About the job

Job summary

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) are the public sector’s property valuation experts and advisers. We offer access to 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.

Our people have the freedom to manage their own diaries and are empowered to deliver under their own autonomy. We trust our people and look forward to welcoming your skills into the VOA community.

Job description

Senior Strategy Advisor – Role Overview

The Strategy Team sits within the broader Strategy and Transformation Group, working across all aspects of the Agency to provide teams with the structure and expertise to develop and land transformation successfully. We ensure alignment between major programmes and smaller transformation projects by providing a holistic picture for the Agency.

The Strategy Team sets the long-term direction for the Valuation Office Agency across its three strategic objectives. These are providing trusted valuations efficiently, delivering an excellent customer experience and being a great place to work. We work with policy, operations, and the central functions to define and prioritise the Agency’s short, medium and long term aims. We gather and analyse data to deliver evidence-based propositions on how to achieve these aims as well as strategic solutions for complex and wide-ranging challenges. We work with others to set out appropriate design and implementation approaches, translating and facilitating strategy into delivery with actionable plans.  

Senior Strategy Advisor – Key responsibilities

•  Supporting, and in some cases leading a series of high-impact strategy projects with tangible impacts, including identifying opportunities and developing evidence-based recommendations.
• Setting up and maintaining mechanisms for embedding strategy across the Agency, including conducting strategic assurance related work with projects, programmes and the Business Design Authority.
• Producing, commissioning or sourcing research, analysis or other supporting material to inform strategy development.
• Providing insight and advice through reports and briefings to senior leaders and relevant boards on strategy matters.
• Supporting strategy input into investment cases, portfolio assessments, and annual business plans.
• Keeping informed of the wider Government agenda and policy environment that are relevant to the Agency, looking to understand the likely implications for the Agency.
• Identifying key stakeholders and developing effective relationships to enable collaborative working on strategy development.
• Being a team player and where necessary, supporting the wider Strategy teams.

Person specification

Our new Senior Strategy Advisor will demonstrate strong leadership behaviours, they will need to have the ability to lead by example and influence across key stakeholders and senior leaders to achieve the required buy-in to the team’s work.

You’ll need to have high levels of resilience in order to flexibly respond to the Agency’s changing priorities, delivering results whilst navigating and understanding often complex and ambiguous business problems.

Essential Criteria

• Previous experience of working in or alongside strategy, transformation, or policy and/ or use of strategic tools and techniques in a previous role.
• Experience of developing high-quality products and written materials which can inform strategic decisions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, especially the ability to communicate effectively with senior leaders and wider teams.
• Having the confidence and capability to engage and communicate with a range of stakeholders on strategy matters, looking to provide the best information to enable decisions to be made.
• The ability to employ strategic insight and tools to deliver outcomes.
• Strong focus and organisational skills to enable effective planning, prioritisation, and the ability to take the initiative for delivering a wide-ranging suite of high-quality work to tight deadlines.
• The ability to ensure activities reflect wider strategic and organisational priorities.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £40,185, Valuation Office Agency contributes £10,850 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.

A Personal Statement (maximum 1000 words), please outline your suitability for the role. Please ensure that you reference the Key Responsibilities, Person Specification and Essential Criteria for the role when providing your answer.

Sift – 19th February 2024. Please note this date is provisional and may be subject to change.

We will assess you on your CV and Personal Statement.

In the cases of high numbers of applicants we will look at sifting on the lead essential criteria: Previous experience of working in or alongside strategy, transformation, or policy and/ or use of strategic tools and techniques in a previous role.

Interviews – 12th March 2024. Please note this date is provisional and may be subject to change. The date 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 and a 10 minute 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 on the following subject: Please describe how you would go about developing a high-quality product to inform a strategic decision.

Further Information

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 3 options.

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.

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 6-month reserve list on exception.

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.

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 we’d 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.

 

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.