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- Tasks: Shape property tax policy and manage cross-government relations.
- Company: Join the Valuation Office Agency, experts in public sector valuations.
- Benefits: Collaborative environment, career growth, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Opportunity to work with senior stakeholders and influence high-level decisions.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on property tax policy across England and Wales.
- Qualifications: Strong communication skills and an interest in policy development.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
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. 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.
Join the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) as a Policy Advisor and become a key player in shaping property tax policy across England and Wales. This exciting role offers a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between the VOA and government departments, providing critical insights that influence high-level decision-making.
As a Policy Advisor there is flexibility to work across the VOA Policy Team, having a critical role including for managing cross government relations, policy development and maintaining strategic oversight of key and emerging issues, including from high-profile litigation and Business Rates revaluation exercises. Your strategic oversight will have a direct impact on financial, legal, and reputational risks across government.
The VOA holds a unique position in the Property Tax System and is the operational arm for delivering strategic policy for HM Treasury and Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government as well as the Welsh Government. Where a need for policy change is identified, you will be responsible for impacting these, working with a wide range of stakeholders across the VOA to develop and communicate a single view to recommend and broker policy change with strategic policy partners across Government.
Role Overview
The role sits in the Valuation Office Agency's (VOA) Policy team, which bridges the VOA and our cross-Government departments across the property tax system. The role supports strong collaborative working across the VOA and with our cross-Government policy partners, identifying and communicating emerging issues and areas for improvement while developing potential policy options and advice that are considered by senior stakeholders, including Ministers.
The role supports the VOA's Litigation and Settlement Strategy, which provides the formal framework within which the VOA seeks to resolve emerging and ongoing disputes against valuations for Business Rates and Council Tax. This includes consideration of the VOA's highest profile cases, carrying significant policy, operational and reputational risks.
You will also play a key role in Business Rates revaluation exercises, specifically for the escalation to cross-Government of any emerging issues or developments. This will involve building strong relationships across the VOA to gather meaningful insight that you will use to regularly update cross-Government policy partners and Ministers on progress.
Key responsibilities
- Managing and gatekeeping relationships with cross-Government policy partners, maintaining regular engagement to understand wider Government priorities and impacts of potential policy options and interventions, bringing these together with VOA operational impacts.
- Management and tracking of cases referred through the Litigation and Settlement Strategy's Governance process.
- Reporting on emerging issues, including high profile cases referred through the VOA's Litigation and Settlement Strategy's governance process, and developments resulting from rates revaluation exercises. Providing advice and recommendations on any escalations to cross-Government policy partners and Ministers.
- Co-ordinate, develop and impact assess policy position papers to provide a collective 'one VO' view on issues in response to commissions e.g. from Ministers or emerging strategic policy risks e.g. resulting from high profile litigation. This involves using the VOA's Strategic Impact Assessment – policy development framework aligned to HMRC activity and the Agency's Transformation Change Lifecycle processes and subsequent governance.
- Proactively identifying areas for improvement within the VOA through engagement with operational partners and strategic litigation risks to take to other Government Departments, ensuring the resulting changes are understood, impacted and operable by the VOA, including ensuring all legal, financial, political and operational impacts are taken into account.
- Work with a wide range of VOA stakeholders to inform and develop a view on the impacts of any policy change, including operational, financial, legal and reputational. You will also be responsible for advising senior leaders on proposed actions.
- The role has potential for line management responsibilities.
Policy Advisor in Newcastle upon Tyne employer: Government Recruitment Service
Contact Detail:
Government Recruitment Service Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Policy Advisor in Newcastle upon Tyne
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at the VOA on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give us insider info about the role and the team, plus it shows our genuine interest in the agency.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by brushing up on current property tax policies and recent changes in legislation. We want to impress them with our knowledge and show that we’re ready to hit the ground running!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice our responses to common interview questions, especially those related to policy development and stakeholder management. Let’s make sure we can articulate our thoughts clearly and confidently.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure our application gets noticed. Plus, we can keep track of our application status easily.
We think you need these skills to ace Policy Advisor in Newcastle upon Tyne
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application for the Policy Advisor role. Highlight your relevant experience and skills that align with the job description, especially around property tax policy and cross-Government relations.
Showcase Your Collaborative Spirit: Since the role involves working closely with various stakeholders, emphasise your ability to collaborate and communicate effectively. Share examples of how you've successfully worked in teams or managed relationships in previous roles.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use straightforward language to convey your ideas, making it easy for the hiring team to see your qualifications and enthusiasm for the role.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. This ensures your application is received promptly and allows us to process it efficiently. Plus, you'll get a feel for our online presence and values!
How to prepare for a job interview at Government Recruitment Service
✨Know Your Policy Stuff
Make sure you brush up on current property tax policies and recent changes in legislation. The Valuation Office Agency is all about shaping policy, so being well-versed in the latest developments will show that you're serious about the role.
✨Showcase Your Collaborative Spirit
Since the role involves managing relationships with cross-Government partners, be ready to discuss your experience in collaboration. Share specific examples of how you've worked with different stakeholders to achieve a common goal.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect questions that ask how you'd handle specific situations, especially around high-profile litigation or policy development. Think through potential scenarios and how you would approach them, demonstrating your strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, don’t shy away from asking questions. Inquire about the VOA's current challenges or upcoming projects. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you understand how you can contribute effectively.