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.

Do you have strong communication, organisational and engagement skills?

Do you enjoy building relationships and knowledge sharing with a range of stakeholders?

Are you passionate about culture, diversity and inclusion?

If so, we have an exciting National Security Strategy and Engagement Advisor role and we would like you to apply!

Job description

This role sits within the National Security Division (NSD), part of the Transport Security Directorate (TSD) which works across the Department for Transport (DfT), His Majesty’s Government (HMG), and with partners to mitigate the threats the transport sector faces domestically and internationally.

We are looking for a National Security Strategy and Engagement Advisor to lead a range of workstreams both internally within DfT and across government. The successful applicant will drive change to improve the diversity and inclusivity within the national security community through leading DfT’s input into the National Security Council’s (NSC) Culture, Diversity and Inclusion (CD&I) work stream. This is a high priority for the national security community and you will be the face of it for DfT, supporting our senior sponsors. 

You will also support the secretariat function of our newly created Director General chaired security board, as well as supporting wider national security strategy and policy as required. This is a unique and challenging role with fantastic opportunities to network and make real change.

TSD invests significantly in training and developing staff to prepare them not just for an interesting and challenging job, but also for a rewarding career in the Government national security policy profession.

Responsibilities

Key accountabilities of the role include:

• Leading the DfT sponsored elements of the new NSC CD&I work stream, and providing briefings to Seniors Civil Servants (SCS) within DfT prior to their attendance at senior level CD&I boards.
• Supporting wider national security governance and briefings as required, including on counter-terrorism (CT), serious and organised crime (SOC), and wider geopolitical workstreams.
• Supporting the secretariat function for the TSD internal Director-General chaired governance board.
• Building relationships and working with the internal comms team within DfT to deliver teach-ins and blogs with an aim to demystify national security for teams across DfT.
• Attending meetings both within the team and with cross-government peers and seniors, providing updates when required.
• Acting as a proactive member of the National Security Division (NSD), supporting the corporate objectives of the team.
• Supporting wider national security policy and response work as required.

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

Person specification

You are someone who can naturally build good working relationship. You have excellent engagement skills and will use this to your advantage to network with others. You can see the big picture and understand the strategic drivers for your area of work whilst remaining alert to the emergency issues and trends that might effect your work. You are a team player and are organised being able to manage multiple pieces of work.

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.

The role requires DV clearance however, candidates will be onboarded with SC clearance and undergo DV whilst in post. Should the successful candidate not obtain DV then there will be a requirement to be re-deployed to an alternative post should a position be available.

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.

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

• Excellent communication skills both verbally and written.
• Ability to plan and manage multiple pieces of work and competing demands effectively.
• Experience of stakeholder management with confidence to challenge and influence new ideas.

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

The sift is due to take place from the 22nd of April 2024.

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held from the 9th of May 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.

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.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

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. 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.