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 looking for a new role that is both stimulating and fast paced?

Can you build positive relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders?

Would you like to shape the policy approach and delivery of an £883m programme of air quality measures for the Joint Air Quality Unit?

If so, then we would love for you to apply!

This post is offered on a Fixed Term Appointment (FTA) basis to complete a finite piece of work.

For permanent Civil Servants, this role is only available on loan, so you must have your home departments approval to return to them at the end of the loan before you apply. There is no opportunity for a permanent Civil Servant to take on this role as a fixed term appointment. OGD applicants will be appointed on an inward loan and subject to the terms of the agreed inward loan. Internal candidates will return to their previous post at the end of the loan period, which will need to be agreed with your line manager in advance.

If you're employed by a non-departmental public body (NDPB) by moving jobs this will involve a change of employer and you may break the statutory rules on continuity of employment.

Job description

Poor air quality poses a significant health risk and Government must achieve improvements in standards as soon as possible. As such, air quality is a highly sensitive and challenging topic that attracts significant ministerial and parliamentary interest.

This vacancy is within the innovative Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)/Department for Transport (DfT) Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU); staffed by both Defra and DfT staff members. This role is a DfT position.

We are recruiting for a position in the Policy and Local Engagement Team at the heart of JAQU. We work closely with senior officials, Special Advisers, Ministers and other government departments (OGDs) to support complex and impactful decisions on the JAQU programme, which is part of the Government Major Projects Portfolio (GMPP).

The role will allow the postholder to work with others to shape the policy approach and delivery for JAQU, including supporting key immediate priorities.

As this role is within a joint unit, the post holder will have access to a wide range of learning and development (L&D) opportunities within both DfT and Defra. This includes access to site visits and shadowing of other roles within these departments. JAQU and our parent Directorates put a significant emphasis on L&D, with regular learning events set up for the whole team.

This is a challenging and multifaceted role with opportunities for high-profile exposure and to build a range of skills. It offers the opportunity to work on policy that has a direct real-world impact on delivery and, in turn, the environment and public health. It would be ideal for someone looking to finesse policy skills; build expertise/understanding in high profile environment/transport policy; and be supported in-role by an experienced, high-performing team and engaged, friendly senior leadership team.

Responsibilities

Key accountabilities of the role include:

• Policy work on technologies to improve air quality, which enjoys high political and public attention.
• Working with National Highways (NH) on their air quality programme, which faces particular challenges given the size and complexity of the Strategic Road Network.
• Supporting Account Managers with their local authorities, working in close collaboration with evidence and analytical experts, to ensure they deliver their local air quality commitments.
• Preparation for a Spending Review, preparing briefing and working with account managers, JAQU finance and strategic teams in central Defra/DfT.
• Policy work in preparation for the general election, preparing briefing and considering options that could be presented to the incoming administration around air quality policy.

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

Person specification

You will have the ability to work in a fast-paced role being flexible and open to taking on different challenges and responsibilities as the role of the team develops.

You will be able to collaborate effectively and building rapport with a wide range of stakeholders to achieve the best possible outcomes. You can engage with analysts, scientists, senior leaders, local authorities, and interested stakeholders, working across all these groups to chart a course that delivers for the public. You  will need to be organised, motivated, and an excellent communicator. You will also have excellent written and communication skills, including attention to detail.

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.

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

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:

• You will have excellent written and communication skills, including attention to detail.
• Experience of working with a diverse range of stakeholders with the ability to build positive relationships quickly.
• Ability to use initiative to problem solve, identifying and using expertise where necessary.

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

The sift is due to take place from 30th April.

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held w/c 13th May. 

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 and written policy exercise.

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 and the Policy profession standards , 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.

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.

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter.

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 undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist 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

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. 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.