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.

Would you embrace the opportunity to play a critical part in delivering the biggest transformation of Britain’s railways in a generation?

Are you motivated by complex policy issues and problem solving?

If so, we have a unique opportunity available to join the Rail Reform Directorate, to shape a key part of the future transport network, and would love to hear from you!

Job description

You will join the Rail Reform Directorate at an exciting time, as we continue a fundamental reform of the railways. Following an extensive root and branch review of the rail industry, the Government set out its plans in the Plan for Rail. The proposed transformation includes all parts of the rail sector and will fundamentally change the way in which the sector and all organisations within it operate. 

You will be based in the Coherence and Cross Cutting Policy Division, which is leading on the development and coordination of rail reform across Rail Groups and works closely with the Culture Capability and Change Division. You will lead a team and play a critical role in ensuring teams across Rail Groups, Great British Rail Transition Team (GBRTT) and other organisations deliver policies in line with Rail Reform principles.

You will be responsible for ensuring that rail reform policy development is coherent. This will include ensuring there is coherence of both policy for the reform end state, and as we travel towards this point. You will work to identify gaps and misalignment in policy areas and, once identified, will work with relevant policy teams to establish routes to resolution.

A key part of your role will then be translating this policy position into an operating model for the sector. To support this, you will be responsible for developing the cross-cutting sector policy specification and the sector operating model for the interim and end-states. This will involve regularly engaging with a range of contacts within the department and across the sector to secure buy-in and advise on policy and design alignment and coherence. 

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, but are not limited to:

• Leading on the development and delivery of a Sector Policy Specification (SPS) and the end state Sector Target Policy Specification (STPS) that will outline the current and future policy environment for rail.
• Leading the development of the Interim Sector Operating Model (ISOM) and the end state Sector Target Operating Model (STOM).
• Supporting the development of a new operating model for DfT Rail which enables better whole system thinking, greater collaboration within the department and across the sector and builds the necessary capability that we will need for the future.
• Acting as Policy lead for the Transfer Schemes aspects of the Rail Bill, working closely with colleagues across the Department and other organisations on the continuing development of this policy and supporting its progress through pre-legislative scrutiny.
• Supporting the programme with wider rail reform implementation as required including having the flexibility to pick up and lead on distinct cross-cutting policy issues should they arise.
• Building and managing a team, including matrix management to those in other parts of the directorate, and providing wider leadership to motivate the division and directorate to deliver at pace in a complex environment.

For further information, please see the attached Role Profile.

Person specification

About you

You will have experience of policy development and implementation, and quickly getting to grips with complex policy issues. You will be a strategic thinker who is able to break down large sources of information and accurately summarise, with the ability to think creatively to establish innovative ways to solve problems.

You will have outstanding interpersonal skills, enabling you to develop effective relationships with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders, therefore supporting you in your work. You will confidently handle challenging conversations, and display resilience and flexibility when faced with ambiguity. 

You will be a positive leader who demonstrates a commitment to creating high performing and inclusive teams where people from diverse backgrounds are able to excel.

Additional Information

This role is available to individuals who wish to be spending their office time in London, Leeds or Birmingham, and we would also expect the individual to be willing to occasionally travel to visit different stakeholders and alternative DfT offices.

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. 

If you would like to find out more about what it’s like to work within the DfT Policy Profession, please click here - Senior Policy Lead opportunities at the Department for Transport - Department for Transport Careers (dft.gov.uk)

You will be assessed against the Technical element of the Success Profile Framework. Two Policy Profession Standards are being assessed: Policy profession standards - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

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, Experience and Technical skills.

When considering applying please look at how your experience relates to the role, and within your CV and Personal Statement (maximum 1000 words) please provide detailed evidence of your experience of the following:

• Experience of policy development and implementation.
• Proven ability to create a plan and bring others along with you.
• Being a confident and compelling communicator, briefing senior managers/stakeholders  effectively and managing relationships with a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders.

The sift is due to take place from the 15th of April 2024.

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held from the 29th of 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.
• A written policy exercise.

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.