Location

London, North West

About the job Job description

Are you passionate about informing policy decisions or operational delivery of key projects in infrastructure? 

Are you excited by the opportunity to shape and inform high profile policies to ensure the delivery of exciting infrastructure projects in the North whilst ensuring value for money to the taxpayer? 

If so, we are looking to recruit a Senior Policy Advisor to work alongside a wide stakeholder base to achieve effective project delivery and sound policy advice in a truly exciting role. 

This post is an excellent opportunity to work alongside a wide stakeholder base to work on some real value adding projects in the North of England including the Manchester North-West Quadrant, the Trans-Pennine tunnel and a brand new project. 

Your key responsibilities will include: 

• On a daily basis, reviewing actions from the weekly project meeting looking at actions required, reviewing policy changes and implementations required & dealing with official correspondence and briefings. 
• Feeding back to other colleagues where necessary on key project priorities. 
• Review departmental inter-dependencies, checking and challenging where required. 
• Monitoring & ensuring that projects are on track and budget. 
• Project research & implementation, ensuring high levels of stakeholder engagement throughout. Preparing presentations, relaying complex information to other colleagues and stakeholders. 
• Strong engagement and administration around projects and delivery of objectives. 

Please refer to the role profile for the full roles and responsibilities of the role. Please note, this role will have a large proportion of time spent in London, however candidates from the North West will be considered. 

About you 

Are you highly organised, with excellent communication skills and able to communicate complex issues clearly across all levels of a business? If so we would love to hear from you. 

We’re looking for candidates who have demonstrable experience in either policy design or project delivery and a passion for achieving projects that make a real difference to those infrastructure users. 

You’ll have exceptional interpersonal skills and be able to communicate complex information to others, with the capability to provide guidance and information to inform decisions at all levels of the business. 

For this role, it’s essential to be able to proactively manage your workload whilst retaining focus on the key priorities of the department. 

This role is an amazing opportunity to work on some of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects and is extremely stretching and fast paced. There is very clear potential for progression within the role and it the role will provide valuable insight in to the policy and operation of the infrastructure projects ongoing. 

About us 

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:

• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace
• Developing Self and Others

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 a disclosure and barring security check.

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 and Experience.

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. 

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

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.

Eligibility

Candidates in their probationary period are eligible to apply for vacancies within this department.

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

For further information on this vacancy please contact - 
Karen Wilkinson 
Email: [email protected]

Sift/interview dates and location

The sift is due to take place 28th August 2019. 

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held week commencing 16th September 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.