BEAMS – Rating Cost Guide & Cost Analysis lead - Chartered Building or Quantity Surveyor

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 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.

Job description

Role Overview

Join a nationally important team within the Valuation Office Agency where your construction cost expertise directly shapes the Agency’s rating framework. As the technical lead of the Rating Cost Guide (RCG) and Cost Analysis, you will oversee the creation and management of the UK's Rating Cost Guides. Your responsibility is to ensure these guides are accurate, reliable, and trusted throughout England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

You will provide technical leadership and oversee a small team providing expert cost advice on complex casework, lead major cost‑based projects, and apply strong professional judgement to support confident, defensible decisions. As a senior technical specialist, you may represent the VOA at tribunals, negotiate with industry stakeholders, and work closely with HMRC Digital, Transformation, Valuation Panels and national agents.

You will also strengthen capability across the team, coaching, mentoring and providing training to raise technical standards. The role suits someone who thrives in a technical leadership environment, enjoys solving complex cost and valuation challenges, and is passionate about driving professional excellence. Visibility and proactive engagement are key, working closely with colleagues both in person and via Teams to provide strong leadership and support performance across the team.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and manage the delivery of cost analysis and the production of the Agency’s Cost Guide on behalf of BEAMS, supporting wider business areas including Non‑Domestic Rates and District Valuer Services. Ensure all commissioned work is delivered to a high standard, on time, and aligned with client expectations.
• Personally undertake the most complex, high-risk, or contentious valuation and property casework, applying expert knowledge and sound professional judgment.

• Act as an expert witness in complex litigation, representing the agency as subject matter expert at the Valuation Tribunal for England (VTE), Valuation Tribunal for Wales (VTW), Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber), and higher courts as required.
• Apply advanced analytical and evaluative skills to resolve sensitive or technically challenging cases, providing strategic advice to senior leaders on implications, risks, and outcomes.
• Provide technical leadership across the BEAMS Team and wider VOA, offering coaching, mentoring, and feedback to build capability and close skills gaps.

• Champion continuous professional development (CPD) by identifying knowledge gaps, supporting learning initiatives, and contributing to technical guidance, practice notes, and team communications.

• Take full accountability for the delivery of operational targets, monitoring team outputs against strategic objectives, identifying performance issues, and implementing corrective actions to drive continuous improvement.

• Proactively identify and mitigate risks, anticipating emerging issues and implementing effective solutions or escalation strategies to maintain service quality and integrity.

• Build and maintain strong stakeholder relationships, both internally and externally, to support project delivery, enhance collaboration, and identify new business opportunities.

• Support workforce planning and resource allocation, fostering a culture of innovation, adaptability, and continuous improvement within the team.

• Oversee the management of inboxes, work monitors, and casework, ensuring all activity is handled professionally, commercially, and efficiently.

• To support wider business needs, you may be required to step into other technical G7 roles within the team, demonstrating flexibility and a commitment to organisational priorities.

Person specification

The postholder must be a Chartered Building or Quantity Surveyor with strong analytical and technical capability. They will have proven experience leading projects, managing risk and assuring quality across dispersed teams. Strong communication, interpersonal and relationship‑building skills are essential, with the ability to work collaboratively across digital, technical and operational functions.

The role requires clear professional judgement when managing complex casework, along with the ability to produce high‑quality technical reports and represent the organisation confidently. The successful candidate will demonstrate calm, supportive leadership and a strong commitment to developing others and promoting professional excellence. They will have a commitment to continuous improvement and their own professional development.

Essential Requirements

• Possession of a full MRICS/FRICS qualification in Quantity or Building Surveying.
• Extensive construction cost expertise and strong understanding of building costs, construction methods and contractor’s basis valuation principles (or willingness to rapidly develop this knowledge).
• Proven leadership of national technical programmes, delivering accurate, high‑quality outputs with robust governance, quality assurance and consistency across dispersed teams.
• Leadership and people development skills, including coaching, motivating and building capability across specialist teams and effective stakeholder management, able to influence and collaborate with a range of stakeholders.
• Strong analytical and professional judgement, able to interpret complex cost data, resolve contentious issues and support high‑risk or sensitive casework.
• Experience in project planning and risk management, with the ability to monitor progress, identify issues early and implement corrective actions.
• Excellent communication skills able to produce clear technical reports, guidance and expert witness material, and able to present confidently at tribunals and inquiries.
• Proficient IT literacy is required in the preparation of cost analysis and the production of the agencies cost guide. A willingness to learn and improve systems and work practices is essential.
• Willingness to travel regularly (including for site inspections), and possession of a Full UK Driving Licence.

Licences

Full UK Driving License - 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 contact resourcingteam@voa.gov.uk resourcingteam@voa.gov.uk before you start/submit your application with your details to discuss this further.

Qualifications

Possession of a full MRICS/FRICS qualification in Quantity or Building Surveying is essential.

Memberships

Possession of a full MRICS/FRICS qualification in Quantity or Building Surveying is essential.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Managing a Quality Service
• Changing and Improving

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• As part of the interview you will be asked technical questions to assess your technical skills.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £59,342, Valuation Office Agency contributes £17,191 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 (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%. We also offer:

• 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: VOA_benefits_booklet.pdf (publishing.service.gov.uk).

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

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/Full Qualifications/Previous skills and experiences.
• A Personal Statement (maximum 750 words), please outline your suitability for the role. Please pay particular attention to the ‘Essential Requirements’ and ‘Person Specification’ outlined in the advert when providing your answer.

Sift - 13th March 2026. Please note these dates are provisional and may be subject to change.

• We will assess you on your CV, Personal Statement, Qualifications and Memberships.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted on the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.

Interviews - 30th March 2026. 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 using Microsoft Teams Video. We will provide more detail if you are shortlisted for interview.

• We will assess you on the Behaviours listed in the job description, Strengths Technical Questions and Presentation.

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 also be required to conduct a 10-minute presentation. Information on the presentation topic will be provided to you if you are shortlisted for interview.

Technical

As part of the interview you will be asked technical questions to assess your technical skills.

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

You will be joining the department during the transition of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) into HMRC. For this reason, the role will start on VOA terms and conditions for a temporary transition period. After this, your employment will move to HMRC Terms and Conditions.

As part of the application process you will be asked to tell us which of the locations available you can work in. You will be able to specify up to 2 options. Please be aware that you can be posted to any location that you put in your preferences. If you would only like to be posted to one location, please confirm one location only.

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.

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 contact resourcingteam@voa.gov.ukbefore you start/submit your application with your details to discuss this further. to discuss this further.

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.

This post is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish Citizen, under the EU settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for this post in relation to the Skilled Worker Visa route before applying.

To be eligible for sponsorship you will usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of £38700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria.

Ensure you are eligible before applying for this post.

You can also contact resourcingteam@voa.gov.uk for further support.

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 3-month reserve list as standard.

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

The successful candidate will normally take up duty within one month from notification of successful completion of pre-employment checks.

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.

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

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).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 theCivil 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 : Richard Bryan
• Email : richard.bryan@voa.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : VOARecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk