Minerals Technical and Operational Delivery Lead

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 is a unique opportunity for an experienced chartered mineral surveyor to lead HMRC Valuation Office's specialist Minerals function, overseeing nationally significant valuation work and helping shape valuation practice across one of the most complex sectors in the property profession.

You will lead a highly skilled team responsible for the valuation of complex mineral and waste properties, including quarries, mines, landfill sites, brickworks and energy-from-waste facilities. The function also provides specialist valuation advice to government departments and public sector organisations, offering a unique blend of rating and wider valuation work.

Combining strategic leadership, professional influence and technical expertise, you will help shape national approaches to valuation, support the development of specialist surveying capability and ensure the function is equipped to meet future priorities. Working with senior leaders, industry stakeholders and technical experts, you will drive continuous improvement, maintain high professional standards and contribute to the long-term sustainability of the Minerals profession within HMRC Valuation Office.

As a member of the Built Environment and Mineral Surveyors (BEAMS) senior leadership cohort, you will play a key role in developing professional capability, strengthening succession planning and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the minerals surveying profession. A phased handover from the current postholder will support your transition into the role while providing the opportunity to bring fresh ideas, influence strategic direction and shape the future of the function.

While the role does not currently include direct line management responsibilities, there is potential for this to form part of the role in the future as organisational requirements evolve. The successful candidate will therefore be expected to demonstrate strong people leadership skills, with the ability to manage performance, develop capability and lead teams through change.

Key responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership for the Minerals function, ensuring the effective delivery of HMRC Valuation Office's non-domestic rating responsibilities and specialist minerals valuation services, while maintaining professional standards, governance and risk management.
• Support the Head of BEAMS in setting the strategic direction and priorities for the function, balancing operational delivery, business planning, resource management, professional excellence and future business requirements.
• Lead on complex, high-profile, contentious, litigious and politically sensitive valuation matters, providing authoritative technical advice, managing risks and ensuring consistent, robust decision-making.
• Oversee valuation assurance, peer review and quality standards, maintaining technical excellence, consistency and professional integrity across the function.
• Develop, mentor and support specialist surveyors and caseworkers, strengthening technical capability, succession planning and the long-term sustainability of the minerals surveying profession.
• Lead the technical delivery of specialist minerals valuation and surveying services for District Valuer Services (DVS), government departments and wider public sector clients.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with senior stakeholders, industry bodies, agents, ratepayers and professional organisations, representing HMRC Valuation Office in negotiations and on complex technical matters.
• Lead and support tribunal and litigation activity, providing expert witness services and representing HMRC Valuation Office before the Valuation Tribunal, Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) and higher courts as required.
• Support the Head of BEAMS in driving continuous improvement, performance management and innovation, ensuring efficient ways of working and the delivery of high-quality, customer-focused services.
• Act as Deputy to the Head of BEAMS when required, contributing to senior leadership forums, organisational priorities, workforce planning and strategic decision-making across the wider business.

Person specification

You will be a highly experienced and credible chartered mineral surveyor who combines strong technical expertise with excellent leadership, communication and influencing skills. You will be comfortable operating in a demanding environment, able to build trusted relationships across a wide range of stakeholders and make sound evidence-based decisions on complex and sensitive matters.

You will be passionate about developing others, promoting professional excellence and driving continuous improvement, while demonstrating resilience, integrity and professionalism in everything you do.

Essential Requirements

• MRICS or FRICS qualified Chartered Surveyor with significant experience in minerals and waste valuation.
• Extensive expertise in Non-Domestic Rating, Contractor's Basis and specialist minerals and waste valuations.
• Proven technical leadership within a minerals surveying or related professional environment.
• Strong knowledge of rating legislation, valuation principles, case law and risk management.
• Experience of preparing and presenting expert evidence in tribunals, courts or other formal proceedings.
• Proven ability to lead operational delivery, drive performance and implement business improvement.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at senior levels.
• Ability and willingness to undertake national travel, site inspections and occasional overnight stays, supported by a full UK driving licence.

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. before you submit your application. 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

MRICS/FRICS or IRRV(hons) qualified in valuation or real estate pathways.

Memberships

MRICS/FRICS or IRRV(hons) qualified in valuation or real estate pathways.

Behaviours

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

• Developing Self and Others
• Leadership
• Changing and Improving

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during