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 passionate about developing and using evidence to inform policy making in the context of delivering Net Zero?

Would you like the opportunity to work on a complex sector in decarbonisation and lead on Research and Development?

If so, then we would love for you to apply!

Job description

The Infrastructure Decarbonisation Division (IDD) is a newly formed and growing team established to lead change and build an infrastructure whole life carbon reduction culture across the DfT family to help ensure that we are planning and delivering our infrastructure in the most carbon-efficient way.

DfT is a leader in Whitehall on capital carbon. In 2021, DfT introduced new requirements on projects to manage and reduce the carbon impacts from the construction and maintenance of its transport infrastructure projects. Building on the success of this initial work, the new division was established to develop and implement decarbonisation policies to align our infrastructure portfolio with the Government Net Zero commitment. We also provide strategic direction to our principal Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs) -Network Rail, National Highways, East West Rail and HS2 Ltd. - on how we can deliver and grow our infrastructure portfolio in the most carbon efficient way.

This is a fantastic role, which reports to the Head of Infrastructure Decarbonisation Policy sitting within the Portfolio and Project Delivery Directorate. In this role you will be responsible for providing expert technical advice on decarbonisation of infrastructure. This will include advising and challenging project teams in the development of their carbon management plans as well as developing and managing research projects to support the decarbonisation of the department’s infrastructure portfolio. This role will be key in enabling the department to make evidence-based decisions and delivering transport infrastructure in line with the Government's net zero by 2050 target.

Responsibilities

Key accountabilities of the role include:

• Leading on the assurance of Carbon Management Plans submitted as part of the business case process.
• Assuring and overseeing the delivery of DfT’s ALB Carbon Plans to reduce their infrastructure carbon.
• Leading on low carbon materials for the division, including establishing an internal position on the use and barriers to adoption of low carbon materials in transport and identifying priorities for Research & Development (R&D), working with our ALBs, where further research could support increased uptake.
• Policy advice on how engineering solutions can be employed in a low carbon way to support both positive cost and carbon.
• Working together with Group commercial to understand how we can use wider procurement levers to support infrastructure decarbonisation objectives.
• Overseeing the broader infrastructure decarbonisation R&D programme. This will include understanding the existing R&D plans from DfT ALBs, how they interface with the Transport Research Innovation Board and delivering an R&D strategy for the division.
• Leading on X-WH engagement on infrastructure decarbonisation including with Department Energy Security and Net Zero and the Infrastructure Projects Authority.

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

Person specification

• To be successful in this post, you will have exceptional communication skills to speak to a range of stakeholders with the ability to convey technical information to suit your audience.
• You will have good knowledge of carbon management or the willingness to quickly develop technical expertise in this area.
• You will be proactive and confident in your approach to provide expert advice on carbon in infrastructure through your findings.
• You will be someone who is passionate about developing and using evidence to inform policy making in the context of delivering Net Zero.
• You will be enthusiastic about providing guidance and information to senior stakeholders that is fit for purpose.

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 other DfT offices will be required.

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.

Within your CV and Personal Statement please provide detailed evidence of your experience of the following:

• Strong leadership setting policy in sustainability or science/engineering roles.
• Proven analytical skills using a wider range of resources to communicate key findings and advice.
• Proven ability to work in multi-disciplinary environments (including with policy, project delivery and analytical professions).

Your personal statement will be limited to a maximum of 750 words.

The sift is due to take place from w/c 18th March .

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held w/c 8th April.

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 and presentation.

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 and the Science and Engineering Framework, 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.

Please see attached candidate notes for further information about our recruitment process.

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.