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.

Would you like to working in Policy that prevents terrorist attacks on UK civil aviation?

Can you build effective relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders?

Do you look beyond the status quo and look for new ways to change and improve for the better?

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

Job description

The Domestic Aviation Security Policy team works to prevent terrorist attacks on UK civil aviation.

As a policy adviser in the team, you will design and implement policies which keep the UK on the front foot against terrorist threats to aviation leaving the UK. You will work with a diverse set of stakeholders across government, the Civil Aviation Authority and industry and play a central part of an important and often high-profile team. 

You will use your policy development skills and collaborative approach to maintain and improve the effectiveness and efficiency of policy and engagement with industry on aviation security matters.  You will also oversee aspects of the team’s varied and dynamic casework portfolio. Experience of working on aviation and/or national security policy issues is not essential but would be beneficial.

The post is within the Aviation Security Strategy and Policy Division, part of the Transport Security Directorate. We invest significantly in training and developing staff to prepare them not just for an interesting and challenging job, but also for a rewarding career in the Government.

Responsibilities

Key accountabilities of the role include:

• Assist with policy delivery on a major programme of work ensuring the security of in-flight supplies.
• Work with Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to develop mandatory aviation security training syllabuses and other materials for the industry and encourage the adoption of the SeMS framework.
• Develop expertise in your policy areas, providing high quality advice and analysis to senior officials and Ministers, preparing submissions, papers and legal instructions, where appropriate.
• Build strong relationships with the relevant sectors of the aviation industry, undertaking site visits, gaining a solid understanding of how policy is implemented, identifying areas of best practice; undertaking secretariat responsibilities ensuring that stakeholder meetings run by the Division are supported and managed effectively.
• Contribute to the wider domestic security priorities in the team.

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

Person specification

To be successful you will have excellent communication skills, with good personal impact to influence when required. You will have the ability to produce high quality written policy documents.

You can build effective relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders including those within the industry. You are self-motivated and organised, with an ability to work at pace whilst maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.

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.

Find out more about our roles in Policy 

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

When considering applying please look at how your experience relates to the role, and within your CV and Personal Statement please provide detailed evidence of your experience of the following:

• Excellent written and communication skills, both written and oral, with great attention to detail.
• Experience of developing a case for change and influencing a diverse range of stakeholders to implement change.

Your Personal Statement will be limited to a maximum of 500 words.

The sift is due to take place from 13th June.  

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held week commencing 1st July. 

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.
• 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, 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.

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.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

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.