About the job

Job summary

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) are the public sector’s property valuation experts and advisers. 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 are committed to providing our people with a work environment which is accommodating and accessible to all, one which values diversity and inclusion in everything we do. We welcome applicants from a diverse range of backgrounds, who bring different perspectives, promote innovation and enable us to be representative of the communities we serve. 

Job description

Head of Development Programmes – Role Overview

As Head of Development Programmes, you will lead a team of Learning & Development (L&D) professionals, to deliver industry leading development programmes for the Surveying profession, providing strategic direction to ensure effective delivery of our surveying development programmes alongside supporting the wider apprenticeships programmes across all professions for the Agency.

You will maintain a high level of strategic awareness across the Agency, making connections of future capability needs and contributing to the development of professions within the agency, with a particular focus on the Surveying profession.

Head of Development Programmes – Key responsibilities

• Lead the Agency Apprenticeship strategy and embedding apprenticeships across the agency’s profession’s priorities.

• Lead the Development Team to maintain a candidate tracker and produce meaningful and accurate data reporting on progress against programme milestones to aid the Agency’s strategic workforce planning.

• Work closely with internal stakeholders from across the agency including; - Head Of HR, Head of Surveying Profession, the Deputy Head of Surveying Profession, Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Valuer (CVG) Directorates, Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Finance and People Officer.

• Lead or contribute to L&D policy reviews and initiatives, ensuring they align with the agency’s goals and professional standards.

• Actively network with external organisations, to ensure and implement continuous improvement and best practices, making recommendations to senior managers that enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

• Have oversight of the apprenticeship levy and regulatory compliance.

Person specification

Our Head of Development Programme should be able to demonstrate experience of management and leadership skills to foster a collaborative and high-performing team environment. You will have excellent communication skills to engage with all levels of staff, review peer recommendations, and be accountable for submissions to senior management and internal boards.

We are looking for someone who is proactive in seeking best practice and liaising with Other Government Departments (OGD) and external bodies to enhance learning opportunities and partnerships.

Essential Criteria

• Strong leaderships skills, and a good track record of developing skills and capability.
• Strategic thinking where you can feed workforce and business needs into learning and Development strategy, translating strategies into solutions.
• Strong communications and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and build relationships with stakeholders at all levels.
• Good project and process management.
• Flexibility and adaptability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple priorities.
• Passion for talent development and a genuine interest in enhancing the skills and capabilities of individuals and teams.
• Experience of delivering corporate development programmes in a complex organisation.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £54,631, Valuation Office Agency contributes £14,750 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

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 and Experience.

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 and Previous skills and experiences. 

A Personal Statement (maximum 1000 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 - 10 May Please note this date is provisional and may be subject to change.

We will assess you on your CV and your Personal Statement.  Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to interview.

Interviews - 24 May  Please note this date is provisional and may be subject to change. This will be confirmed should you be invited to interview.

Interviews are currently taking place using Microsoft Teams.  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 a 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.

Presentation 

You will also be asked to deliver a 10-minute presentation on Leadership. Presentation Title - As a leader, how would you lead a team to plan for success?

Application Hints and Tips

For more information on Success Profiles, tips on how to write a successful application and find out more about what’s involved in the application process please visit About the application process , Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk)

Further Information 

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 they’re doing that day and where it’s 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.

Pre-employment Checks

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring 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.

If you would require a Certificate of Sponsorship from the VOA to undertake this role, please contact resourcingteam@voa.gov.uk before submitting your application.

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) and contact voarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.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.

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 Agency’s recruitment processes are underpinned by the Civil Service Commissioner’s 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 Commissioner’s 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

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.