Surveying Profession Team Leader

Valuation Office Agency

Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 3rd November 2024

 

Details

Reference number

373909

Salary

£54,631
National Minimum - £54,631
London Minimum - £59,884
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Job grade

Grade 7

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

VOA - Business Functions - Property Professional Services

Type of role

Valuation

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Canary Wharf, Cardiff, Carmarthen, Colchester, Durham, Eastbourne, Exeter, Folkestone, Hull, Lancaster, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Norwich, Nottingham, Oxford, Plymouth, Preston, Sheffield, Southampton, St Austell, Stoke-on-Trent, Swansea, Tower Hamlets, Wrexham.

Job summary

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) are the public sector’s property valuation experts and advisers with a vision to be a world-leading provider of public sector valuations. As one of the largest employers of surveyors in the country, our work is vital to the collection of over £60 billion of revenue which goes back into communities, touching every citizen and every business across England and Wales.

We champion the values of professionalism, integrity, respect and innovation. We are committed to providing a collaborative and supportive working environment that encourages every colleague to contribute, grow and excel together. With opportunities to drive your own development and growth, we empower our colleagues to succeed by ensuring support at every step of their career journey.

Job description

Surveying Profession Team Leader – Role Overview

The Surveying Profession is one of the main career anchors within the Government Property Profession and encompasses anyone who is involved in property related activity in the Valuation Office Agency (VOA).  

An exciting opportunity has arisen for someone to lead in the delivery of projects to develop the profession within the agency and raise our profile externally to ensure we are able to attract, develop and retain the surveying professionals we need now and in the future.  

This is an essential role working closely with the Deputy Head of Profession, Chief Valuer, People Group, Chief Operating Officer Group. The role involves close collaboration with stakeholders across the agency and externally within the wider property industry such as RICS, academic institutions, learning providers, other government departments and the Government Property Profession in order to collaboratively deliver projects.  

Surveying Profession Team Leader – Key responsibilities

  • Lead the delivery of projects and initiatives to ensure that the agency is able to attract, develop and retain the surveying professionals needed to meet current and future workforce plans.  
  • Collaborate with internal stakeholders and influence external providers to ensure the surveying development pipelines meet the future skills and capability needs of the agency and will deliver the numbers needed to address future workforce demand. 
  • Advise and brief senior leaders on issues relating to the development pipeline including alternative routes to mitigate business impact. 
  • Develop and maintain a diverse range of highly effective relationships with key external stakeholders, including but not limited to RICS, GPP, learning providers, other cross government and professional networks.
  • Raise the profile of the profession internally to improve engagement, including leading the development of a community of trainees and recent qualifiers.
  • Lead on plans to raise the profile of the Agency externally through undertaking activities with the Government Property Profession, RICS accredited Universities and other educational providers which will impact positively on the recruitment and retention of surveyors.
  • Develop and deliver initiatives to support on-going career development for qualified surveying professionals.
  • Monitor performance across the team, planning and monitoring project activities and reporting progress of the team through the Unit Performance Hub, ensuring accuracy and timeliness of the data presented.
  • Use data to inform strategy and measure impact.
  • Mentor and support surveying professionals and trainees, holding career conversations to enable colleagues to reach their potential.
  • Line management responsibilities of a small team.

Person specification

Our ideal candidate is someone who can effectively manage a team, taking into consideration everyone’s individual needs and supporting those on surveying development programmes. The role requires an individual with advanced knowledge of the routes to qualification as a surveyor and has experience of working in a fast changing, complex and sensitive environment.

The successful candidate must be able to remain patient, level-headed, and focused under pressure, utilising their strong judgement skills to make decisions when appropriate and knowing when to escalate issues as needed. As Surveying Profession Team Leader, the role holder must proactively cultivate a keen attention to detail, lead on initiatives and projects, and embrace full accountability for both actions and outcomes. Given this role requires strong collaboration skills, the successful candidate will possess excellent interpersonal abilities.

Essential Requirements

  • MRICS/FRICSor significant experience of leading the successful delivery of surveying development programmes.
  • Strong leadership skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate the team to deliver individual, team and business objectives.
  • Detailed knowledge of the routes to qualification as a surveyor, including a comprehensive understanding of entry and assessment requirements for RICS membership at different levels.
  • Ability to use data to make informed decisions and ensure a quality service.
  • Experience of mentoring and/or supporting surveying apprentices and graduates.
  • Ability to build strong networks and come to informed strategic solutions in response to issues.
  • Excellent communication skills, including experience influencing and working collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders and senior leaders.

Qualifications

Memberships MRICS/FRICS or significant experience of leading the successful delivery of surveying development programmes.

Memberships

MRICS/FRICS or significant experience of leading the successful delivery of surveying development programmes.

Behaviours

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

  • Leadership
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

  • 10 Minute Presentation
Alongside your salary of £54,631, Valuation Office Agency contributes £15,826 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

We offer a range of flexible working options, a generous leave allowance that starts at 25 days and goes up to 30 days after 5 years’ service and a Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%.

  • Learning and development tailored to your role.
  • An environment with flexible working options.
  • Family friendly policies including 26 weeks full pay for maternity, adoption or shared parental leave.
  • Employee Assistance Programme offering comprehensive wellbeing support.
  • To learn more about the extensive benefits we can offer you as a VOA employee please download our Benefits Booklet: pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk)

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 pay particular attention to the ‘Essential Criteria’ and ‘Person Specification’ outlined in the advert when providing your answer.

Sift (6th November 2024)

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

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.

Interviews (20th November 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 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. Information on the presentation topic will be provided to you if you are shortlisted for interview.

Application Hints and Tips

For more information on Success Profiles, tips on how to write a successful application and find out more about what’s involved in the application process please visit About the application process , Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk) 

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. Please be aware that you can be posted to any location that you put in your preferences. If you would only like to be posted to one location, please confirm one location only.

Successful candidates must select one of the locations noted in this advert as their base office and will be expected to undertake regular travel to this location under the Agency’s hybrid working policy.

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.

Should you wish to choose Canary Wharf as a location then please select Tower Hamlets.

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

The VOA is an office-based organisation that supports flexible working. By default, everyone in the VOA is a hybrid worker with options to work in the office, at home or out and about, depending on the work they’re doing that day and where it’s best done.

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.

If you would require a Certificate of Sponsorship from the VOA to undertake this role, please contact resourcingteam@voa.gov.uk before submitting your application.

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.

Reasonable Adjustment

We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process because of a disability, condition, or impairment. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.

If you need a reasonable adjustment or a change to be made so that you can make your application, please click here for more information:

Reasonable Adjustments , Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk) and contact voarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible.

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.

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.

Use of AI

You may utilise artificial intelligence (AI) tools and platforms to support you during the application process however, as with any application all information submitted must be factually accurate and all examples provided must be taken directly from your own experience. All presented information will be assessed at interview. Any applications where factual inaccuracy, plagiarism or copying of examples/answers from internet sources is detected will be withdrawn from the process. Further action, including disciplinary action, may be considered in such cases involving internal candidates.

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
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 : Clare Johnson
  • Email : clare.johnson@voa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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

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