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.  

Would you like to use your passion and skills to help the UK in its efforts to reduce aviation emissions?

Do you have the ability to deliver, communicate with confidence and enjoy working with people at all levels?

If so, we have an exciting opportunity for 2 Senior Policy Advisors looking to expand their skills in a high priority area, and we would love to hear from you!

Job description

We are looking for enthusiastic, capable and credible individuals who can provide expertise in the development and implementation of aviation decarbonisation policies. The roles are rewarding and diverse and will suit motivated team players who are passionate about environmental issues, able to quickly get to grips with complex policy and technical issues, while building effective working relationships across the government, with industry and beyond.

These roles sit within the Aviation Decarbonisation Division – made up of a diverse and fun team working on a broad portfolio of exciting and important areas to ensure the aviation sector plays its part in the UK reaching our net zero commitments and will require working with other teams in DfT, and other government departments including the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero and the Department for Business and Trade.

The roles will be leading on the development and delivery of two important policies set out in the Jet Zero Strategy: the 2040 zero-emissions airports target and the 2040 net zero target for UK domestic aviation. This will include leading on development on consultations, as well as developing relationships with industry stakeholders and working across government.

You will build expertise in green aviation policies, climate change science and policy, the wider aviation sector, technology and innovation, and will have the opportunity to engage and influence a variety of stakeholders across the sector, wider industry and government.

Responsibilities 

The two successful candidates will join the Aviation Decarbonisation Division, leading the policy development and delivery of two important policy areas. Both roles are challenging where you will have the opportunity to lead, develop and shape government policy.

Role 1 - Senior Policy Advisor – Zero Emission Airports, Aviation Decarbonisation

• Leading the policy development of the zero-emissions airport operations target, as set out in the Jet Zero Strategy. You will need to work effectively across government, with industry and other partners to ensure that Ministers are equipped with a robust evidence and clear recommendations and policy options to make decisions.
• Leading the development, drafting and publication of a consultation on the zero-emissions airports target, due in 2024. You will also be responsible developing all supplementary materials related to the consultation, including ministerial briefings, speeches and other communications materials.
• Developing effective working relationships with industry stakeholders to gather views and further evidence to inform the development of the consultation and policy options. You will also need to work across government to ensure that the policy is aligned to wider government strategies and policies and will need to work closely with Analysts and Legal in DfT to ensure that the policy options are supported by a detailed evidence base.
• Supporting the delivery of other policy commitments in the Jet Zero Strategy, including leading on developing policy on ghost flights (where airlines may fly routes to retain airport take-off rights with under capacity aircraft) and tankering (where airlines may carry more fuel than required due to lower costs, which results in more emissions). You will also need to work closely with the Airspace Modernisation team and ensure that changes to UK airspace are aligned to the approach set out in the Jet Zero Strategy.

Role 2 – Senior Policy Advisor – Domestic Net Zero, Offsets and Removals, Aviation Decarbonisation

• Leading on the policy development and delivery of a new net zero 2040 target for UK domestic aviation. This will include including managing research and analysis workstreams, liaising with relevant policy teams and external stakeholders, developing a call for evidence and public consultation, and advising Ministers.
• Development of UK policy on the approach to use of Greenhouse Gas Removals (GGRs) by the aviation sector, to help set UK aviation up for achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
• Monitoring, engaging with and supporting cross-government efforts to scale-up production of GGRs in the UK and beyond, seeking to ensure adequate supply is brought forward for the aviation sector’s needs.
• Promoting and helping implement monitoring frameworks and incentives which can facilitate the use of GGRs by the aviation sector to reduce their net emissions, including through the UK Emissions Trading Scheme and the Carbon Offsetting and Removal Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).

For more information about the roles and responsibilities please see the attached Role Profile.

Person specification

About you

To thrive in these roles, you will have good analytical and problem-solving skills, teamed with verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to adapt your delivery to suit a wide variety of audiences, maximising both impact and understanding of complex policy matters.

You are someone who can gain rapport quickly with others as you look to build effective working relationships both inside and outside government. 

You are someone who works well both autonomously and as part of a team to ensure that you deliver departmental objectives. 

You are someone that can get to grips with complex technical information and have the ability to summarise this for senior audiences.

Additional information

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. 

Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement, for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 4 days a week (30 hours).

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 and Personal Statement (1000 words). Please tailor your CV to suit the role. For your Personal Statement, please provide detailed evidence of the following:

• Good analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong communication and relationship building skills
• Your ability to work well both autonomously and as part of a team
• Your ability to get to grips with complex technical information and have the ability to summarise this for senior audiences.

The sift is due to take place 5th January 2024.

The policy exercise is due to be conducted 17th January with interviews likely to be held 18th & 19th January 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 and 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 Policy Professional 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. 

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. 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.