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 a talented economist seeking the chance to help tackle climate change?

Do you have strong leadership skills and enjoy working collaboratively?

If you're ready to be a catalyst for change and drive forward the UK's decarbonisation agenda join us as a Sustainable Aviation Fuel Commercialisation Analysis - we'd love to hear from you!

Job description

We have an exciting, unique opportunity for a passionate, motivated economist to join the Department for Transport’s strategy as a Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Commercialisation Lead Economist. Your role will be to support with the acceleration to shift towards greener transport and drive more sustainable travel behaviours ensuring that transport plays its part in meeting this challenge.

Transport is now the largest contributor to UK domestic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, contributing 26% of domestic emissions in 2021. In recognition of the need to go further and faster, the Government published the UK’s first Transport Decarbonisation Plan in July 2021, which lays out a bold and ambitious programme to decarbonise every sector of transport to ensure the UK delivers Net Zero 2050.

To deliver against these ambitions we are looking to recruit a Grade 7 economist to lead on analysis and modelling related to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) commercialisation. SAF is one of six key measures in the Jet Zero Strategy. Last year 26 million litres of SAF were supplied in the UK and we have seen ground-breaking progress with the RAF flying the first wide bodied plane in the world on 100 per cent SAF, and Virgin Atlantic winning £1 million of government funding to operate the first net zero transatlantic flight, running on 100% SAF, by the end of 2023.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Leading analysis related to the introduction of a revenue support mechanism for the SAF industry: The government has committed to introduce a revenue certainty scheme as part of the UK’s world leading SAF programme. You will be responsible for leading the analytical work supporting the development and implementation of this mechanism. In addition, you will be leading the development of consultancy analytical work in this policy area.
• Provide economic advice to inform policy decisions to support the UK SAF industry: You will provide economic advice and analysis on measures to support the UK SAF industry, potential example projects include developing cost-benefit analysis and supporting policy development with the aim of supporting research activities and construction of first of a kind production facilities.
• Collaborating effectively across a number of different teams and stakeholders: You will also be required to form strong working relationships and collaborate closely with departments across Government such as Defra, DESNZ, DBT, HMT, No 10 and Ofgem officials, as well as teams across DfT to ensure that the best available evidence underpins decision-making. You may also be required to collaborate with organisations outside of central Government including Local Authorities, chargepoint operators and external experts to gather the latest evidence and market intelligence.
• You will be required to line manage an Assistant Economist: You will develop, support and coach an AE, ensuring that their work programme is stretching, in line with development needs. You will also provide wider analytical leadership and support to the wider analytical team: As a Grade 7 analyst you will be a senior member of the team, and will support the successful delivery of robust, influential and timely analysis and build capability through the sharing of best practice and knowledge.
• Communicating evidence and analysis: You will need to communicate complex and technical evidence and analysis to influence policy colleagues and senior decision makers across Whitehall. You will be responsible for presenting recommendations and ensuring the appropriate use of evidence in decision-making. This will require you to work closely with policy colleagues and be an integral member of the wider relevant policy team.

For further information, please see the attached Role Profile

Person specification

About You

This is suitable for an economist with experience of developing, using and scrutinising analytical models for the purposes of forecasting and/or assessing the impacts of policy proposals.

The successful candidate will also be able to analyse and handle data for the purposes of producing evidence to advise decision-makers. You will be able to explain key assumptions feeding into analytical models and understand and interpret the outputs for the purposes of providing supporting evidence. We are looking for someone who is proficient in using Excel and other relevant software packages, and who can undertake appropriate Quality Assurance in accordance with Aqua Book guidance.

You will be able to build effective working relationships with non-analytical colleagues and other analytical professions, to facilitate continuous discourse and build mutual understanding of how to work together. You will also be able to tailor the details of your communications, ensuring that it is appropriate to the needs to the audience.

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. 

There may be opportunity for the successful candidates to carry out international visits on a voluntary basis. However you will be required to travel occasionally to other DfT offices and attend meetings and visits around the UK.

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, Experience and Technical skills.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

You will also be required to complete:

1. A Written behavioural example in 250 words that provides evidence of you having demonstrated the following behaviours:

• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

2. A written technical example in 250 words that provides evidence of you having demonstrated the following technical skills from the Government Economic Service Framework:

• Application of knowledge
• Effective communication

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead behaviour which is Working Together. 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 from 18th April 2024.

Interviews are likely to be held from week commencing 29th April 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
• Presentation

This interview will be conducted online via MS Teams. 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 Government Economics Service (GES) Technical Framework, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.

For candidates who are not already a member of the profession a badging exercise will be carried out as part of the interview stage.

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.