Chartered Building or Quantity Surveyor - Complex Caseworker and Litigation Lead - Birmingham

Chartered Building or Quantity Surveyor - Complex Caseworker and Litigation Lead - Birmingham

Birmingham Full-Time 59342 - 59342 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
HMRC

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead complex property cases and provide expert advice on valuation and litigation.
  • Company: Join HMRC, a vital public sector organisation making a real impact.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous leave, and a strong pension scheme.
  • Other info: Flexible working options and opportunities for professional development.
  • Why this job: Make a difference in communities while advancing your career in a supportive environment.
  • Qualifications: MRICS or FRICS Chartered Surveyor with experience in complex casework.

The predicted salary is between 59342 - 59342 £ per year.

About the job

Discover a career in your hands at HMRC. This role is part of HMRC Valuation Office, formerly known as the Valuation Office Agency. 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. This role offers significant autonomy, visibility and influence, providing strategic technical leadership on complex Cost, Repair, Contractor's Basis and Plant & Machinery matters. 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.

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.
  • Strong understanding of legislation, case law, valuation practice and procedural guidance.
  • Proven ability to lead and manage complex, sensitive and high-value cases.
  • Experience preparing and presenting high-quality technical reports, witness statements and professional evidence.
  • Excellent communication, influencing and stakeholder management skills.
  • Strong analytical capability.
  • Proven leadership capability, including coaching, mentoring and developing others.
  • Commitment to developing technical capability and maintaining professional expertise as a RICS Registered Valuer.
  • Willingness to travel nationally, including occasional overnight stays, for inspections, hearings, stakeholder meetings and tribunal work.

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.

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 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%.

Chartered Building or Quantity Surveyor - Complex Caseworker and Litigation Lead - Birmingham employer: HMRC

HMRC is an exceptional employer that prioritises employee growth and well-being, offering a supportive work culture where innovation and collaboration thrive. With flexible and hybrid working policies, generous leave allowances, and a commitment to continuous improvement, employees can achieve a healthy work-life balance while contributing to meaningful public service. Located in Birmingham's vibrant Arena Central, this role as an Operating Model Manager provides the opportunity to lead impactful change within a large organisation, making a real difference in how technology services are delivered.

HMRC

Contact Details:

HMRC Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Chartered Building or Quantity Surveyor - Complex Caseworker and Litigation Lead - Birmingham

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We think you need these skills to ace Chartered Building or Quantity Surveyor - Complex Caseworker and Litigation Lead - Birmingham

MRICS or FRICS qualification
Advanced technical knowledge in construction costs
Building technology expertise
Litigation management
Complex property casework experience
Expertise in Non-Domestic Rating (NDR) valuation
Ability to develop litigation strategies

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How to prepare for a job interview at HMRC

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