About the job

Job summary

We recognise the challenges that people with protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.

Are you effective at building relationships with stakeholders to deliver against objectives?

Are you skilled at using evidence to advise and influence senior stakeholders?

Would you like to work in a high profile and interesting area working with our lead stakeholders, Transport for London?

If so, then we would love for you to apply!

Job description

London Partnerships and Delivery leads the Department for Transport’s relationship with Transport for London (TfL), London Boroughs and the Greater London Authority. We take a strategic view of London transport issues, including its interface with national networks and Government’s wider aims for economic growth in the Capital and beyond. We are a friendly and inclusive team and our work is varied, high-profile and interesting.

Sitting within this London-focused division, the London Policy and Strategy Team is a key point of collaboration with TfL and wider London stakeholders. We own a broad set of policy issues related to the Government’s role in London’s transport and its relationship to TfL, alongside our work on strategy and engagement. Our team is often the first port of call for new or emerging questions about London’s transport network and we are adept at finding answers and solutions to complex policy questions.

As the Department’s Area Lead for London, the successful candidate will be responsible for gathering intelligence on London transport issues and playing an active role in conversations about Government policy and investment with implications for transport in London. You will work closely with stakeholders across Government, TfL and other organisations and develop an extensive network of contacts to inform your advice to Ministers and Departmental colleagues. You will also own the London Partnerships and Delivery team’s strategy, ensuring our work and stakeholder engagement supports the Department’s strategic priorities and delivers against Ministerial priorities for London and its transport system.

Responsibilities

Key accountabilities of the role include:

• Developing and maintaining an up-to-date knowledge of current and pipeline transport projects across London, particularly where these have DfT support or involvement. Acting as the Department’s first port of call for knowledge gathering and information sharing about London transport.
• Leading stakeholder engagement for the London team, building and maintaining a strong network across key stakeholder organisations, the wider Department and across Government. Using this to gather intelligence and generate strong working relationships to maximise join-up and support delivery of Ministerial priorities.
• Ownership of the division’s strategy which articulates the team’s overall goals in the context of the Department’s strategic priorities. Support the wider team in ensuring work and stakeholder engagement is in line with and supports the divisional strategy.
• Manage Ministerial, Special Advisor and senior official interest – particularly in high profile issues – by leading production of clear and timely advice and close working with Private Office and other stakeholders.

For an in-depth insight into the role please refer to the Role Profile.

Person specification

• To be successful in this role, you will use your networking skills to engage and build effective relationships with stakeholders to deliver against shared objectives.
• You can manage conflicting interests and priorities to achieve the optimum.
• You can see the big picture and will bring together different perspectives and needs to gain a broader understanding of issues.
• You are confident in influencing senior stakeholders and will use evidence when required to successfully influence decision making.

Additional Information

A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace, although requirements to attend other locations for official business, or carry out detached duty in another DfT workplace, will also count towards this level of attendance. 

Occasional travel to other DfT offices will be required.

Benefits

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. We offer generous annual leave, attractive pension options, flexible working, inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance. 

Find out more about what it's like working at the Department for Transport.

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, Experience and Technical skills.

How to apply

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and Personal Statement (max 750 words). Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Within your CV and Personal Statement please provide detailed evidence of your experience of the following:

• Building effective relationships with stakeholders to deliver against shared objectives.
• Managing conflicting interests and priorities to achieve the optimum outcome.
• Using evidence to advise and influence senior stakeholders.

The sift is due to take place from 23rd May.

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held w/c 10th June.

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

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

• An interview and policy exercise.

This interview could be conducted online via Teams or face to face at one of our offices. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.

You’re encouraged to become familiar with the role profile and the Policy Professions Standards Framework, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.

The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order 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.

For further information on Success Profiles visit our Careers website.

Please see attached candidate notes for further information about our recruitment process.

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.