About the job

Job summary

Do you have exceptional communication skills?

Can you build solid working relationships with internal and external stakeholders?

Would you like the opportunity to work in an exciting, innovative work environment where no two days are the same?

If so, we have a fantastic opportunity to build networks, shape the work you do and gain a broad knowledge of the department, and we’d love to hear from you!

Job description

This post offers the unique opportunity to work with senior civil servants and stakeholders and rapidly gain experience of a wide range of operational and departmental issues.  

The Decarbonisation, Technology and Strategy (DTS) directorate sits at the heart of DfT, bringing together cross-cutting and strategic work between the modes to connect people and places while building a sustainable, growing transport sector for the future.  

The Second Permanent Secretary plays a pivotal role in leading the group in the absence of a Director General and supports the Secretary of State, across Whitehall and with industry to deliver on an ambitious agenda and embed lasting change. This is an exciting opportunity to join the DTS Group office to support the Second Permanent Secretary in all corporate functions of the group, enabling them and the group to operate at maximum effectiveness in a very busy and demanding department.  

The DTS office sits with the Permanent Secretaries’ Office, which is a dynamic environment, and you will have the chance to help shape critical work, collaborating with senior, high-profile figures at the heart of government. You will see how the Department really works, interacting with Ministers, senior officials and stakeholders across government and gain a unique insight into how the department drives progress.  

This role would suit a self-starter, demonstrating initiative and resilience in supporting the Second Permanent Secretary in successfully overseeing a complex and diverse range of corporate functions.  

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Proactively driving forward the Second Permanent Secretary’s priorities, providing clear, accurate and timely advice on the Second Permanent Secretary’s decisions, opinions and requests.
• Support in developing holistic, Group-level recruitment and workforce planning principles, supporting Directorates to bring the right people into the right roles, improve talent development and retention and promote a coordinated approach to people management and performance across the Group.
• Leading on the updating of key management tools that support the effective and efficient running of the DTS Office.
• Providing business management support and advice to all DTS group business managers within directorates, helping and coordinating them to deliver corporate services more effectively with a greater understanding of their purpose, including corporate responsibilities related to performance management.
• Work closely with our Finance Business Partner to monitor group spend and manage forecasting for the year to ensure the group is consistent with the managing public money framework.
• Support the International Director in fulfilling his role as Chair at the Corporate Strategy Board, providing secretariat support for the Committee and developing a forward look for future boards.

For further information, please see the attached Role Profile.

Person specification

• You would be described as a diligent person, happy to work autonomously and do a thorough job even when under pressure. You are ready to react quickly and will be a focused and calm person who can get the job done regardless of the environment you are in.
• Excellent organisational skills are required and you will be able to manage and filter workflow as well as organise and prioritise your work to maximise productivity and achieve all deadlines. You will be highly adaptable and flexible, adjusting to the requirements of the role.
• You will have good attention to detail and take pride in producing work to a high standard.

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. 

Travel to the London office will be required as part of this role. This could occur twice monthly.

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 and Experience.

How to apply

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide a CV and Personal Statement (750 words). Please tailor your CV to suit the role. For your Personal Statement, please provide detailed evidence of the following:

• Experience working in a corporate/similar setting where you have demonstrated strong organisational skills
• Strong communication and influencing skills with the ability to work with senior stakeholders
• Experience working in a fast paced, often changing environment where you have worked flexibly to meet tight deadlines.

Please fully utilise the 750-word count when completing your personal statement.

The sift is due to take place 30th-31st January 2024.

Interviews are likely to be held week commencing 12th February 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:

• An Interview

This interview will be conducted online via MS 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.