About the job

Job summary

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

You’re at an MOT garage to review their compliance. They are very busy and the equipment is faulty.

You use your hard-earned industry knowledge and experience to assess, monitor and improve the standards within and around the MOT industry. You make a compelling argument as to why they need to fix the equipment.

The MOT garage owner is not happy, but you keep a level head to explain the consequences of continuing with the faulty equipment.

You are a DVSA Vehicle Examiner – MOT Specialist.

Job description

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

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

What did you do this week?

• I visited an MOT Testing station and re-inspected a recently tested vehicle.
• I carried out an Audit at an MOT Testing Station to ensure it was operating correctly.
• I carried out a Statutory MOT Appeal test following a complaint on the standards of the MOT.
• I qualified a new MOT Tester following a successful demonstration test.
• I investigated the issue of fraudulent MOT test certificates.
• I made a difference to the safety of our roads.

A typical Vehicle Examiner – MOT Specialist will also:

• Travel to MOT Testing stations to check compliance and give advice to people in all MOT roles.
• Analyse data for MOT garages, carry out off-site reviews and plan work actions, including carrying out mystery shopper investigations.
• Write in depth reports and, where necessary, issue Temporary Suspension Notices or Advisory Warning Letters.
• Answer technical queries from customers, offering advice, guidance and education as required.
• Follow operating instructions and procedures.
• Present evidence on behalf of DVSA in Court.

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

Person specification

You will have experience in the repair, maintenance or inspection of at least one type of vehicle, if not multiple, along with the relevant qualifications.

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

The Vehicle Examiner role can be physically demanding, which could include working in inspection pits and getting in and out of vehicles.

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 several core skills such as:

• Resilience -this is 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.

• 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. 

• Communication -you must be a good communicator. 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.

Additional Information

Due to the nature of the role, there may be a requirement to travel to other DVSA locations, with the potential for overnight stays for which additional payments are made. This may also include working outside of normal hours - prior notice will be given. 

There will be extensive training on all aspects of the role. Some of the training will take place in our training centres, usually in Bristol or Manchester. Please note: the 18-week training course is completed on a full-time basis, which is non-negotiable.

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. 

You will have the opportunity to discuss your preferred working pattern upon successful offer and before starting the training course. While we will work hard to try and accommodate flexible working, unfortunately, we can’t guarantee that all requests can be agreed, as working patterns will be subject to the business needs. 

To find out more about the job, working for DVSA,  as well as the application and interview process, please join us at a virtual event on 13th June, where you will be able to ask us questions. Sign up here.

Flexible Payment Options

On completion of a probation period, there are several flexible deployment options which examiners can apply for, in addition to the salary and technical payment, ranging from £1,263 to £3,367 per year.

The options are based on the examiner’s availability outside of normal business hours to help deliver DVSAs key services. Applications will be assessed against the business need at the time.

Being a Credible Witness

It is requirement of this role that staff are able to meet the credible witness status in court proceedings on behalf of the DVSA. Any convictions or material casting doubt on the reliability of a witness could harm DVSAs chances of a successful prosecution and damage the reputation of the agency. Please note, as part of our onboarding process we facilitate social media and online checks.

Please take note that DVSA does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. 

For further information on any of the detail included in this advert, applicants are encouraged to contact lindsay.hassett1@dvsa.gov.uk

Location Information

The Bridport post will be based in Chilcombe.

The Crawley post will be based in Peas Pottage. 

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. 

About Us

We offer extensive training at our training centres and you will need to be proficient using laptop computers and smart phones, as we operate a digital first approach.

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, Experience and Technical skills.

How to Apply  

As part of the application process, you will be asked to provide evidence of your qualifications (see attached qualification list for further details) which meet the stated requirements for this role.

You must add this as an attachment in order for your application to progress to the next stage of the process. The window for submitting this evidence will close at the same date/time as the advert. 

Please attach evidence of your Level 3 in Motor Vehicle Maintenance & Repair at level 3 or IMI ATA registration at diagnostic technician level, or IRTEC registration at advanced technician level. Other Motor related qualifications may be acceptable.

 Please DO NOT attach your CV. It is just your qualification that we need to see.

Following the close of the application window an initial sift will take place based on the qualification information that have been provided. If you have not provided sufficient evidence of your qualifications (which meets the requirements of the role) then your application will not be progressed at this point.

This qualification sift will be taking place from 24 June 2024.

Candidates who evidence the relevant qualifications at application stage will be progressed and invited to attend an interview.

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held week commencing 08 July and week commencing 15 July 2024.

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

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: 

• An interview and a technical test

As part of the Technical element for this role you will be assessed against the DVSA Technical Competency Framework (Knowledge of Vehicles). Please find attached and here.

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. 

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

You can read more about Success Profiles here. 

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.