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.  

Have you got good knowledge of the policies and business processes involved in negotiating and monitoring contracts?

Do you have strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills?

Do you have an interest in aviation security issues and improving processes and procedures?

If so, we would love you to apply for our role as Head of Capability Development and Commercial, where you will work closely to support overseas partners to improve their aviation security.

Job description

This is an exciting opportunity in the aviation security international operations team (ASIO). The UK has the third largest aviation industry in the world, and aviation security has become a high priority in light of the current threat environment. Whilst we have control over security arrangements applied in the UK, our influence over security procedures applied to inbound flights is much less direct. Yet it is of great importance that the right security measures are applied for flights to the UK, for the safety of all passengers on those flights whether UK citizens or not. And it is of economic importance, for the UK and partner countries, that we maintain the conditions under which essential air lines can continue and grow.   

Within the Transport Security Directorate, ASIO supports the Department for Transport (DFT’s) strategic priorities by working collaboratively with host states and partners overseas to assess vulnerabilities and improve aviation security capabilities in a number of high-risk locations – ASIO’s priority countries. The work undertaken by ASIO is critical in supporting senior officials and Minister’s risk tolerance and approach to mitigating the inbound aviation threat to the UK.   

ASIO works ‘hand in glove’ with DfT’s Aviation Security Strategy & Policy (ASSP) Division to manage the risk of an attack against inbound threats as well as working to improve global aviation security standards bilaterally and through raising international standards.  

The Head of Capability Development (CapDev) & Commercial Team will lead two small teams. The role will be responsible for the CapDev roadmap and toolkit as well as all commercial activities. The postholder will work closely with the ASIO training team and the overseas staff members in the Aviation Security Assistance Delivery team. The role will also need to link in with international partners such as ICAO and like-minded States.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Leadership responsibility for two teams, including three direct reports in addition to being an active member of the ASIO’s leadership team.  
• Develop and own effective working relationships with the HO CONTEST Unit and cross Whitehall partners to align ASIO’s work with that of the CONTEST strategy and accountable for securing resources to support ASIO’s capability development activities through the annual finance and reporting requirements. 
• Responsibility for effective resource management, in line with finance and HR best practice, including supporting the management of the CONTEST Capability. Development Programme Funding of £2M a year in line with financial management best practice.  
• Lead and oversee the expansion of ASIO’s Capability Development Toolkit, working closely with the overseas Aviation Security Assistance Delivery team and Aviation Security Assessors to ensure ASIO has an effective range of capability development measures to reduce vulnerabilities identified through our assessment and assurance activities.  
• Work with international partners and UK companies and scientists within Government to develop new tools for ASIO’s Capability Toolkit to deliver the training, equipment, products, and strategic support required to equip host states to minimise Aviation Security risk.

For more information about the roles and responsibilities please see the attached Role Profile.

Person specification

About you

• To thrive in this role, you will have experience of project managing commercial activities ­­with a good understanding of polices and business processes to negotiate and monitor contracts.
• You have excellent communication skills and can effectively communicate complex information to a range of audiences.
• You enjoy working collaboratively and utilise your string interpersonal and diplomacy skills to build strong working relationships.
• You have experience working in an operational environment with an understanding of Counter Terrorism or other national security threats.

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. 

There will be some international travel required to enhance your skills and working relationships.

The nature of the work means that the post may include out of hours and shift working on occasion, including in the event of a security incident, but we make every effort to allow for your personal circumstances. 

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 a personal statement in 750 words providing detailed evidence of the following:

• Experience in building and maintaining strong effective working relationships with a range of stakeholders at institutional, country, or international level to deliver corporate objectives.  
• Leadership skills with experience managing own team delivery to ensure effective delivery of all commercial activities and wider business outputs.
• Good understanding of policies and business processes on negotiating and monitoring complex contracts.

The sift is due to take place week commencing 25th March 2024.

Interviews are likely to be held from 8th April 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 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 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, DfT is 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.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

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

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (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.