About the job

Job summary

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) are the public sector’s property valuation experts and advisers. We offer a whole host of learning and development opportunities to support your career development.

Data is crucial to that role and to the VOA. It’s at the heart of what we do, the use of data is woven into the operation of the business through the analytical models used operationally.

We’re 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.

We trust our people and look forward to welcoming your skills into the VOA community.

Job description

Lead Data Engineer  – Role Overview

This role sits within Data Foundations which is a diverse multi-disciplinary team at the heart of VOA transformation supporting the Business Systems Transformation programme (BST) and the delivery of our data strategy. We have bold plans to unlock the value of the data in the Valuation Office Agency, and you will be at the heart of this, contributing to the team’s vision to make the availability of quality data an assumption, not a concern.

You will be joining at an exciting time with a fantastic opportunity to gain extensive experience in a broad range of activities. Our unit has a focus on leadership development. We have an open transparent culture based on collective responsibility and accountability. We support each other, we help each other, and we learn from each other.

Ideally, you’ll have a background in data engineering with a genuine business focus. Or you’ll be someone with a strong data background with an aptitude for programming. We want to hear from people who:

• Have an insatiable curiosity and want to innovate and improve.
• Are collaborative and seek to work across boundaries to achieve a common goal.
• Have enthusiasm for what they do and want to make positive change.
• Support their team and help them develop.
• Are tenacious and pragmatic enough to see things through.

“I am passionate to see the data engineering team drive innovation through the data we deliver and the relationships we build across the VOA. If you have the enthusiasm for data engineering and its role in supporting impactful analytics I want to hear from you. As we are currently in the process of migrating over to a new technology stack, we can provide you with the opportunity to make your mark on data engineering in VOA and provide an excellent experience that’ll enhance your future career prospects and skills development.” Joe Frend, Head of Data Engineering

Lead Data Engineer  – Key responsibilities

You will be part of the Data Foundations unit within the VOA, initially your work will be focussed in developing our priority data pipelines, critical for supporting our analytical products and functionality.

The typical ongoing activity of the lead data engineer could involve:

• Developing Azure Data Factory pipelines for the orchestration of data pipelines supporting the analytical community.
• As part of our initial Extract Transform Load (ETL) solution, co-ordinating the development of SQL scripts to ensure our datasets provide the Power BI community with the data they require.
• Collaborating with our analysts to identify new opportunities for our data to be used in advanced analytics to benefit the organisation.
• Developing the data engineering team to continue to build our capability.
• Establishing best data engineering practices.

Person specification

Our ideal candidate will have a genuine desire to make a difference and have the tenacity and pragmatism to work through problems.

Essential Criteria

You will need to demonstrate within your application the following essential criteria:

• Communicating between the technical and non-technical: You can listen to, and interpret, the needs of technical and business stakeholders.
• Data modelling: You have experience of producing relevant data models to best meet the needs of your customers.
• Programming and build (data engineering): You have experience of designing and building resilient and scalable data solutions and ETL processes to support varying user needs, including analytics and MI/BI reporting.
• Problem resolution (data): You take the most appropriate action to resolve problems as they occur, co-ordinating teams to implement solutions and preventative measures.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of working in cloud-based solutions utilising data lakes and distributed computing.
• Experience of transformation programmes within government or large complex organisations.

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, 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 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’ outlined in the advert when providing your answer.

Sift - 13/03/24 Please note these dates are provisional and may be subject to change.

We will assess you on your CV and Personal Statement 

Interviews - 28/03/24 & 29/03/24 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 and a In-Tray/ Written Analysis Exercise.

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.

In Tray Exercise 

The interview will be followed by an in-tray exercise based on examples of the work you might be expected to carry out in the role. On the day of the interview, you will be provided with a scenario, and given 30 minutes to prepare a response to the situation. You will be asked to verbally present your findings as part of the interview (you are allowed to use notes).

Choice of Locations

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 1 option.

London Locations

Due to the way the CS Jobs system is set up, when choosing your preferred locations, you will find that the Canary Wharf location will not appear on the list of options. It is replaced by Tower Hamlets.

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.

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 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 you’re 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 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.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.