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 STEM professional who would thrive in applying your knowledge to real world outcomes and contribute to the UK's national security?

Can you work collaboratively within a team environment and construct a systems approach to problem solving?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

Job description

This role is within the Department for Transport’s Transport Security Directorate (TSD). TSD is a major player in delivering CONTEST, the Government's counter-terrorism strategy, and the Department for Transport's strategic aims and enablers of “Safety and Security” and “Science and Technology”.

This is a critical position in supporting the Transport Security Directorate’s efforts to future proof science and technology advice, evidence, and capability. This will strengthen our resilience to uncertainty and ensure we are on the front foot to the changes we see in a more contested world.  

The post holder will be fully supported in their professional development including through coaching and mentoring. The post holder will have the opportunity to gain exposure to the wider work of the Directorate and Department’s role in National Security and Resilience.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• The role holder will drive and deliver the development of NSSR’s Futures and Emerging Technology function.
• The role holder can expect to bring own their own ideas to the table, test those with others, analyse feedback and make recommendations to Senior Civil Servants on the way forward.   
• Lead engagement and ensure that NSSR has effective and efficient information flows and is able to draw from and inform wider departmental and cross-government work.
• The role holder will Line Manage interns hosted by the Science and Technology Strategy Team. 

For more information, please see the attached Role Profile.

Person specification

About you

To thrive in this role, you will:

• Have a strong science, social science, technology or engineering skills, which can be translated into an ability to take on new, in-depth, technical issues quickly.
• Possess a strong delivery focus, with an ability to plan and prioritise to deliver outputs that will have the most impact, working effectively with key stakeholders and with DfT’s processes to achieve success.
• Have strong interpersonal and team working skills to build strong working relationships with colleagues inside the Department, across government and beyond.
• Have excellent oral and written skills, with an ability to distil complex evidence into clear messages for a range of specialist and non-specialist audiences.

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. 

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 Personal Statement (750 words). Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Please tailor your CV to suit the role. For your Personal Statement, please provide detailed evidence of the following:

• Experience of working to deliver objectives whilst planning and prioritising outputs that will have the most impact.
• Experience of building and maintaining effective working relationships with various stakeholders at all levels and working effectively within a team.
• Experience of applying a futures mindset and using a systems approach to problem solving.

The sift is due to take place 6th and 7th March 2024.

Interviews are likely to be held from week commencing 18th March 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. 

Technical

Candidates should be able to demonstrate how they would or do use the Government Science and Engineering (GSE) profession career framework (version 2), of particular relevance to this role are the GSE Technical skills of:

• Building And Applying Knowledge.
• Communicating Science and Engineering for Government.

Learn more about the GSE Technical Framework here.

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 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

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.