About the job

Job summary

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) are the public sector’s property valuation experts and advisers. We are one of the largest employers of surveyors in the country offering 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

Valuation Surveyor – Role Overview

As a property professional at the VOA, you will be heavily involved in the process of undertaking valuations and progressing cases. You will be part of  our National Non-Domestic Rating team managing large caseloads, undertaking site inspections, discussing cases with ratepayers or agents, and representing the Valuation Office Agency at Valuation Tribunal. Throughout the process, you’ll be expected to maintain our high standards for quality, delivering to often demanding deadlines

You will work as part of a team, including Chartered Valuation Surveyors who will provide you with all the advice and guidance you need. We are committed to developing our people and are particularly interested in hearing from experienced property professionals who aspire to become professional members of RICS (MRICS) in the near future. Full training is provided up to and throughout your qualification examinations. Commitment to gaining a professional qualification is not mandatory.

Valuation Surveyor – Key responsibilities

• Providing accurate commercial property valuations on a regional basis ranging from advertising rights, leisure, telecommunications, to civic buildings, large offices, industrial and retail, re-valuing these on a three-yearly cycle.
• Providing valuations of plant and machinery.
• Progressing cases through to a reasoned conclusion, applying current legislation and organisational policy.
• Discussing and providing guidance on cases with individual ratepayers or agents and issuing valuation and assessment decisions.
• Resolving a variety of valuation and technical issues undertaking research and analysis of data to support decisions.
• Assessing whether a property inspection is needed or where further evidence is required using sound judgement and interpretive ability.
• Appearing at Valuation Tribunals where necessary.

Person specification

We are seeking experienced property professionals with broad commercial property experience to join our Non-Domestic Rating Team. Our ideal candidate will have strong research and analytical skills in order to make effective decisions and also have the ability to clearly communicate technical or complex information simply to stakeholders. The successful candidate will work to deadlines effectively by managing their workload, remaining organised and delivering a quality service.

Essential Criteria

• Experience of working within the commercial property sector.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Knowledge of commercial property market.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to use a wide range of information to make effective decisions.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,036, Valuation Office Agency contributes £9,190 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/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 - W/C 12/02/24  (Please note these dates are provisional and may be subject to change)

We will assess you on your CV and Personal Statement.

In cases of high numbers of applicants we will use the lead essential criteria to conduct a pre-sift; experience of working within the commercial property sector. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to interview.

Interviews - 28/02/24 (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, an expereicne question and strengths.

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.

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 2  options. 

London Locations

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

Should you wish to choose Wembley as a location then please select Harlesden.

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.

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 6-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 candidates 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

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission. 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.