About the job

Job summary

The role holder is the Registrar for the administration of the Approved Driving Instructors (ADI) Register.  They are responsible for ensuring continual high standards within the ADI service, and the integrity of the Register.  

Do you have experience of delivering a high-quality service within a regulatory framework?

Are you passionate about improving industry standards?

Are you a confident, proactive leader who is able to instigate and lead change?

If so, we would love to hear from you!

Job description

The Registrar is responsible for the administration of the Approved Driving Instructors (ADI) Register and for ensuring continual high standards within the ADI service and the integrity of the Register.

The primary purpose of this role is to deliver the effective regulation of Approved Driving Instructors, ensuring the quality of instruction and tuition delivered is consistently at a satisfactory level and will not compromise the road safety of individuals or the wider public. The Registrar oversees a team administering the Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) register which currently holds circa 40,000 instructors.

They will have day to day responsibility for making decisions which maintain the integrity of the Registrar role and ensure that the Agency is an effective and efficient regulator in accordance with the legislation.

They also oversee the regulatory compliance by providing advice to the industry and champion changes in the ADI service to ensure ongoing effectiveness and efficiency of the service.

As well as being accountable for the performance of their area, their role is one of strategic importance to DVSA. They will help set the direction of the future of the ADI qualification process, continual professional development and consumer information.

This is a fantastic opportunity for the successful candidate to grow this ambassadorial role, shape the development of the service, and continually improve standards.

We want to work with the industry to ensure we encourage the best people to apply to become instructors, and to help learners become excellent drivers. The successful candidate will form an effective relationship with this community and ensure they are encouraged to treat their role with a high degree of professionalism.

Your role will be pivotal in improving industry standards and you will work closely with stakeholders to conduct testing exercises and make positive changes.

Working within a regulatory framework, you will lead with authority and share your expertise to support policy development and implement legislative changes.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as Registrar with overall responsibility for all decisions which impact the Register of Approved Driving Instructors.
• Lead the design of the ADI Service with responsibility for policy and associated product development, from inception of legislation through to implementation.
• Ensure the ADI service and products have clearly defined standards, quality expectations and service levels and these are understood by the delivery partners through pro-active collaboration.
• Act as engagement and media lead, providing guidance to a range of stakeholders, establishing and building strong partnerships with stakeholders. Develop and maintain close relationships with the internal and external experts needed to support traffic commissioner policy development.
• Ensure policy/legal/service requirements are provided to internal stakeholders and in response to customer, press and Freedom of Information (FOI) enquiries.
• Communicate with all major stakeholders (internal and external) to achieve business objectives.
• Demonstrate leadership by providing influence, direction, and guidance to colleagues to support the delivery of objectives.

For more information about the role and responsibilities please see the attached Candidate Pack

Person specification

You will have a good understanding of relevant legislation, and the regulatory model. You will be familiar with relevant policy, experienced in policy development and incorporation into operational activity.

You will be a proactive self-starter, and a passionate and motivational leader with the ability to initiate change, test new initiatives, use feedback to inform decisions and implement the changes into operational activities.

We are looking for someone with exceptional interpersonal and stakeholder management skills. You will be a confident communicator, able to understand and adapt to your environment and engage with a variety of personalities. Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential, as you will be required to work with senior stakeholders across multiple disciplines to develop policy, and explain complex topics and legal risks.

You will have a firm understanding of strategic and financial planning, project management principles and governance arrangements.

Please take note that DVSA does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. 

Additional Information

This role can be based in Swansea, Nottingham, Bristol, or Newcastle, your presence at one of these locations will form part of the working arrangements agreed with you. We operate a hybrid working model giving you greater flexibility about where and when you work. Our current expectation is that you will spend a minimum 40% of your time at your base location. Visits to other DVSA sites or work locations count towards the 40%. Please be aware there is a Civil Service wide expectation to increase office attendance to 60% and we are working on our implementation plan.

About Us

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) helps keep Britain moving, safely and sustainably. 

 

We do this by helping people through a lifetime of safe and sustainable journeys, helping them keep their vehicles safe to drive, and protecting them from unsafe drivers and vehicles. 

We’re working hard to:  

• make roads safer
• improve services for our customers
• make road transport greener and healthier
• harness the potential of technology and data
• grow and level up the economy

We’re committed to giving all our colleagues purpose, professionalism and pride in what we do. We work in supportive, diverse and inclusive teams where everyone is valued. You can grow, develop and progress, and make a real difference to society. 

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice and welcome and encourage applications from everyone, such as ethnic minorities, women, disabled people and those who identify as LGBT+. 
 
To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace and making DVSA a great place to work visit our Careers website.  

Benefits

• An environment with flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance 
• Exceptional pension with an employer contribution of an average of 27% 
• Generous Annual Leave - 25 days holiday, increasing by 1 each year of service, up to 30 
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday  
• Latest IT and Tech devices  
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues 
• Excellent learning and development tailored to your role including paid apprenticeships up to Masters level 
• Wide range of discounts schemes on high street names 
• Employee assistance program for health and wellbeing  
• Cycle to work scheme and Gym membership offers 
• For more information see visit our careers page 

 

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

The sift is due to take place on 24th and 25th January 2024. 

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held on or after 6th February 2024.

This interview will take place at one of our designated offices, details of which will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.  

We’ll try to meet the dates we’ve set out in the advert, but there may be occasions when these dates will change. We’ll give you plenty of notice of any important dates. 

How to Apply  

As part of the application process you will be asked to provide a CV and Personal Statement.

For your personal statement, please use the word count of 1250 words to provide evidence of when you have:

• Experience of delivering a service in within a regulatory framework
• Experience of interpreting policy, legislation or other information to provide evidence-based insight and guidance
• Experience of working with stakeholders to deliver against operational objectives, including advising and influencing decisions at senior levels
• Track record of leading and motivating people, showing commitment to diversity, inclusion, a positive team culture and team member development.

We’ll try to meet the dates we’ve set out in the advert. But there may be occasions when these dates will change. We’ll give you plenty of notice of any important dates.

The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment will include: 

• an interview

If you would like to find out more about what it’s like to work for DVSA and how to apply, we will be holding virtual sessions to find out more. Please click here to secure your place at one of our upcoming events.

You’re encouraged to become familiar with the candidate pack attached, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within. 

The Department for Transport recruits using Success Profiles. For each role, we consider what you need to demonstrate to be successful. 

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.  

You can read more about Success Profiles here. 

Reasonable Adjustments

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Document Accessibility

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

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.

Further Information

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

Pre-employment Checking

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.

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.