Contents Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information Location Cambridge, Colchester, Norwich, Nottingham About the job Job summary The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) are the public sectors property valuation experts and advisers with a vision to be a world-leading provider of public sector valuations. As one of the largest employers of surveyors in the country, our work is vital to the collection of over £60 billion of revenue which goes back into communities, touching every citizen and every business across England and Wales. We champion the values of professionalism, integrity, respect and innovation. We are committed to providing a collaborative and supportive working environment that encourages every colleague to contribute, grow and excel together. With opportunities to drive your own development and growth, we empower our colleagues to succeed by ensuring support at every step of their career journey. Job description Chartered Surveyor Sector Lead for National Taxation Role Overview This role sits within the National Taxation team of the District Valuer Services (DVS), part of Chief Valuer Group (CVG). The National Taxation team provide valuations and advice for National Taxation purposes on behalf of HMRC, Community Infrastructure Levy, Right to Buy and DWP Benefits. This is a technical surveying and leadership role. It is an excellent opportunity to lead on high profile and complex casework for all property types. You will work within a fast-paced team to meet increased client requirements. You will provide leadership, guidance, and valuation advice to clients and support valuers within DVS primarily on a regional (but also on occasion, national) basis. DVS is the business stream tasked with providing a range of statutory and non-statutory functions, many of which date back to the founding of the VOA in 1910. These are: Provision of advice on valuations and apportionments for national taxation purposes. Provision of valuations and property advice for Other Public Bodies (OPBs) to support their implementation of a wide range of regulatory and legislative functions. The delivery of government policies and estate strategies in situations where there is a property requirement related to the exercising of a public function and or public money is involved. This majority of the work is untied and undertaken on a contractual earned funding full cost recovery charging basis. Some is fix funded. Chartered Surveyor Sector Lead for National Taxation Key responsibilities Provide technical leadership, guidance, and support to the national tax team, primarily on a regional (but also on occasion, national) basis. Support the DVS management team working closely with Team Leaders and the Sector Head to ensure a diverse workforce with the ability to transfer skills across the sector in pursuit of delivering agreed quality and budgetary targets. Undertaking complex and high-profile valuation casework within the National Taxation sector, including HMRC and DWP valuations to support the administration of Benefits, Right to Buy and Community Infrastructure Levy. Supporting the management of NTs Initial Appraisal Unit and the delivery of HMRCs initial appraisals. Providing Trade related valuations and Development Appraisals with a significant focus on the London geographical area. Liaising with a broad range of specialists on technical and policy issues. Reviewing high profile or complex valuations. Identifying risks and issues, making recommendations on action to be taken and ensuring quality assurance and timeliness standards are adhered to. Providing detailed technical guidance, training, and mentoring to DVS caseworkers on a regional and national basis. Ensuring an awareness of the wider political, economic, social, technical, environmental, and legislative agendas that impact DVS and the National Taxation Sector. Reporting to stakeholders up to and including Ministerial level where necessary. Effective risk management of National Taxation casework to support timeliness and realise tax yield where this is properly due. Improving customer satisfaction and improving the taxpayer experience. Ability to act as an expert witness, appearance before arbitrators or submission of evidence to independent experts and Lands Tribunals where required. Support the sharing of skills and best practice across team and encourage innovation. Person specification Our ideal candidate will have advanced technical surveying knowledge, with a strong understanding of relevant legislation, case law relating to valuation for taxation purposes. The successful candidate will have strong leadership skills with the ability to build strong, credible relationships and can engage with, and influence, stakeholders at all levels. You will also possess exceptional negotiation skills in complex and challenging valuation cases, applying technical expertise and capability. Essential Criteria Full MRICS or FRICS qualification is essential. You must be a Registered Valuer through 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 An extensive valuation knowledge and legislative knowledge which you proactively keep up-to-date and use to provide advice and guidance to your team. Strong leadership skills, encouraging innovation and sharing of best practice. The ability to coach, support and provide feedback to individuals in order to improve their performance and achieve their potential. Experience of delivering projects or services to high quality standards using effective prioritisation skills to manage competing demands. Strong communication skills, with the ability to build credible relationships and influence a range of stakeholders. Excellent horizon scanning skills, applying problem-solving techniques, sound technical and professional judgement, to mitigate risks. A full UK driving licence is required and a willingness to travel is essential as you will be covering a wide geographical area (East) for inspection and management purposes. The successful candidate will be expected on occasions to travel to other VOA locations including London in connection with their role, which may include