About the job

Job summary

If you’re interested in making a difference to people’s lives, the Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK. Working at the heart of government, we collaborate across government to promote responsible public spending and drive strong and sustainable economic growth.  

Our work ranges from protecting customers through the regulation of the financial sector, helping to reduce carbon emissions and creating a greener economy, to promoting British trade around the world and supporting people across the country on jobs, growth and more.  

We are part of the Darlington Economic Campus, a pioneering new cross-government hub which brings people together to play an active role in the most important issues of the day whilst working closer to the communities we serve. The campus provides the opportunity for people from all over the UK to help shape the future of the country, and our flexible working practices ensure you can collaborate effectively with our partners. It’s central government, made more accessible to you! 

Job description

About the Group - Enterprise and Growth Unit 

The Enterprise and Growth Unit (EGU) promotes sustainable economic growth and higher productivity for the UK. We provide analysis and advice on enterprise, innovation, private sector investment and a cost-effective transition to a low-carbon economy. The Enterprise and Growth Unit has a varied and exciting agenda and we work closely with a wide variety of other teams across the Treasury.  

We also work alongside other departments and government organisations to ensure that we are thinking creatively, spending wisely, and acting boldly to deliver these goals. These organisations are:

• the Department for Business and Trade,
• the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero,
• the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs,
• the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology,
• the Department for Transport,
• the Department for Culture, Media & Sport,
• the Competition and Markets Authority,
• HM Land Registry, and
• UK Export Finance 

About the Team - Transport Team

The Transport team is a challenging but fun team in EGU, responsible for managing the costs of building, maintaining and decarbonising the transport network as well as considering the role of transport in boosting economic growth to level up communities across the UK. We work collaboratively with the Department for Transport (DfT) and No.10 to meet our policy objectives.

The role sits in the Local Transport and Roads branch, one of four branches in the team, which is responsible for spending control across local transport (e.g. Transport for London, Transport for Greater Manchester), buses, roads, aviation, maritime and freight.

We have a strong dedication to diversity and inclusion, welcoming those with both HM Treasury and non-Treasury experience. We are keen to encourage applications from candidates with a diverse set of backgrounds, skills and experiences and those looking to work in our new Darlington economic campus: we value fresh perspectives and new ways of looking at issues. You do not need to have experience of spending or economic policy making to join the team - just enthusiasm for making a difference and a sense of curiosity!

About the Jobs

These are high-profile roles offering an excellent opportunity to work across a breadth of policy and spending issues, and suitable for someone looking for a promotion to G7/Range E. It will involve significant interaction with No10, senior officials in Department for Transport (DfT) and senior roads and international transport industry stakeholders.

The next year will be an exciting time to work in the team, with the opportunity to influence DfT’s agenda and spending plans ahead of the next Spending Review.

Role 1 - Policy Adviser, Roads and International Transport 

You will be the HMT policy and spending lead on local roads, an area affecting millions of journeys every year and high on the Government’s local transport agenda. The current post-holder has led on the “Major Roads Network” programme of around 100 schemes, as well as record spending on local roads maintenance.

You will also be the policy and spending lead on international transport, including spending on aviation, maritime and freight. This work is often high profile, attracts significant ministerial interest and is high-paced, meaning the role would be particularly suitable for someone looking for a mixture of longer-term strategic work and work that requires quick and effective decision-making.

There is scope to tailor the role to the individual, and areas of responsibility will adapt over time in line with priorities, but the current key responsibilities in this post include:

1. Leading on policy and spending strategy on local roads. You will be expected to develop a detailed understanding of the department’s priorities on local roads, including the significant quantum of enhancement schemes and maintenance spend, as well as the longer-term strategic vision for the sector, and how HMT influences cross-Whitehall decision-making to ensure value for money.
2. Supporting on policy and spending strategy on international transport, including the decarbonisation of ‘hard to decarbonise’ sectors. Working across a wide range of sectors and stakeholders, you will be expected to respond at pace to emerging issues, engaging with tax, regulation and international issues alongside spending concerns. Recent examples have included negotiating spending leading on a series of Ministerial briefings and advice preparing for the introduction of the EU Entry Exit System and working across HMT and DfT to advise the Chancellor on competition in the airport sector, leading to an announcement of a consultation on slot reform at Autumn Statement.
3. Supporting the Local Transport and Roads branch on wider priorities such as strategic roads (i.e. motorways and major A-roads), buses, funding settlements for Combined Authorities, and TfL.
4. Building strong relationships with stakeholders in DfT and HMT, in order to be able to provide balanced advice on DfT spending issues, including an understanding of what may be politically acceptable.
5. Coordinating input from across the team in order to prepare succinct and clear briefings and advice for ministers and senior officials. This will require communicating complex issues clearly in writing and verbally, tailoring your communication style to suit the intended audience.

