Details

Reference number

368708

Salary

£29,500

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Job grade

Higher Executive Officer

HEO (G) grade

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

VOA - Graduates - National

Type of role

Operational Delivery
Surveying
Valuation

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Part-time

Number of jobs available

Contents

Location

About the job

Benefits

Things you need to know

Apply and further information

Location

Cardiff, Carmarthen, Swansea, Wrexham

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.

As part of this role you will need to communicate effectively with customers, colleagues and stakeholders, verbally and in writing, in both English and Welsh. Due to external requirements your APC assessment will be conducted in English. You will play a vital role ensuring the VOA is able to deliver upon the commitments set out in our Welsh Language Scheme. In addition you’ll have access to networking and opportunities to collaborate via our internal Welsh Language Working Group.

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.
Roles require the ability to speak and write fluently in English and Welsh although the majority of your training will be delivered in English. You will be supported by Welsh speaking colleagues throughout your learning.

Licences

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.

Qualifications

In English - Within your application you will be asked to provide the following under the additional questions section of the online form so we can assess your eligibility to this role:

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.

Languages

As part of this role you will need to communicate effectively with customers, colleagues and stakeholders, verbally and in writing, in both English and Welsh.

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

Alongside your salary of £29,500, Valuation Office Agency contributes £8,546 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%. 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

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, and Previous skills and experiences. ( In English or Welsh )
A Personal Statement. ( In Welsh)

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. These dates are provisional and may be subject to change.

We will assess you on your CV, Personal Statement, Qualifications and Additional Question answers.

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 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.

Assessment centres will be held across a range of dates and regions in early December 2024. More information about these the candidate pack, which can be found at the bottom of the advert.

Please note: Group exercise will be in English. However, the interview (this includes strengths and technical) and presentation will be in Welsh.

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.

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 on 1st September 2025. 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

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.

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).

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 :

Development Team

Email :

developmentteam@voa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

Email :

VOARecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Valuation Office Agency

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