At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead complex property valuation cases and provide expert technical advice.
- Company: Join HMRC, a leader in public sector property valuation.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and a strong pension scheme.
- Other info: Opportunities for coaching, mentoring, and continuous professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in high-profile litigation and develop your career.
- Qualifications: MRICS or FRICS Chartered Surveyor with experience in complex casework.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
Location: Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Carmarthen, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Oxford, Swansea, Wrexham
About the job
This role is part of HMRC Valuation Office, formerly known as the Valuation Office Agency. We have recently integrated into HMRC. HMRC Valuation Office 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.
Role Overview
This role sits within a specialist team of the National Valuation Unit and leads some of HMRC Valuation Office (VO) most complex, high-profile and contentious Non-Domestic Rating (NDR) cases. Sitting within the Senior Management Team structure, this role offers significant autonomy, visibility and influence, providing strategic technical leadership on complex Cost, Repair, Contractor’s Basis and Plant & Machinery matters. Working alongside the NDR and Cost Guide leads, you will provide national litigation support across Check, Challenge and Appeal work, managing your own challenging technical cases, shaping litigation strategies and providing expert technical advice to senior leaders, wider team members, legal representatives to support the delivery of operational KPI. You will represent the VO in formal tribunal hearings where required and contribute to national guidance, technical development and continuous improvement activity. The role provides excellent development opportunities, including further training in Plant & Machinery, litigation management, expert witness practice and you will be required to advance your understanding of how your professional technical advice supports NDR valuation practice. You will coach and mentor colleagues, build technical capability across the network and help drive professional excellence.
Key responsibilities
- Leading and managing complex, high-profile and contentious NDR cases through Check, Challenge, Appeal and litigation processes.
- Providing expert technical advice on cost, repair, Contractor’s Basis and Plant & Machinery valuation matters.
- Developing litigation strategies, managing case risk and ensuring robust, defensible outcomes.
- Acting as an expert witness and representing the Agency at Valuation Tribunal, Upper Tribunal and other formal proceedings.
- Reviewing and quality assuring technical reports, evidence, witness statements and appeal submissions.
- Supporting Technical Function Leads with case prioritisation, allocation and progression of complex appeals.
- Coaching, mentoring and developing surveyors through training, peer reviews and technical guidance.
- Developing and maintaining guidance, practice notes, technical briefings and learning materials.
- Monitoring legislative, case law and technical developments, translating these into operational advice and best practice.
- Building strong relationships with Legal Services, operational leaders, professional advisers and external stakeholders to support successful outcomes.
- Undertake inspections and site visits to a wide range of complex, specialist and geographically dispersed properties, including locations where public transport access is limited, to gather and assess evidence to support valuation and litigation casework.
Person specification
We are looking for an experienced and highly credible MRICS Chartered Building Surveyor or Chartered Quantity Surveyor with advanced technical knowledge who can provide authoritative advice on complex valuation casework, cost and repair matters, lead high-profile litigation, and drive technical capability across the Non-Domestic Rating (NDR) business. You will be comfortable and resilient in providing clear professional advice on contentious issues, exercising sound judgement to manage technical, operational and litigation risks, and understanding the wider impacts of decisions on the business and its stakeholders. The successful candidate will be able to analyse complex evidence, communicate technical matters clearly, influence a wide range of stakeholders, assure the quality and robustness of technical advice, support the development of colleagues, and contribute to the continuous improvement of technical standards, processes and business practice while maintaining the highest professional standards.
Essential Requirements
- MRICS or FRICS Chartered Building Surveyor or Chartered Quantity Surveyor with substantial experience in construction costs, building technology, repair liabilities, litigation and complex property casework.
- Strong technical expertise across a range of property types and construction methods, including the ability to diagnose defects, disrepair assessment and evaluate complex construction and remedial work along with associated repair costs.
- Strong understanding of legislation, case law, valuation practice and procedural guidance.
- Proven ability to lead and manage complex, sensitive and high-value cases, developing litigation strategies, managing risk and delivering robust, evidence-based outcomes.
- Experience preparing and presenting high-quality technical reports, witness statements and professional evidence for key stakeholders, legal representatives and Tribunals.
- Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to articulate and defend evidence based professional judgement and reach a positive outcome.
- Strong analytical capability, including the ability to interpret, validate and apply cost information from various sources, integrating multiple datasets and assessing their relevance, robustness and accuracy.
- Proven leadership capability, including coaching, mentoring and developing others, and delivering technical guidance, training and CPD updates ensuring colleagues remain informed of legislative, case law and valuation developments.
- Commitment to developing technical capability and maintaining professional expertise as a RICS Registered Valuer, including developing expertise in Plant and Machinery valuations.
- Willingness to travel nationally, including occasional overnight stays, for inspections, hearings, stakeholder meetings and tribunal work, and hold a full UK driving licence.
A full UK Driving Licence is essential to this 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 note, a Developed Vetting check will be required upon taking up the role and after completing probation.
Qualifications
- Full MRICS/FRICS qualification in Quantity or Building Surveying.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: Leadership, Seeing the Big Picture, Changing and Improving.
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process: Technical knowledge as a Chartered Building Surveyor or Chartered Quantity Surveyor.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £59,342, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £17,191 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. HMRC operates both Flexible and Hybrid Working policies, allowing you to balance your work and personal commitments. We welcome applications from those who need to work a more flexible arrangement and will agree to requests where possible, considering our operational and customer service needs. We offer a generous leave allowance that starts at 25 days, increasing by a day for every year of qualifying service up to a maximum of 30 days and a Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 28.97%. Family friendly policies, personal support, coaching and development are also provided.
Chartered Building or Quantity Surveyor - Complex Caseworker and Litigation Lead employer: HMRC Valuation Office
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work environment where Chartered Surveyors can thrive in their careers while making a significant impact on the health sector. With flexible working arrangements and opportunities for professional development, employees are supported in enhancing their skills and expertise. The collaborative culture fosters teamwork and innovation, making it a rewarding place to work in London and the South East.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Chartered Building or Quantity Surveyor - Complex Caseworker and Litigation Lead
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We think you need these skills to ace Chartered Building or Quantity Surveyor - Complex Caseworker and Litigation Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
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Include Certifications and Qualifications:Don’t forget to list any certifications relevant to construction, like CSCS cards or other safety qualifications. These can really set you apart from other candidates and show that you’re serious about health and safety on-site.
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How to prepare for a job interview at HMRC Valuation Office
✨Brush Up on Technical Knowledge
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✨Understand the Team Dynamics
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Be ready for some practical questions or scenarios where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Interviewers might present you with a hypothetical construction issue to solve, so practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically—this could really set you apart!
