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.  

Can you deliver high priority objectives in a fast-paced environment?

Are you a effective communicator with strong influencing and negotiation skills?

Have you got experience of project/programme planning?

If so, then this is the perfect role for you!

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for a passionate, motivated individual to join the Department for Transport’s Aviation Strategy Team, which has a pivotal role in supporting the delivery of the government’s long-term strategy for Aviation.

Aviation is critical to the economy, and enabling trade, investment and jobs across the UK nations and region. In May 2022, the government published Flightpath to the Future, setting out a strategy for the future of aviation, centred on its vision for the sector over the next ten years and, as part of this strategy, the government established the Aviation Council to support the delivery and implementation of its commitments.

This role is within the Aviation Strategy Team, focusing on supporting the team in implementing the department's aviation strategic objectives by delivering an effective Aviation Council and Legislation Programme. Additionally, the individual will take on a crucial role in overseeing and coordinating high-priority cross-cutting tasks to ensure they align with directorate objectives.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Supporting the successful delivery of the Aviation Council by developing positive working relationships with external stakeholders, demonstrating confidence in working with external leads on challenging issues.
• Providing a high-quality secretariat function to support the delivery of Aviation Council, Strategy Board, Aviation Legislation Programme governance.
• Supporting the delivery of the Aviation Legislation Programme
• Work collaboratively and flexibly across the wider team to support policy development, draft submissions, and respond to correspondence linked to the aviation sector.

For more information, please see the attached Role Profile.

Find out more about working within policy at the Department for Transport

Person specification

About you

To thrive in this role, you will

• Have experience of producing high-quality written work at pace.
• Hold experience of operating in a changing and fast-paced environment while still delivering priorities, managing and co-ordinating a range of conflicting demands at pace to ensure good outcomes.
• Possess excellent organisational skills, and the ability to work collaboratively with colleagues.
• Have experience of producing high-quality written work at pace.
• Experience and confidence working with and managing external stakeholders at all levels.
• Possess strong communication, influencing and negotiation skills, able to deliver your message, create a strong sense of purpose, and influence those around you.
• Have experience of project/programme planning and experience of delivering projects/programmes to time.

Additional information

A minimum of 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. 

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 three behaviour statements. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

You will be required to provide a CV suited to the role and evidence of three behaviours. Each behaviour example will be limited to 250 words. The behaviours you will need to provide evidence of demonstrating are:

• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the bigger picture

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour which is Delivering at Pace. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.

The sift is due to take place 10th June 2024.

The Policy exercise is due to be conducted from W/C 24th June 2024.

Interviews are likely to be held from week commencing 8th July 2024.

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: 

• A policy exercise.
• An interview.

You will be assessed against the Technical element of the Success Profile Framework. Two Policy Profession Standards are being assessed: Policy profession standards - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

The assessments will be conducted online via Teams. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.  

You’re encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, 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.

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.