About the job

Job summary

At the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), we encourage applications from everyone, particularly groups currently underrepresented in our workforce. We pride ourselves on the positive impact diversity has and promote inclusivity and equality of opportunity for all. Our recruitment process is anonymised, which means that your name, date of birth and other personal details will not be seen by the sift panel.  

Are you looking for a high-profile role that offers you exposure to a wide range of senior stakeholders? 

Do you have excellent drafting skills and can communicate complex information confidently? 

Would you like to work in an environment where every day brings a new challenge or opportunity?

If so, we would love to hear from you!

Job description

This is an exciting, fast paced, and varied role where your work can have real impact.  You will be leading a small team and managing the provision of policy advice, the development of existing policies and managing policy change. 

We are looking for motivated and enthusiastic individuals who have a keen interest in legislation to join our team, someone who can help shape and deliver on policy development to tight timescales whilst managing conflicting priorities. The  work involves bringing together a wide range of stakeholders, so we want candidates that can consider all points of view and can proactively engage with stakeholders. You should have the confidence to challenge where appropriate and will understand the importance of gaining clarity on issues in order to provide clear policy advice.

The successful candidates will lead on a range of dynamic work streams and will also collaborate regularly with senior stakeholders across the Strategy and Policy Directorate and other areas of the agency, including Executive Team members, as well as working closely with officials in DfT and liaising with Ministerial Private Offices. 

This exposure provides the opportunity to build diverse relationships across government, growing your professional network and gaining invaluable experience.

You will manage a team and will have direct line management responsibility for 2-3 people. This is a great opportunity to develop line management skills if you have not previously worked as a line manager and we will support you with any training needs you may require in relation to this.

Responsibilities 

Your responsibilities will include but will not be limited to:

• Providing strategic policy support on operational issues to DVLA, DfT and other Motoring Agencies. Provide advice and information to internal and external parties including other Government Departments and Ministers, ensuring compliance with legal framework and policy objectives.
• Proactively reviewing policies and legislation utilising information from available sources (stakeholders, customers, operational areas, Customer Focus Group, data analysis Ministers and MPs) to ensure that policies are informed, evidence based and achievable.
• Managing the drafting and clearance of Ministerial and other official correspondence, submissions and briefings for senior officials, Ministers and other Government Departments. Provide appropriate representation of the Agency or Department at meetings or events.
• Developing and influence evidence based policy through, stakeholder engagement and consultation. Effective use of available resources and adherence to appropriate Agency or Governmental policies and practices for legislative and spend approvals. Effectively influencing implementation, considering deregulatory measures to minimise the burden of change on customers, stakeholders and industry.
• Encouraging change and efficiency ensuring all are aware of and agree to Government, Departmental and Agency strategies with a focus on enabling digital services.
  

For further information about the role please see the attached role profile. 

Additional Information  

Applications will be accepted from full time/job sharers. Full time roles at DVLA consist of 37 hours per week. Flexible working may also be available subject to the needs of the business. If you have a flexible or part time working requirement, you should contact the vacancy holder in advance of making an application to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your desired working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role. To contact the vacancy holder, please use the job contact details listed under ‘Contact point for applicants’. 

This role will be based in Swansea, and we will be operating a hybrid working model that allows you to work between home and on-site giving you greater flexibility about where and when you work, subject to business needs and this also allows for ongoing support, development, and collaboration with colleagues. 

Therefore, the expectation is that you will spend a minimum of 60% of your working time based at your principal workplace (DVLA). We would encourage you to discuss the working arrangements for this role with us during the recruitment process. 

There may be occasional requirement to travel within the UK and Europe, with possible overnight stays, however full notice will be provided in advance. 

Person specification

We are looking for candidates who have political awareness with exceptional drafting skills and outstanding written and verbal communication skills. You will possess relationship management experience with the ability to effectively engage with senior partners. 

You will be able to see the big picture and able to review data to make reasonable conclusions and decisions, providing a strong understanding of how departmental strategies fit.

It is important that you are organised, have great attention to detail and are experienced at working to tight deadlines, with the skills to efficiently balance multiple priorities. You are someone who is resilient, can work calmly under pressure and thrives leading a diverse and exciting workload.

We strive to ensure that DVLA is a great place to work where everybody can be their true self, be treated with dignity and respect, and according to their individual needs. We have a number of staff network groups run by staff to support their colleagues. 

Due to the evolving nature of the business, vacancies can become available at any time. Therefore, this campaign may create a reserve list to fulfil demand if it arises which will be held for a period of 12 months. 

Benefits

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. 

• Best in class learning and development tailored to your role  
• An environment with flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance 
• Generous average employer contribution of 27%, depending on rate of salary and chosen pension scheme 
• 25 days holiday, increasing by one day each year up to 30 days pro rata 
• Access to the staff discount portal 
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff 

There are many more opportunities and great benefits of working at DVLA, visit our Careers website for further information.   

 

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.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement (1000 word limit). Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

We need to understand how your skills and experience meet all the essential criteria for this role. You can use any part of your life to demonstrate your skills and experience, but it must be relevant to the role. You can refer to your work experience, education, hobbies, or interests. 

You can decide the best way to structure your personal statement. You may choose to address each of the essential criteria on their own. Or you can give one example that covers all the essential criteria we are looking for.

 Click here for further guidance on submitting your CV and personal statement. 

It is essential when submitting your personal statement that you provide as much detail as possible, within the word count, against the essential criteria outlined below as this will be used in conjunction with your CV to assess candidate suitability to move to the next round in the recruitment process. 

For your CV and personal statement, please provide detailed evidence of your experience of the following essential criteria: 

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, producing concise and accurate briefings, reports, and submissions etc.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, including how you build and sustain relationships, successfully influence, and manage challenge from stakeholders and/or customers.
• Delivering quality work to tight deadlines, efficiently handling competing priorities, working flexibly to achieve objectives.
• Team leadership, such as line management or leading a project.

The sift is due to take place on 27th March 2024.

Interviews will be held from 11th April 2024.

This interview could be conducted via a video interview, details of which will be provided to you should you be selected for interview. 

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. 

If invited to interview, this may consist of a range of question types. These could include questions around behaviours and how you would respond in any situation as well as specific examples of things you have done. 

The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment will include: 

• An interview

Technical questions will be based on the Policy Profession framework, which can be found 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. 

Please take note that DVLA does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. 

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.