overnight stays. Licences Full UK Driving Licence Qualifications Full MRICS or FRICS qualification is essential. Memberships You must be a Registered Valuer through 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 Behaviours We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Leadership Making Effective Decisions Communicating and Influencing Technical skills We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: You will be asked technical questions at interview to assess your professional knowledge and experience. Benefits Alongside your salary of £57,363, Valuation Office Agency contributes £16,618 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. We offer a range of flexible working options, a generous leave allowance that starts at 25 days and goes up to 30 days after 5 years service and a Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%. Learning and development tailored to your role. An environment with flexible working options. Family friendly policies including 26 weeks full pay for maternity, adoption or shared parental leave. Employee Assistance Programme offering comprehensive wellbeing support. To learn more about the extensive benefits we can offer you as a VOA employee please download our Benefits Booklet: VOA_benefits_booklet.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk) Things you need to know Selection process details This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills. 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 750 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: 13th December 2024. We will assess you on your CV, Personal Statement, Memberships and Qualifications. Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview. Interviews - 13th January 2025. Please note these dates are provisional and may be subject to change. 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, Strengths, Technical questions and Presentation. 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. Presentation You will also be required to conduct a 10-minute presentation. Information on the presentation topic will be provided to you if you are shortlisted for interview. Application Hints and Tips For more information on Success Profiles, tips on how to write a successful application and find out more about whats involved in the application process please visit About the application process, Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk) Further Information Internal role title will be National Taxation Sector Leader East 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 2 options. Please be aware that you can be posted to any location that you put in your preferences. If you would only like to be posted to one location, please confirm one location only. Successful candidates must select one of the locations noted in this advert as their base office and will be expected to undertake regular travel to this location under the Agencys hybrid working policy. A full UK Driving Licence is essential to this 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 resourcingteamvoa.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 The VOA is an office-based organisation that supports flexible working. By default, everyone in the VOA is a hybrid worker with options to work in the office, at home or out and about, depending on the work theyre doing that day and where its best done. 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. If you would require a Certificate of Sponsorship from the VOA to undertake this role, please contact resourcingteamvoa.gov.uk before submitting your application. 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.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. Reasonable Adjustment We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process because of a disability, condition, or impairment. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate. If you need a reasonable adjustment or a change to be made so that you can make your application: Please click here for more information: Reasonable Adjustments, Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk) Contact voarecruitment.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible. 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. Terms & Conditions Voluntary terms apply. Reserve Lists If we have more successful candidates than available vacancies, we will hold a 3-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.grscabinetoffice.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. Use of AI You may utilise artificial intelligence (AI) tools and platforms to support you during the application process however, as with any application all information submitted must be factually accurate and all examples provided must be taken directly from your own experience. All presented information will be assessed at interview. Any applications where factual inaccuracy, plagiarism or copying of examples/answers from internet sources is detected will be withdrawn from the process. Further action, including disciplinary action, may be considered in such cases involving internal candidates. 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: resourcingteamvoa.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 Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks. Nationality requirements This job is broadly open to the following groups: UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) Working for the Civil Service The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. 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). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy. Diversity and Inclusion The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window). Apply and further information This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative. The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window). Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records. Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name : Rob Mackay Email : rob.mackayvoa.gov.uk Recruitment team Email : VOARecruitment.grscabinetoffice.gov.uk Share this page Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn GMail