Graduate Valuation Surveyor
Valuation Office Agency
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 4th November 2024
Details
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Salary
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Type of role
Surveying
Valuation
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Contents
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About the job
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. This 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
Graduate Valuation Surveyor – Role Overview
We are looking for eager and talented people to join our Graduate Valuation Surveyor Programme. To apply, you will need to hold, or expect to hold by 1 September 2025, a RICS accredited Real Estate or Valuation degree at 2:2 or above, or an MSc in Real Estate.
As part of the programme we will provide you with the right mix of experience to pass the RICS Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) and become a Chartered Surveyor. Don’t just take our word for it though. One of our current graduates sums up the programme perfectly below.
“The support, training and opportunities provided to me have been first class. Being a graduate at the VOA exposes me to plenty of challenging work and opportunities that I would not have otherwise been able to undertake. The VOA are very accommodating and inclusive when it comes to your career and personal needs.”
You will undertake a variety of roles and responsibilities as part of your structured training such as: advising public sector clients, surveying and valuing properties for non-domestic rating, inheritance tax and council tax, undertaking development appraisals and much more.
If you enjoy working within a fast paced, challenging environment then this is an excellent opportunity to join our highly skilled and diverse organisation. Full details of key responsibilities, person specification and eligibility requirements are contained within the candidate pack which can be found at the bottom of the advert.
You can also click here to view dates, times and sign up to our live events taking place via Microsoft Teams prior to the closing date. These events are a great opportunity to find out more about our Graduate Programme and how to apply. Please note booking will close at 5pm the day before each event. On the day of the event, you will receive a joining link by 09:30am to access the event.
Person specification
Essential Requirements
To be eligible for this role you will need to:
- Hold a RICS accredited Real Estate or Valuation degree at 2:2 or above, or a MSc in Real Estate OR will expect to hold one of the above qualifications by 1st September 2025. Please note:
- Your qualification must be fully complete and awarded by this date.
- Before applying, please check your degree or masters is listed here https://www.ricscourses.org/,filtering on valuation, commercial real estate or residential pathways via the filter panel on the left.
- Hold a full UK / EU Driving Licence – A Provisional licence is accepted at time of application however a FULL licence must be attained and evidenced within 6 months of take up date. 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.
- Have sound analytical skills and good judgement to inform decisions and provide opinions or advice to others.
- Have strong interpersonal and networking capabilities.
- Be self-motivated, flexible and prepared to perform a range of duties, regularly taking on new challenges.
- Have good time management and organisational skills, taking ownership of your workload and professional development, whilst delivering to deadlines.
- Be willing to travel on a regular basis, including potential overnight stays and/or change your base location, to ensure the right work and support is available to you.
Licences
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.
Qualifications
• Name of University
• Name of RICS accredited degree course you hold or expect to hold by 1 September 2025 (including BSc or MSc)
• Grade of qualification gained, and date awarded or predicted grade and award date (for BSc this must be 2:2 or above)
• Confirmation that your course is listed here https://www.ricscourses.org/, under the valuation, commercial real estate or residential pathway filters.
Please note: If you do not meet our qualification requirements, you will be removed from the application process.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
- Working Together
- Leadership
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- These will be assessed via a combination of interview, presentation and group exercise. Your assessment will include technical elements which will align to your skills and knowledge of the role.
Benefits
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%. Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks with full pay followed by 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid, and paternity leave of 2 weeks at full pay.
- 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)
Things you need to know
Selection process details
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, and Previous skills and experiences.
- A Personal Statement.
Please provide a personal statement outlining in 500 words or less - your suitability for the role based on the job description, key responsibilities and person specification and your interest in the surveying profession.
Sift - 6 November - 14 November 2024. Please note these dates are provisional and may be subject to change.
- We will assess you on your CV, Personal Statement, Qualifications and Additional Questions.
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 - 2 - 13 December 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 via Assessment Centres across a range of dates and regions . We will provide more detail if you are shortlisted for interview. More information about these are contained in the candidate pack, which can be found at the bottom of the advert.
We will assess you on the Behaviours listed in the job description, strengths and your technical skills. These will be assessed via a combination of interview, presentation and group exercise. Your assessment will include technical elements which will align to your skills and knowledge of the role.
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 be required to conduct a 10-minute presentation where we will assess your technical and presentation skills. Information on the presentation topic will be provided to you if you are shortlisted for the next stage. Please note that, for data security reasons, no IT will be available on the day. If you would like to use slides and/or a visual aid during your presentation, please bring along paper copies for the panel.
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
Alternative Working Patterns - Whilst we try take personal circumstances into account wherever possible, successful candidates must be willing and able to work at least 30 hours per week to meet the requirements of the programme.
This role can be undertaken at any of the locations listed and you will be asked to select up to two preferred locations as part of your application. You should only select locations that you can commit to working in long term. Details of our office locations can be found at the top of the advert. There will be a merit list per location with the 1st candidate from each list offered a role, starting with the highest scoring individual, until the number of required roles is met.
We will create separate merit lists for each location and make job offers from those lists. If successful you will be placed onto the list for your chosen locations. If you accept a role in one of the locations, you will automatically be removed from any other merit list.
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.
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 locations will not appear on the list of options. 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.
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)
- 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 6-month reserve list.
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
Successful candidates will take up their post early September 2025, after successful completion of pre-employment checks. However, if you currently hold any of the above qualifications, you may be offered a post prior to this subject to availability.
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
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Development Team
- Email : developmentteam@voa.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : VOARecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