Role 2 - Policy Adviser, Rail 

Similar to the Roads and International Transport role, there will be scope to tailor the role, and areas of responsibility will adapt over time in line with priorities, but the current key responsibilities in this post include:

1. Leading on key areas of passenger services spending control. This will involve gaining a clear understanding of the DfT’s priorities on rail. You will be working with the Department to ensure the railway is placed on a sustainable financial footing, whilst improving the efficiency and reliability of the services that passengers receive.
2. Rail reform is a generational programme of change, looking to improve the way the railway is maintained, operated, and run. You will be leading on key areas of this programme, and supporting the Range E and E2 to work with DfT to deliver the key aims of rail reform and commercial change whilst maximising value for the taxpayer.
3. Playing a key role in assessing and negotiating DfT settlement on rail at the next Spending Review.
4. Keeping up to date on sector developments and reporting in the media, as well as working with the major projects team and rail infrastructure team to take forward cross-cutting rail issues.

If you would like to speak to the hiring manager informally prior to the closing date for applications to find out more about the job, please contact Dominic.Humphrey@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Person specification

About your Application 

We are looking for the below skills, experience and behaviours and we will ask you to demonstrate these in your application form. Please review the Candidate FAQ document that is attached to the advert for guidance on how to complete your application form.  

1. Making Effective Decisions – Using evidence and knowledge to support accurate, expert decisions and advice. Show how you carefully consider alternative options, implications and risks of decisions.
2. Working Together – Ability to build strong relationships with a wide network of partners in government, and use these relationships to deliver your objectives
3. Delivering at Pace – Ability to prioritise and reassess workloads to address short-term issues while continuing to make progress on long-term objectives.

The lead criterion is: Making Effective Decisions

If we receive large volumes of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the lead criterion only.

We will ask you to provide some CV details during your application; however, these will NOT be assessed during the process, but will be used to support discussions at interview – please ensure you put all information you would like to be scored against in your behaviour statements.

Online Tests

Prior to submitting your application, you will be invited to complete Civil Service online test(s) relevant to the role and grade. Once you start you application, you will receive an email invitation with details on how to proceed and will only be able to submit your full application if you meet the pre-defined Civil Service pass mark.

For this post, you will be asked to complete;

• Civil Service Verbal Test 
• Civil Service Numerical Test

If you have recently taken and passed the same Civil Service test when applying for a role at the same grade, you will not have to re-take this.

For more information on Civil Service tests, and for guidance on how to practice and prepare for them, please visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/preparing-for-the-civil-service-verbal-and-numerical-tests

If candidates require reasonable adjustments during the application process, or online test process, please allow sufficient time (at least 5 working days prior to the job closing date) to request support, to allow us to support candidates as best as possible. Please note that there is no candidate support available from Friday 5pm to Monday 9am.

Please note, the tests are not timed. You do not need to request extra time.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,500, HM Treasury contributes £10,665 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

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.

Recruitment Timeline 

• Closing date: 7th July 2024
• Shortlisting: w/c 8th July 2024
• Interviews:  w/c 15th July 2024 & 22nd July 2024

This timeline is indicative and may be subject to change. We will inform you if there is a substantial change to the recruitment timeline. 

If your contact details change at any time during the selection process, please ensure you update your Civil Service Jobs Profile. 

Please note that only applications submitted through Civil Service Jobs will be accepted.

Location-Based Reserve Lists 

You will be placed on a reserve list if your application is successful, but we cannot offer you a post immediately. Where more than one location has been advertised, candidates will be approached for roles in merit order according to the first preferred location stated on your application form. 

Please note that a place on the reserve list does not guarantee an offer. We would still encourage you to apply for other HM Treasury opportunities that you are interested in. If you are offered a role in your first preferred location and you decline the offer or you are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe, you will be removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances. 

Eligibility Statement  

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role in the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government. Checks will be performed as part of pre-employment checks in line with this. Please refer to the Candidate FAQ document attached to the advert for more information. 

Everyone working with government assets must complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks. Additionally, individuals appointed to the Treasury group will be subject to National Security Vetting. The level of security vetting required for this role is Counter Terrorist Check (CTC) 

To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out, applicants will need to have lived in the UK for at least 3 out of the past 5 years. In exceptional circumstances, a lack of residency would not be a bar to security clearance however the Department will need to consider eligibility on a case by case basis once the advert closing date has passed. 

Please read the Vetting Charter for information on what to expect during the vetting process and what will be expected from you.  Many areas of your life may be explored during your vetting journey, and it is important that every individual, regardless of their background and experiences, should feel comfortable going through this personal process, whilst having confidence that it is fair, proportionate, and inclusive.  

These short videos address common concerns and preconceptions which applicants may have about national security vetting.  If you have questions relating to security clearances, please contact HMTSecurityVetting@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

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.