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.   

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.

Job description

Principal Valuation Surveying Lead - Health – Role Overview

District Valuer Services (DVS) provide professional property advice across the public sector, including private and third sector clients involved in delivering public services and functions of a public nature. Our clients include the Central, Regional, Local and Devolved Government, Health, Transport & Infrastructure, and the Environment.

We are looking for a Principal Valuation Surveying Lead within the Health Sector.  This is a technical surveying and leadership role primarily involving project management of valuation work for national clients. 

You will provide valuation advice to NHS clients. This will include asset valuations for financial reporting purposes, rental valuations of primary care premises in connection with the Doctors’ Rent and Rates Reimbursement Scheme, value for money advice in respect of primary care premises including 3rd Party Developments, acquisition (purchase and lease) and disposal and rent reviews. Negotiations in this regard will be highly complex and will require sensitive negotiations.

This is an excellent opportunity to lead high profile work and specialist teams and work closely with the Sector Head for Health, Team Leaders and team of Sector Leaders and Complex Caseworkers.  As Principal Valuation Surveying Lead for Health, you will be responsible for managing a large and diverse client base, whilst providing technical advice and support to the team.

Regular travel across the Northeast Offices will be expected.        

Principal Valuation Surveying Lead - Health – Key Responsibilities

• Maintaining and applying an advanced level of valuation surveying knowledge to own casework activity and conduct reviews of high profile or complex valuations for peers and team members.
• Casework will typically fall within the following key areas:
• • • • • • • Providing value for money advice to the NHS in connection with proposed new primary care schemes.
            • Leading on disputed cases under the Doctors’ Rent and Rates Reimbursement Scheme, sometimes involving preparation and submission of expert witness reports.
            • Providing of a range of estates advice to NHS clients, including valuations for acquisitions, disposals, landlord and tenant etc.
            • Providing IFRS compliant asset valuations to NHS Bodies for financial accounting purposes.

• Leading on disputed cases under the Doctors’ Rent and Rates Reimbursement Scheme, sometimes involving preparation and submission of expert witness reports.
• Providing of a range of estates advice to NHS clients, including valuations for acquisitions, disposals, landlord and tenant etc.
• Providing IFRS compliant asset valuations to NHS Bodies for financial accounting purposes.

• Identifying risks and issues and making recommendations on action to be taken.
• Providing technical leadership, guidance, and support to caseworkers within DVS, primarily on a regional and, as required, national basis.
• Ensuring an awareness of the wider political, economic, social, technical, environmental, and legislative agendas that impact DVS and Health Sector clients.
• Developing and maintaining strong relationships with DVS clients and ensuring customer satisfaction.  Understanding and challenging the needs of the client.
• Reporting to stakeholders up to and including Ministerial level where necessary.
• Supporting the DVS management team and working closely with Team Leaders in the transferring of skills across the sector to build capability and the delivery of agreed quality and timeliness targets.
• Providing leadership to caseworkers in the Sector.
• Pro-actively marketing our professional services to existing and potential clients, developing and maintaining client relationships.  Identifying and developing new products and services required by clients.
• Maintaining a good understanding of the links to other work areas and the external business environment.

Person specification

Our ideal candidate is someone with advanced technical surveying knowledge who can project manage asset exercises. You will have strong leadership skills with the ability to engage with, and influence, stakeholders at all levels.

Essential Criteria

• An advanced level of technical knowledge, including the application of relevant legislation, case law, and codes of practice and professional RICS standards.
• A strong understanding of the Health Sector and its key product areas, together with a good understanding of client requirements reflecting the current market circumstances.
• 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 improve their performance and achieve their potential.
• The ability to identify risks and issues and propose solutions ahead of risks becoming issues.

Licences and Qualifications

• Full RICS or IRRV Surveying Qualification. Qualified in the Valuation or real Estate pathways.
• 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-professionalstandards/regulation/rules-for-registration-of-schemes_2020.pd 
• A full UK driving licence  

Willingness to travel - We are reasonable with our expectations and provide flexible working arrangements to support this need.

Candidates please note that the internal job title for this role is 'G7 Sector Lead - Health'.

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, 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 ensure that you pay particular attention to the Person Specification and Essential Criteria outlined in the advert when providing your answer.

Sift - 23rd January 2024 - Please note these dates are provisional and may be subject to change.

We will assess you on your CV, Personal Statement, Licences, Memberships and Qualifications. 

Interviews - 7th February 2024 - 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 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.

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, you will be asked to 'describe when you have led on a complex valuation, the technical input you provided and client liaison involved’

Further Information

Driving Licence - 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 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.