Chartered Building or Quantity Surveyor - Complex Caseworker and Litigation Lead

About the job

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

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.

This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious and experienced Chartered Surveyor seeking a highly visible role combining technical leadership, litigation expertise, professional autonomy and national influence.

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

Please note, a Developed Vetting check will be required upon taking up the role and after completing probation.

Licences
This role requires regular travel to inspect specialist sites, many of which are in remote locations that are not accessible by public transport. Surveyors are also required to transport PPE and surveying equipment to and from sites. A full UK driving licence is considered necessary for this role. However, if you are disabled within the meaning of the Equality Act 2010 and do not hold a full driving licence, please contact the vacancy holder. We will discuss your circumstances with you and consider whether any reasonable adjustments or alternative arrangements can be made to enable you to undertake the role.

Qualifications
Full MRICS/FRICS qualification in Quantity or Building Surveying.

Memberships
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. 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 HMRC hear from our insiders or visit Thinking 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, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

How to Apply

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 1000 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 - 7th September 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 using the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.

Interviews - W/C 21st September 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 Technical Presentation with Q&A.

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.

Presentation

You will be required to conduct a 10-minute presentation followed by a 5-minute Q&A. Information on the presentation topic will be provided to you if you are shortlisted for interview.

Eligibility

Please take extra care to tick the correct boxes in the eligibility sections of your application form. Mistakes sometimes happen but if you contact us later than two working days (Monday-Friday) before the vacancy closes, we may not be able to reopen your application for you.

If you do make a mistake with your eligibility form, or have withdrawn yourself in error and need your application reinstated whilst the campaign is still live, please contact us via: resourcingteamvo@hmrc.gov.uk - Use the subject line to insert appropriate wording for example - 'Please re-open my application - [insert vacancy ref] & vacancy closing date [insert date]'.

To check that you are eligible to apply for this role, please review the eligibility information before submitting your application.

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

Sponsorship

We have assessed this role against both Home Office and HMRC criteria and we are unable to offer sponsorship for a Skilled Worker Visa. This means the vacancy is not open to applicants who require visa sponsorship.

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).

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

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.

Transitional Sites Information

If your location preference is for the following site(s), it's important to note that this is not long-term site for HMRC and we will require you to move to a new building in the future, subject to our location strategy and the applicable employee policies at that time.

These sites are:

• Benton Park View, Newcastle - moving to Pilgrims Quarter, Newcastle

• Civic Centre, Oystermouth Road, Swansea - moving to Sandringham Park, Swansea

You will be given more information about what this means at the job offer stage.

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 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.

Concerns/Complaints

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: resourcingteamvo@hmrc.gov.uk

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a standard (or equivalent) 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 the Civil 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@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.