Principal Valuation Surveying Lead – Compulsory Purchase

Job content

Location

Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness

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

Principal Valuation Surveying Lead – Compulsory Purchase – 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, Local and Devolved Government, Health and Transport.

This role sits within the Transport sector, we work with major infrastructure providers including Highways England, Transport for Scotland, Wales and HS2. We deal with all issues of compulsory purchase and compensation. We work as part of multi-disciplinary teams to deliver infrastructure projects from early scheme design to final settlement of compensation.

You will work within a fast-paced team to meet increased client requirements, across a range of complex Compulsory Purchase casework including litigation cases. You will deliver complex casework, provide technical guidance to clients and support caseworkers within DVS.

This exciting opportunity will include project management and leading high-profile casework for high profile clients.

Principal Valuation Surveying Lead – Compulsory Purchase – Key Responsibilities

• Dealing with a large complex portfolio of work requiring extensive experience of complex Compulsory Purchase casework.
• Providing leadership and technical guidance/support to colleagues working on compulsory purchase work.
• Overarching responsibility for client and contract management.
• Engaging with team on client matters and bring key client issues to the attention of Sector Head.
• Maintaining and applying an advanced level of valuation surveying knowledge to casework activity, review of high profile or complex valuations and project management. 
• Managing all associated communication and engagement with stakeholders including the client, other private sector suppliers and sub-contractors, land & property owners, and their agents.
• Identifying risks and issues and making recommendations on action to be taken
• Collaboration with all internal stakeholders across DVS.
• Ensuring an awareness of the wider political, economic, social, technical, environmental, and legislative agendas that impact the Transport Sector.
• Acting as an expert witness, appearance before arbitrators or submission of evidence to independent experts and Lands Tribunals, where required.
  

Person specification

Our ideal candidate will have advanced technical surveying knowledge, with a strong understanding of compulsory purchase and compensation legislation.

You will have strong leadership skills and can engage with, and influence, stakeholders at all levels.

You will also possess exceptional negotiation skills, along with the ability to build strong, credible relationships with colleagues, clients, and agents.

Essential Criteria

• Full RICS or IRRV Surveying Qualification. Qualified in 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
• You should have a strong understanding of the Compulsory Purchase legislation and a good understanding of current market circumstances. 
• You will possess an advanced level of technical knowledge, including the application of relevant legislation, case law, and codes of practice.
• The ability to understand and challenge the needs of the client in the delivery of high value /complex work. 
• Be able to lead a team and develop and maintain client relationships.
• Be able to coach individuals to improve their progression of cases.
• Be able to identify risks and issues, proposing solutions as appropriate.
• A full UK driving licence is required.
• Willingness to travel.
  

Licences

Driving Licence

Qualifications

MRICS, FRICS

Memberships

MRICS, FRICS

Behaviours

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service
• Leadership
  

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.

The VOA operates a Flexible Working policy, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments.

The VOA also operates Hybrid Working – your role will be a combination of office and home working. 

We offer a generous leave allowance that starts at 25 days and goes up to 30 days after 5 years’ service.

• Pay – In the last few years, we have increased both the minimum and maximum pay points for everyone in the VOA.
• Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues’ Alpha pension equal to approximately 27% of their salary. Please click on this link for further information Civil Service Pension
• Family friendly policies – Our maternity, adoption or shared parental leave encompasses 26 weeks with full pay followed by 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid at your discretion. We also offer paternity leave of 4 weeks at full pay.
• Personal support – We offer extensive special leave to help balance your life and work commitments, a variety of non-financial rewards (including a Cycle to Work scheme of up to £4000) and we work with professional providers to provide occupational health and full mental and physical wellbeing services.
• Coaching and development – We are committed to continuous professional and personal development. You will be supported by colleagues with a wealth of knowledge and experience to continually grow in your role.
• Essential Equipment - VOA will support everyone to get additional essential kit and equipment, to make sure they have a suitable and safe home working environment.
  

Download the Employee Value Proposition for full details of the benefits of being a VOA employee at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/valuation-office-agency/about/recruitment

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. In no more than 750 words, please outline your suitability for the role. Ensure that you pay particular attention to the Person Specification and Essential Criteria when providing your answer.

Sift - 09th November 2023

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

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- 29th November 2023.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 Face to Face in our Edinburgh location.

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, information on the presentation topic will be provided to you if you are shortlisted for interview.

Please note that no IT will be available on the day.

Further Information

The Internal role title for this position is: - G7 Sector Leader - Transport Scotland

Should you wish to work less than full-time, the minimum amount of hours will be 29.6 hours per week.

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 or Disclosure Scotland 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 .

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

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.

Please note that the VOA has updated its terms and conditions of employment as part of Civil Service Reform. For more information on how this will affect you, please see attached FAQ document.

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.

This post is advertised as temporary with the possibility of permanency.

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.

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window) .

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : kenneth Baillie
• Email : kenneth.r.baillie@voa.gov.uk
  

Recruitment team

• Email : VOARecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk