
Job description
Administrative Officer Role Overview
The Customer Service Centre (CSC) sits at the heart of our operations here in the Valuation Office Agency.
Our Administrative Officers play a crucial role supporting our customers needs and upholding the agencys reputation through excellence in telephony, email, and written correspondence.
Working with internal and external customers, youll ensure they receive a prompt, efficient and effective service enhancing their overall experience.
Please take a look at the video for an insight into the work our CSC colleagues undertake and some insights into what its like to work for the Valuation Office Agency.
Inside the Valuation Office Agency – customer service careers – YouTube
Administrative Officer Key Responsibilities
- Providing excellent customer service mainly via telephone and on occasions email and written correspondence.
- Providing telephone support to our customers ensuring that they are content and understand our processes.
- Ensuring that customers provide all necessary information and providing them with clear advice based on their query.
- Providing assistance including explaining procedures or policies, giving reasons for enquiries and justifying decisions.
- Allocating work to others in your team including quality assurance.
- General Administration including using our tools and databases to gather and analyse data.
Person specification
We are looking for an individual with a willingness to contribute to the Customer Service Centre and exceptional communication skills. Youll be passionate about providing exceptional Customer Service and be able to work at pace. Youll be flexible, adaptable and above all personable with the ability to provide a high level of service and put the needs of our customers first.
Essential Criteria
- Customer focussed with strong customer service skills learned in a previous customer facing role.
- Communication skills The ability to communicate with different types of people with a range of needs.
- Excellent listening skills.
- Good keyboard skills.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook.
- Willingness to learn new processes.
- A positive attitude to work and the workplace.
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Benefits
£6,569 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 Personal Statement (maximum 500 words), please outline your suitability for the role. Please pay particular attention to the Essential Criteria and Person Specification outlined in the advert when providing your answer.
Sift – W/C 15th January 2024
Please note these dates are provisional and may be subject to change.
We will assess you on your Personal Statement.
Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to interview.
Interviews – Date to be confirmed.
These will be confirmed should you be invited to interview
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 and Strengths.
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.
Further Information
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.
In the VOA, we are an office-based organisation, but all colleagues have access to hybrid working by default, as our roles have aspects which can be completed from home. 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. With this specific role wed be looking for colleagues to work around 3 days per week in the office, once they have been trained. Upskilling is largely expected to take place within the workplace. To learn more about the specific hybrid working arrangements for this role, please contact the vacancy holder.
We will initially be scheduling our people between the hours of 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday. Whilst we are flexible to take personal circumstances into account wherever possible when setting the rotas, we are limited in allowing people to fix set hours outside of these times. However, please do contact us if you would like to discuss any individual circumstances which may restrict your availability between these hours (e.g. caring responsibilities, or childcare). Please be aware that our future hours of operation are under review, and in future may be between 7am & 9pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 5pm on weekends.
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.
Pre-employment Checks
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service 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.
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 candidates 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 : Kevin Thomson
- Email : kevin.thomson@voa.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : VOARecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk