About the job

Job summary

Do you have policy and/or investment or economic security experience? 

Have you got strong analysis and communication skills? 

Would you like to work with our partners across Whitehall to help shape strategy and policy? 

If so, we have an exciting Investment Security Policy Advisor vacancy 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), The NSD works across the Department for Transport (DfT), Government, and with partners to mitigate the threats the transport sector faces domestically and internationally. 

Our work continues to scope out threats to the UK's economy and ways to increase resilience.

We are looking for an HEO to work on the Department’s approach to key threats, particularly focused on economic security and casework under the National Security & Investments Act 2021 (NSIA). This will involve representing the Department’s interests across Whitehall, as well as contributing to briefings for ministers and senior officials on transport-related Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) cases. 

Responsibilities

• Oversee FDI casework and support coordination of DfT’s input, including representing DfT at cross-HMG working-level meetings; work with transport sector leads in DfT to gather information and provide responses on FDI cases.
• Become a “subject matter expert” on state-based economic threats, supporting the policy lead in drafting policy and briefings.
• Provide input to policy development work on economic security, state threats and threats to critical national infrastructure.
• Build and maintain stakeholder engagement on state threats work across DfT, including briefing and liaison with sector experts across transport modes within DfT.

For more information, please see the attached Role Profile.

Person specification

About you

To thrive in this role you will 

• Need to have strong analysis skills and are able to highlight key points in a clear way, ensuring risks are identified and delivering mitigation activity as a result.
• Possess excellent written briefing skills and the ability to distil complex information.
• Need experience of rapidly gaining an understanding of a complex field and applying this to their work. 
• Have experience of analysing a wide range of data across different fields and using this to make decisions.
• Have experience of communicating effectively with a range of stakeholders.
• Possess excellent drafting skills – being able to draw out key information from multiple sources and using this to present clear observations, often for a senior audience.

Additional information

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.

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. 

As you will be part of a team that works on emerging threats and hazards, you will be expected to work flexibly and adapt rapidly changing requirements and priorities across the team, wider Division and Directorate. You will be required to participate in the Department’s response to a security or civil contingencies incident. This may include out of hours working on occasion, but we make every effort to allow for your personal circumstances.

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 provide a CV, a  Personal Statement (750 words) and evidence of one behaviour.

For your Personal Statement, please provide detailed evidence of the following:

• Experience of rapidly gaining an understanding of a complex field and applying this to your work. 
• Experience of analysing a wide range of data across different fields and using this to make decisions.
• Experience of communicating effectively with a range of stakeholders
• Excellent drafting skills – being able to draw out key information from multiple sources and using this to present clear observations, often for a senior audience.

For your behaviour examples please provide evidence of when you have demonstrated the following behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour which is Communicating and Influencing. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.

The sift is due to take place on the 17th and 18th of June 2024.

The Policy exercise is due to be conducted from the 1st of July 2024.

Interviews are likely to be held from the week commencing the 8th of July 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: 

• A policy exercise.
• An interview.

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)

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.

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 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.