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Policy & Operations Support Officer - Flexible Working Available

Employer
Department for Transport
Location
London (Central), London (Greater)
Salary
£33,990 - £36,880
Closing date
18 Jul 2019

Job Details

Location

City of Westminster, London, SW1P 4DR

About the job Job description

Do you have a keen interest in Government policy, and are able to produce high quality written work? 

Do you have excellent attention to detail? 

Can you remain calm and focused when working to tight deadlines? 

If the answer is yes, we would love to hear from you! 

We are looking for a flexible and enthusiastic person to join our team in Passenger Services, to help us ensure train operators deliver high quality train services to millions of passengers across the UK. 

You’ll be involved in overseeing the delivery of new national rail timetables, and in managing the way we monitor their implementation as a Department. These are high-profile changes that take place twice a year and gather significant Ministerial, media and public interest. It is essential that we show the right leadership and communicate clearly with industry partners to ensure they deliver improvements for passengers, and ensure passengers see the benefits of our record investment in the railways. 

In this role, you will provide vital policy and operational support, and will help make sure train operators deliver the services they have promised in our franchise agreements. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to be exposed to senior leaders within the Department and across the rail industry, gain valuable insight into the way the railway in Britain is run, and further your knowledge of how Government operates. 

Using specialist software, you’ll check that all the train services the Department has procured have run, and that operators are meeting their contractual obligations - this is where your keen eye for detail will come into play. 

We encourage you to refer the role profile attached to this advert for more information. 

About you 

To be successful in this role, you will be able to produce written documents – including Ministerial advice and policy documents – to an extremely high standard. You will also need to be able to manage your time effectively and remain calm under pressure, as you will be working to tight deadlines regularly. 

You’ll have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and will be able to process large amounts of technical data and present it in easily digestible formats. 

A flexible approach will prove valuable, as it will allow you to negotiate competing work demands to deliver results promptly. You’ll enjoy working with others as part of a team, and will foster excellent working relations with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds. 

About us 

Rail Group is a single, integrated body established by the Department for Transport to take UK’s railway into the future, and to put passengers at the heart of the journey. With billions of pounds of government funding behind us and strong leadership in place, we have an unprecedented opportunity to drive things forward. 

Passenger Services is responsible for covering the whole of the rail franchise life-cycle from procurement through to day to day management and has committed to putting passengers at the heart of what it does. 

We are part of the Department for Transport (DfT). DfT is a great place to work, and our ‘one team’ approach really makes a difference. We value our staff and that’s why we’re committed to nurturing an inclusive environment across the Department. 

You’ll be part of an innovative organisation that invests in all our people, ensuring we have the diverse skills to deliver transport that moves Britain ahead now and into the future. 


Find out more about what it's like working at the Department for Transport


DfT has been recognised for its leadership on workplace gender equality by being included in The Times Top 50 Employers for Women 2017. 

DfT’s inclusion is recognition of our commitment to make the Department a great place to work through our culture of equality and inclusivity and the great strides we’ve made to raise the number of women in senior positions.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Working Together
  • Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

  • Policy Profession Framework

Benefits Pensions

Civil Service pension schemes may be available for successful candidates.

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.

Things you need to know Security

Successful candidates must pass basic security checks.

Nationality statement

Candidates will be subject to UK immigration requirements as well as Civil Service nationality rules.

If you're applying for a role requiring security clearance please be aware that foreign or dual nationality is not an automatic bar. However certain posts may have restrictions which could affect those who do not have sole British nationality or who have personal connections with certain countries outside the UK.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

Please tailor your personal statement to provide evidence of your experience in shaping policy – whether by working directly in a policy environment, or by producing advice that aims to influence policymakers and policy. This may include, for example, writing academic articles, or conducting research for think tanks or charities. While direct experience in writing Government policy is not mandatory, we will be looking for evidence of potential to thrive in this area, such as strong judgment, excellent writing skills, an eye for detail and the ability to think about the way your work further the aims of the Department, and how you can use it to maximise impact. 

Please tailor your CV to evidence your suitability for the role, taking into account the requirements of the role as outlined in this advert and on the role profile 


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

• an interview with one or more exercises 

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 please click here 

Your interview may consist of a range of question types. These may include questions about: 

• what energises and motivates you 
• how you would manage situations relevant to the role 
• your previous experience 
• your professional skills and knowledge 

You’re encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK, Commonwealth and European Economic Area (EEA) and certain non EEA nationals. Further information on whether you are able to apply is available here.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Apply and further information

Contact point for applicants

If you have any further questions please contact [email protected]

Sift/interview dates and location

The sift is due to take place w/c 22/07/2019. 

Interviews/assessments will be held in London between 06/08/2019 and 13/08/2019. 

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. 

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a security check may be carried out. 

Further information

We have adopted anonymised recruitment. This means that your name, date of birth and other personal details will not be seen by the sift panel. 

We may hold a merit list for up to twelve months. During this time, if a similar role is identified and you have been placed on the merit list you may be considered for the post. Within the merit list period, your application form and selection information may be shared across the department and its agencies. 


Reasonable adjustment 

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes. 

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should: 
Contact Government Recruitment Service via [email protected] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional. 

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. 

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email: [email protected] 

If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: 
Click here to visit Civil Service Commission. 
Any move to the Department for Transport (DfT) will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. 

Company

Transport matters – what we do matters.

Transport touches the lives of everyone in the country. Across road, rail, air, sea and space, our transport networks affect homes, businesses, schools, hospitals and more. It’s how we deliver goods to our shops, get people to work and reunite with our loved ones. Our staff know how important their work is and how they fit in.

 

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