He began his career serving as the sevir equitum Romanorum at the annual review of the equites.
[1] This was followed by his being appointed quaestor urbanus, after which he filled the office of praetor tutelaris (the official responsible for matters of guardianship).
For his proconsular command, Valerius Maximus was appointed curator alvi Tiberis riparum cloacarumque sacrae urbis (responsible for maintaining the sewers and the banks of the Tiber river within the city of Rome).
[1] In 238, Valerius Maximus was one of the Italian nobility who was involved in the senatorial revolt against the emperor Maximinus Thrax.
He perhaps had a role in the negotiations which saw Gordian I offered the imperial office, and was the comes augusti of one of the replacement emperors, Pupienus.