About the job

Job summary

National salary: £28,119. For candidates based within the M25 radius in London you will be entitled to a salary of up to £32,119 (this inclusive of a base salary of £28,119 and a London allowance of £4,000).

You have just contributed to ensuring that Britain’s roads are one of the safest in Europe. How did you do that?

On a check-site next to a busy motorway, inspecting a HGV belonging to a company with a high infringement rate. The driver is keen to finish the route and unhappy with the interruption.

You use your knowledge and experience to assess and monitor the tachograph records. Finding that the driver has been driving for too long without a break, you state your case as to why they must take one.

 The driver is not happy, but you keep a level head to explain the consequences and the impact on road safety.

You Are a DVSA Traffic Examiner.

Please click here to secure your place at one of our upcoming events.

Job description

We are looking for self-motivated individuals to join our professional enforcement team as a Traffic Examiner, with positions based at various locations across the UK.

Traffic Examiners contribute to the integrity of road safety and standards to keep Britain moving safely and sustainably.

What can you do in a week?

• Carry out roadside checks on vehicles at various locations such as fixed enforcement sites, coach parks and motorway service areas or as part of a Police mobile patrol.
• Complete inspections of vehicles to ensure they were compliant with - weight, operator’s licence, drivers’ hours, vehicle excise legislation, driving licence and Construction and Use Regulations.
• Inspect tachograph records for anomalies.
• Prepared accurate and detailed reports and papers for prosecution cases.

You will make a difference to the safety of our roads every day.

A typical Traffic Examiner will also:

• Work on behalf of the Traffic Area Office. Investigating environmental complaints into illegal parking and operations of vehicles.
• Preparing case papers and recommendations on investigation of the instigation of court proceedings.
• Present evidence on behalf of DVSA in Court.
• Ensure high levels of Customer Service and maintain good relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure Health & Safety standards are maintained by the team at DVSA and non DVSA locations.
• Contribute to achievement of the DVSA business plan.
• Continue their personal development, including professional competency, knowledge and skills.
• Support DVSA compliance, safety and security commitments through adherence to and championing of policy, procedures and development.

To view the role responsibilities in more detail, please see the attached Candidate Pack.

Person specification

This is a hands-on technical role where an eye for detail to spot anomalies and problems is highly important.

This is an excellent opportunity to access a new career path. Don’t worry, we won’t expect you to be an expert in the role straight away. Rest assured; we will provide you with all the training you need. 

What we particularly need from you are core skills such as:

• Communication - Excellent oral and written communication skills are needed to engage with others. Probing for information while gathering further details is a key part of the role. You will be looked upon as the example. You will have to keep a level head and be able to give advice and education effectively and pass that on to others.
• Teamwork - individually you will be the professional contact representing the DVSA, but you will work with a team to coordinate your work focus. It's essential that you're the kind of person who can work effectively with others. A valuable team member, working towards shared goals.
• Eye for Detail – You will need to pay particular attention to detail for all aspects of the role from assessing vehicles to administration duties.
• Resilience – In terms of flexibility around working hours and adapting to changes in requirements. This is also a public facing role and can, at times, be a difficult job. You may be required to have difficult conversations and take action that may affect the income of a person or to prosecute at court. We support each other to cope with difficult situations, but it's important you understand what this job entails, and lone working is part of this.
• IT Skills – for administrative duties, the ability to follow processes, interpret data and write detailed reports will be required.

Further Information

There will be extensive training on all aspects of the role, which should last around 18 weeks. Some of the training will take place in our training centres, usually in Avonmouth or Chadderton. Other training will be completed online over MS Teams.

You may be required to travel to various DVSA locations in order to carry out your role and there is potential for overnight stays, particularly in the more remote parts of the country. This may also include working outside of normal hours. On overnight allowance is paid to staff for overnight stays.

Location Information

Please note:

• The Bury St. Edmunds post will be based at Elmswell.
• The Hayes post will be based at Yeading.
• The Bexleyheath post will be based at Belvedere.
• The Wrexham post will be based at Llay.
• Thatcham post will be based at Greenham Common.
• The Newbury post will be based at Greenham Common.
• The Potters Bar post will be based at South Mimms.
• The Croydon post will be based at Mitcham.

The Traffic Examiner role can be physically demanding, which will include getting in and out of large commercial vehicles.

Whilst we welcome applications from candidates seeking part time/flexible working hours. There will be a business requirement for candidates to work a minimum number of hours for specific locations. For further information please contact lindsay.hassett1@dvsa.gov.uk.

Reserve List Information

Some of the locations advertised will not have posts available immediately. However, we will hold a Reserve List for up to 12 months and will be in touch with the successful candidates when they become available.

During your application, you should indicate which location you wish to be considered for and, if successful, you will be placed on an individual list of candidates for each location.

Candidates will be held on that list and drawn from it in merit order. We advise you to carefully consider which location you wish to be considered for. If you decline an offer for a location, you have expressed a preference in, you will be withdrawn from any lists you may be held on.

We may also offer candidates a location that they have not expressed a preference for where we have the requirement to do so but this will again be done on the basis of your place in the overall merit order and, in this event, you will not be removed from the list if you decline. 

Qualifications

None required

About Us

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) helps keep Britain moving, safely and sustainably.

We do this by helping people through a lifetime of safe and sustainable journeys, helping them keep their vehicles safe to drive, and protecting them from unsafe drivers and vehicles.

We’re working hard to:

• Make roads safer
• Improve services for our customers
• Make road transport greener and healthier
• Harness the potential of technology and data
• Grow and level up the economy

We’re committed to giving all our colleagues purpose, professionalism and pride in what we do. We work in supportive, diverse and inclusive teams where everyone is valued. You can grow, develop and progress, and make a real difference to society.

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice and welcome and encourage applications from everyone, such as ethnic minorities, women, disabled people and those who identify as LGBT+.

To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace and making DVSA a great place to work visit our Careers website.

Benefits

• An environment with flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance
• Exceptional pension with an employer contribution of an average of 27%
• Generous Annual Leave - 25 days holiday, increasing by 1 each year of service, up to 30
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday
• Latest IT and Tech devices
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues
• Excellent learning and development tailored to your role including paid apprenticeships up to Masters level
• Wide range of discounts schemes on high street names
• Employee assistance program for health and wellbeing
• Cycle to work scheme and Gym membership offers
• For more information see visit our careers page

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

How to Apply

As part of the application process you will be asked to provide a Personal Statement.

For your personal statement, please use the word count of 750 words to provide evidence of when you have:

• Used your communication skills to engage others
• Followed a process that involves interpreting data, and writing detailed responses
• Remained positive when adapting to change of working requirements or business need
• Gathered further information so that you can make accurate decisions
• Worked effectively as part of a team while working towards a shared goal

Please note that you will not be required to submit a CV for this role as we will not be assessing this as part of the application process. You will be required however to provide us with detail (on your application form) of your location preference.

We’ll try to meet the dates we’ve set out in the advert. But there may be occasions when these dates will change. We’ll give you plenty of notice of any important dates.

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

• A written exercise and an interview

The sift is due to take place w/c 1st January 2024.

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held mid January 2024.

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

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.

If you would like to find out more about what it’s like to work for DVSA and how to apply, we will be holding virtual sessions to find out more. Please to secure your place at one of our upcoming events.

You’re encouraged to become familiar with the candidate pack attached, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.

The Department for Transport recruits using Success Profiles. For each role, we consider what you need to demonstrate to be successful.

You can read more about Success Profiles here.

This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

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.