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.

Do you have an interest in policy development and keen to learn more about delivering policy solutions?

Do you have experience of dealing with complex commercial contracts or working in a legal environment?

If so, we have a fantastic opportunity to join our Contract Design and Management (CDM) team, and we would love to hear from you.

Job description

The role sits within our Policy, Operations and Change (POC) Directorate which is responsible for setting the policy and strategic direction for passenger rail services. We are leading on implementation of the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail recommendations on a new commercial model, as well as on other issues such as reforms to fares and ticketing.

We are seeking a self-motivated and ambitiously minded individual to support the rail contracts procurement process. You will lead on the day-to-day management of the Passenger Services Policy Bank and the Subject Matter Expert (SME) List for use by Passenger Services and wider teams.

As Contracts Policy Adviser, you will have ownership and responsibility for the Passenger Services Policy Bank – a central repository of documents describing the Department’s approved position across an array of different policy areas that feed into the rail contracts. In doing so, you will be playing a key part in ensuring that what we specify through rail contracts reflects the policy requirements of the Department for Transport (DfT) and Ministers.

In this interesting role where policy and contracts combine, you will also support a range of challenging tasks and have responsibility for some policy areas which sit within our CDM team’s remit.

If you would like to find out more about what it's like to work at DfT Rail, please click here.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Leading on and publicising the Policy Bank, as well as engaging policy experts across Rail Group and the wider Department to ensure that our policy documentation is comprehensive and always reflects the latest position.
• Ensuring that the Policy Bank and Policy Notes/PENs are embedded throughout POC and Passenger Services.
• Supporting Policy leads and SMEs by providing guidance and best practice examples for drafting policy documents.
• Taking ownership of key contractual and policy template documents that we use in the rail contractualisation process and ensuring they are fit for purpose and in line with best practice.
• Ensuring the SME List is up to date for and meets the needs of a changing policy and contractual environment.
• Acting as secretariat for the Policy and Projects Forum, and for key project and programme meetings including Red Reviews, Peer Reviews, Template Documents Approval Board.
• Taking ownership of our policy newsletter, POC News, to publicise the work of POC and reaching out to colleagues for content and relevant materials on a quarterly basis.
• Supporting senior leaders on any project related work to ensure that our team’s work complements and adds value to the objectives of the wider teams.
• Line management responsibility for one Commercial Assistant, one Logistics Manager, and temporary staff members.

Person specification

About you

You will have previous policy experience and demonstrate the capability to quickly grasp complex information and understand commercial contracts and compliance standards.

You will display excellent interpersonal skills to collaborate and build trusted relationships at all levels within and outside of the Department.

You will demonstrate a high standard of drafting skills and attention to detail to produce concise reports, and will be confident using Microsoft Office packages including spreadsheets, databases and presentational methods.  

You will be highly organised, proactive, work well independently and enjoy supporting your team.

You will apply a flexible working approach and thrive on managing a varied workload and delivering through others.

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 attend team meetings in London will be required.

Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 28 hours per week.

Policy Profession Standards Framework.

For more information on the policy profession within Department for Transport.

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

Please tailor your CV and personal statement (maximum word count 750) to provide evidence of the following:

• Experience of developing, supporting and managing policy, both in terms of design and implementation.
• Experience of dealing with complex commercial contracts or working in a legal environment.
• Experience of supporting a team to deliver quality outputs.

The sift is due to take place from 08/04/2024.

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held week commencing 22/04/2024 and 29/04/2024.

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 a written 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.

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.