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 a professional driver who always provides exceptional customer service?

Do you hold a full clean UK driving licence?

If so, we'd love to hear from you!

Although we welcome applications from anyone who is interested in this post, applicants must be aware that, for operational reasons, you will be required to live within a reasonable commuting distance from our London office (within the boundaries of the M25). In the event that this requires relocation, we cannot meet any associated costs or expenses.

Job description

The Government Car Service (GCS) provides secure driver and car services for Government Departments in London.

The main purpose of the job is to provide a safe and secure high quality passenger transport service to HM Government Departments.

Training to operate effectively as a GCS Driver will be provided to the successful candidate.

Working hours will be:

Monday - Wednesday 1800 hours - 2200 hours.
Friday - any 8 continuous hours up until 2200 hours.

There will be a requirement to be flexible to meet the needs to of the business.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Transporting individuals throughout London.

• Providing excellent customer service, communicating clearly and in a timely way with all stakeholders to ensure delivery of a professional service.

• Remaining professional and discreet at all times.

• Ensuring you follow recommended safety and security standards.

• Pro-actively adjusting plans to overcome potential obstacles and set-backs.

• Juggling priorities or adapting plans as appropriate to ensure effective delivery.

• Keeping abreast of developments potentially impacting on achievement of plans such as traffic congestion, road works and transport disruptions.

• Ensuring all safety and security measures are applied in carrying out instructed actions.

• Escalating critical issues where instructions conflict with other operational priorities/standing instructions such as safety, security considerations, statutory obligations.

• Being aware of and applying all appropriate professional codes of conduct e.g. Drivers Standards, Highway Code, Drivers Rule Book, confidentiality.

• Driving considerately and ensuring self and vehicle are well presented and on time – a uniform is provided for the successful candidate.

• Communicating any changes of plans to all interested parties e.g. line manager, duty officer, customers.

• Questioning and/or seeking to clarify ambiguous, unachievable or unclear instructions.

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

Person specification

About You

You will hold a full clean UK driving licence and have previous experience as a driver at a similar level.

You are a committed and calm person, with extensive experience of driving both within and around London, driving both the major and minor routes and have an excellent knowledge of the Highway Code.

You are able to drive both manual and automatic transmission cars.

You can build positive relationships with both internal and external colleagues and are happy to contribute towards continuously improving our service.

Due to insurance restrictions for Government Car Drivers we are unable to offer to any candidates under the age of 21.

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, 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 (250 words). Please tailor your CV to suit the role. For your Personal Statement, please provide evidence of the following:

• Your experience of driving in a professional capacity.
• Your experience of providing fantastic customer service to a wide range of stakeholders.
• Your knowledge of driving throughout London and other major routes.

The sift is due to take place 30th April & 1st May 2024.

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held 14th-17th May 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 full day of activities including interactive, written and timed exercises:

• A multiple choice Highway Code Assessment.
• A written test to demonstrate knowledge of London.
• Driving Assessment.
• An eyesight test (conducted by our driver trainers with approved test equipment for driving).
• An 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.

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

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.