About the job

Job summary

Do you enjoy working with a range of stakeholders? 

Would you relish the opportunity to be involved in decision making for the safety and security in the Rail sector? 

If so, we have an exciting opportunity as a Senior Security Policy Adviser to join us at the Department for Transport (DFT), and we’d love to hear from you!

Job description

Our team is part of Land Transport National Security, a division made up of five teams covering Rail Resilience Liaison, Policing and Crime, International Rail Security, Domestic Rail Security, Roads and Vehicles Security, and Compliance activities for any regulations covering these areas. 

The post sits in the Domestic Rail Security team who are responsible for setting security regulations on behalf of the Secretary of State to protect against acts of violence (terrorism) across the domestic railway networks. The role will have lead responsibility for setting and developing security policy and regulation, as well as providing security advice, on light rail security. You will work collaboratively with colleagues within your own team, compliance inspectors and analysts across the Department and key external stakeholders including London Underground Ltd, Docklands Railway, Glasgow subway, British Transport Police (BTP),National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) and rail industry partners. 

The light rail security is part of a major review. You will therefore have the fantastic opportunity, to work closely with police, security and intelligence agencies to help shape the policy issues and delivery of the new light rail security regime by industry. This SEO post will be finalising and bring the review to a conclusion and introduction of the new light rail security regime by industry.

Responsibilities

You will:

• Lead, with external stakeholders (rail operators, British Transport Police and National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) and internal stakeholder (Legal, Analyst and policy) the completion and issuing of the new Light Rail Security Programme (LRSP), which meets both the needs of light rail operators and Ministerial expectations on delivery to provide a proportionate and consistent level of security on these networks;
• Lead the introduction of the new LRSP, briefing our Compliance Inspectors internally, and externally with industry colleagues who will be subject to the new regime. Providing clarification and assistance as implementation gets underway;
• Lead the on-going review of security policies to ensure that, once issued, the LRSP remains relevant to the terrorist threat and developments in the industry, in transport policing, and in Government policies;
• Developing strong relationships with light rail operators providing general security advice, including on physical developments and upgrades on light rail networks, and on-going liaison meetings. Working with DfT’s internal and external research partners as required; and
• Line management responsibility for one HEO

For further information, please see the attached Role Profile

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

Person specification

About You

We are looking for an enthusiastic and proactive individual who has excellent written and verbal communication skills.

You are someone who champions engagement and gains rapport quickly with others as you build effective working relationships with internal and external key stakeholders at all levels.

Previous experience in transport security policy or operation would be beneficial but is not essential. 

Additional Information

You will have the option to be based in our London office attracting the London salary, or in Leeds or Birmingham attracting the National salary. 

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.

This role requires some domestic travel within Great Britain. In the event of a terrorist attack or other emergency, the postholder may be required to be involved in the department’s incident response, including working outside normal business hours and from our London office.

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 and Strengths.

How to Apply

At the application stage you are required to provide three Behaviour Statements (max 250 words each) providing evidence for, Communicating & Influencing and Working Together, Delivering at Pace and Making Effective Decisions.   

When writing your statements it may be helpful to use the STAR approach to show examples of specific instances where you have met these criteria. That is:

Situation - Describe the situation you found yourself in?
Task - What was the task that you had to complete and why?
Action - What did you personally do?
Result – What was the result of your actions?

The sift is due to take place from 04 January 2024.

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held from week commencing 15 January 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 exercise/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, 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 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

Open to UK nationals only.

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.