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.  

Do you have a keen interest in the law and the legislative process?

Are you able to analyse information from a range of sources to support decision making?

Do you have excellent drafting skills and the ability to communicate complex information confidently? 

Are you someone who enjoys working collaboratively with different business areas?

If so, we would love to hear from you!

Job description

You will work closely in a small, dynamic team where you will play an important role in reviewing, developing and implementing a range of policies as well as working closely with internal and external stakeholders.

You will need to be able to learn how to interpret the legislative requirements. You will also need to be able to develop understanding of current policy and provide accurate and up to date policy advice to colleagues and stakeholders.

You will be expected to manage and review existing policies and develop new policies to support change within the Agency and wider Government. The role will include working closely with stakeholders at all levels to develop evidence-based policies, a key element being to ensure that DVLA is compliant with the law.

This is a fantastic chance to gain experience and insight of policy and legislation and learn from subject matter experts within the DVLA. This is a fast paced, challenging but rewarding role with opportunities to have exposure with a wide range of stakeholders across other Government Departments.

 

Responsibilities 

Your responsibilities will include but will not be limited to: 

• Providing strategic policy support to DVLA, DfT, and other Motoring Agencies by providing advice to internal DVLA business areas and external colleagues including those from other government departments, ministers and stakeholders.
• Managing the production of and quality assuring draft responses to official correspondence, submissions and briefing for senior officials, ministers and other government departments.

• Developing and influencing evidence based policy, this includes:
  - Reviewing existing policies and legislation;
  - Researching and reviewing data/information from available sources;
  - Analysing and interpreting trend data and undertaking stakeholder engagement and consultation;
  - Clarifying policy positions and challenging precedents;
  - Checking for adherence to appropriate agency or government policies and practices for legislative change.

• Seeking advice from and instructing lawyers on legislative measures arising from changes to existing policies or delivery of new policies, supporting implementation in accordance with agreed plans/timescales, and communicating changes to stakeholders.
• Managing allocated staff.

For further information about the role please click here to view the role profile in Word format, and here to view as a PDF.

Additional Information  

Applications will be accepted from full time/part time/job sharers. Full time roles at DVLA consist of 37 hours per week. Part time and/or 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. 

Person specification

We are looking for candidates who have political awareness with exceptional drafting skills and outstanding written and verbal communication skills. 

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

To thrive in this role you will be highly organised with the ability to manage both yours and your team's time, prioritising effectively to drive and deliver policy objectives and meet deadlines. You will need the ability to react and deal quickly with urgent queries. You will be a highly motivated and proactive individual who enjoys a varied workload and delivering at pace.

You will need to demonstrate that you can build effective working relationships with colleagues and stakeholders and be able to proactively engage with stakeholders to inform policy making. You can confidently and sensitively challenge, drawing on data and research to offer alternative suggestions where appropriate.

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.

How to Apply  

For this role you will need to submit a CV and statement of suitability of up to 1000 words.   

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

• Strong internal and external stakeholder engagement experience and the ability to influence and challenge when necessary.
• Delivering quality work to tight deadlines, efficiently handling competing priorities, working flexibly to achieve objectives.
• Working on your own initiative to solve a problem using research and evidence.
• Using your excellent communication skills to produce draft correspondence and briefings to a quality standard.

Click here for further guidance on writing a CV and statement of suitability. 

The sift is due to take place week commencing 1st July 2024.

Interviews will be held week commencing 15th July 2024.

This interview will be conducted face to face in our Swansea office, 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

As part of the selection process, you will be assessed against these technical skills during the interview:

• Policy Profession - Strategy 1.1 Policy Context and Purpose (Level 1)
• Policy Profession - Democracy 2.1 Working with Ministers (Level 1)

Please click here to view the framework.

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. 

Further Information 

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.