Property Inspector – District Valuer Services South

Job summary

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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.

Job description

Role Overview

The Valuation Office have an exciting opportunity for you to join the Department for Education Net Capacity Assessment (NCA) Programme in England. There is currently one position available in each of the advertised locations, with two positions available in both Oxford and Cambridge.

As a Property Inspector you will be responsible for inspecting and measuring a broad range of primary schools and capturing high-quality and consistent data to inform the programme. Your work will involve recording precise information such as room sizes and gathering information on how spaces are used, following a clear approach provided by the Department for Education. Full training will be provided to ensure you are confident in applying these standards.

A typical week will include inspecting two schools, with the remaining time dedicated to arranging future appointments and writing up your reports. Each inspection usually takes one day, and you will receive a list of schools every three months, giving you the flexibility to manage your own calendar. The VO operates a hybrid working policy, requiring three days in the office per week, but inspection days will count towards this requirement.

The role involves significant travel, generally within an hour of your office or home location, although some schools may require longer journeys. Flexibility is essential to meet the needs of this national programme. It is also a physically demanding position, with long periods of inspecting school sites and carrying the necessary equipment.

If you are highly organised, detail-oriented, and enjoy working independently in a fast-paced environment, this is an excellent opportunity to make a real impact.

Key responsibilities

This role will include:

• Undertaking regular inspection and measurement work as allocated by the Team Manager.
• Organising and arranging inspections in three-month blocks; independently and effectively managing your calendar whilst balancing workload, leave and personal commitments.
• Capturing accurate measurement data on-site using bespoke IT software.
• Using Microsoft 365 programs, iPads and iPhones to record accurate inspection data.
• Accurately determining the property’s key attributes in line with Net Capacity Methodology.
• Engaging with data quality assurance processes ensuring consistent and reliable data.
• Undertaking basic peer review quality control checks for colleagues.
• Engaging effectively with all stakeholders including individual schools, representing the NCA programme consistently and professionally.
• Undertaking inspections independently for most primary schools and potentially with a fellow inspector for larger schools.
• Being accountable for decisions that are taken within guidelines and under the technical leadership of the Team Manager and Project Lead.
• Logging daily activities to ensure accurate invoicing to the client.
• Achieving key programme milestones.

Person specification

We are looking for property professionals with experience of inspection and measurement of properties alongside a good understanding of the working environment. Our ideal candidate will be able to communicate effectively with a broad range of people, manage their workload to ensure the timelines of the programme are met and remain organised and motivated whilst delivering a quality service.

Essential Requirements

• Experience of measuring large buildings using a laser measure tool and the ability to read and interpret plans and accurately capture survey data.
• An awareness of the NCA methodology or the ability to demonstrate how you have applied a complex methodology.
• Well organised andmotivated with experience of working to timelines to ensure programme milestones are met.
• Sound analytical skills, judgement and interpretative ability is required to measure and capture accurate, and consistent data.
• Confident in the use of Microsoft Office 365 programs.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a broad range of people, both verbally and in writing.
• Proven ability to build strong, collaborative relationships with team members and a wide range of stakeholders, including other government bodies, local authorities, responsible bodies, and individual schools.
• A willingness to regularly travel to schools for inspections and client meetings, with an ability to be flexible in approach, supporting the geographical spread of the NCA programme.

Please note, due to the requirements of this role, the successful candidates will be expected to:

• Hold a full UK driving licence as regular travel across designated regions will be required. 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 resourcingteamvo@hmrc.gov.uk with your details to discuss this further before you submit your application.
• Obtain enhanced DBS check as part of our pre-employment checks.

Licences

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 resourcingteamvo@hmrc.gov.uk before you start/submit your application with your details to discuss this further.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

Technical skills

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

• Knowledge and application of property inspection skills.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,682, HM Revenue and Customs contributes £10,916 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

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%.

• Pension - We make contributions to our colleagues’ Alpha pension equal to at least 28.97% of their salary.

• Family friendly policies.

• Personal support.

• Coaching and development.

To find out more about HMRC benefits and find out what it’s really like to work for HMRChear from our insiders or visitThinking of joining the Civil Service

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, Ability, 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 the first stage of the application. After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete an online Civil Service Numerical Test.

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 20th July 2026. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application. Please note the vacancy closes 20th July 2026 you will need to complete the test and the final stage of the application by this deadline.

Our online test supplier will be performing scheduled maintenance between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on 19th July 2026. You will be unable to access tests during this period.

If you are in the middle of a test when the maintenance begins, your progress will be paused. You will be able to resume your test from where you left off via your application centre once the downtime has ended. Please note that you will not be able to launch any new tests while the system is offline.

If you are successful, you will be invited to complete an online application with the following:

How to Apply

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.

A Personal Statement (maximum 750 words), please outline your suitability for the role. Please outline your suitability for the role including examples of your knowledge, skills and experience to demonstrate how you meet the criteria listed in the ‘Person Specification’ and the ‘essential criteria’ for the role.

Sift - 21st July 2026 Please note these dates are provisional and may be subject to change.

We will assess you on your Online Test , CV and Personal Statement.

Should there be a large number of applicants, an initial sift will be made on CV. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.

Interviews -10th August 2026Please 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 and Technical Questions

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.

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

Hybrid working at HMRC

HMRC is an office-based organisation, and colleagues are expected to spend 60% of their working time in the office. Our offices provide opportunity for interaction, collaboration which aids learning and development and a sense of community. Where the role allows it, and where the home environment is suitable, colleagues can work from home for up to 2 days a week, averaged over a calendar month (or a proportionate amount of time for colleagues who work less than full time).

Apprentices

If you are currently completing an apprenticeship, please email resourcingteamvo@hmrc.gov.uk before applying. We will provide you with advice on whether we’re able to support the continuation of your apprenticeship.

Reasonable Adjustments

We want to make sure no one is put at a disadvantage during our recruitment process. To assist you with this, we will reduce or remove any barriers where possible and provide additional support where appropriate.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact the UBS Recruitment Team via resourcingteamvo@hmrc.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

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. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Criminal Record Check

Applications received from candidates with a criminal record are considered fairly in accordance with the DBS Code of Practice and the Recruitment of ex-offenders Policy.

Locations

Our Eastbourne office is currently closed for refurbishments. Successful candidates for this location will be required to attend an alternative office until the site reopens in 2027.

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 HMRC hybrid working policy.

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.

Due to the way the CS Jobs system is set up, when choosing your preferred locations, you will find that the Wembley location will not appear on the list of options.

Should you wish to choose Wembley as a location then please select Harlesden.

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 resourcingteamvo@hmrc.gov.uk before you start/submit your application with your details to discuss this further.

Terms & Conditions

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. The evidence you provide in your application must relate to your own experiences.

Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant application(s) will be withdrawn from the process.

Recording of interviews is prohibited unless explicit agreement is sought in line with the UK General Data Protection Regulations.

Questions relating to an individual application must be emailed as detailed later in this advert.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Please note that, if you are applying for roles on a part-time basis, the salary agreed will be pro-rata, reflective of the working hours agreed within your contract.

If you experience accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Reserve Lists

If we have more successful candidates than available vacancies, we will hold a 12 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.

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 : Gareth Palmer
• Email : gareth.palmer1@hmrc.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of the Recruitment Principles.

In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via resourcingteamvo@hmrc.gov.uk.
Please note that we do not accept complaints or appeals regarding scoring of outcomes of campaigns, unless candidates can provide clear evidence that the campaign did not follow the Recruitment Principles. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their website.