Location

City of Westminster, London, SW1P 4DR

About the job

We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) people, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.

Are you passionate about applying your science and engineering skills to national security and resilience?

Do you want to work at the forefront of science and technology where your work will have real world impacts?

If so, we have an opportunity for you to be our Science for Resilience Manager and we'd love to hear from you.

Job description

Transport Security, Resilience and Response (TSRR) leads on national security matters, ranging from counter terrorism and cyber security to planning for and responding to natural hazards or civil contingencies. We deliver expertise to support security and resilience policy teams whilst also providing the department's 24/7 response for all security or civil contingency incidents. The team works with security and intelligence partners from across government to mitigate risk to the UK’s transport sector.

You’ll work with the Strategic Lead in driving delivery of the DfT’s Science for Resilience Programme. This programme ensures that science and technology underpins our understanding, mitigations and response to the range of natural hazards and civil contingency issues which can disrupt transport systems in the UK and internationally – for example extreme weather, volcanic activity and space weather. A second strand of the programme looks to address climate change, futures and innovation to: understand how climate change may impact transport infrastructure in the future; use horizon scanning to ensure that projects and solutions are resilient by design to current and future hazards; and develop innovative new solutions to solve problems and improve resilience.

This role will involve working closely with resilience and policy leads across the department, our agencies and transport industry stakeholders to understand their science and research needs. There will be some scope for individual tailoring of portfolio areas according to expertise and interest, and plenty of opportunity to expand your skills.

Transport Security, Resilience and Response invests significantly in training and developing staff to prepare them not just for an interesting and challenging job, but also for a rewarding career in the Government security profession. We expect that the successful candidate will remain in post for at least 2 years, to support implementation of the Science for Resilience Programme and deliver on some high-profile events, such as COP26.

The work will be diverse, stretching and fast-paced. It a will give you the opportunity to develop a wide range of skills whilst working on projects which clearly align with the organisational priorities, and encompass our values of being inclusive, diverse, empowering, innovative and the experts in what we do.
 

Responsibilities

Within your role you will:

• lead on Science for Resilience Programme themes, drawn from areas such as space weather, volcanic activity, severe flooding, and extreme heat;
• work with the Met Office, and other government partners, to better understand the potential impacts on the transport network from climate change;
• support delivery of high-profile, international events such as COP26;
• support the Science for Resilience Strategic Programme Lead in planning and delivery of the outcomes of the Integrated Review and Spending Review;
• engage with DfT agencies and transport industry representatives to understand their science and research needs, and understand how innovation could be used to improve resilience;
• represent DfT and the Science for Resilience Programme in cross-government bodies and meetings, deputising for the Strategic Programme Lead where needed;
• build and maintain a network of expertise across government, industry and academia so that the Department continues to access the latest thinking on resilience research;
• support the wider work of the Science and Research Strategy Team in implementing the 2019 Transport Security and Resilience Science and Technology Strategy;
• embrace opportunities and be willing to reprioritise at short notice as a result of a civil contingencies or security incident.

Special features of the role:

The National Security Science and Research (NSSR) Division plays a crucial role in the Department’s emergency response mechanisms. You therefore may be required to participate in the department’s response to a security or civil contingencies incident. This may include out of hours working on occasion, but we make every effort to allow for your personal circumstances.

The successful candidate will need to hold BPSS clearance to commence the role, however they must be willing to obtain SC clearance once in post.

About you

You will have experience of working in resilience, natural hazards or climate change environments. You will have excellent communication skills both verbally and in writing, with the ability to adapt your delivery to suit a wide variety of audiences, maximising both impact and understanding. You are someone who gains rapport quickly with others as you build effective working relationships with both colleagues and stakeholders.

You will have confidence in your ability to come in and make a real impact within our team where you will lead from the front and drive those around you to achieve the same shared objectives. You will have excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple and often conflicting priorities to time and of a high standard.

Qualifications

Applicants need to have an undergraduate degree or similar in a relevant Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) discipline (e.g. physics, chemistry, biology, earth and environmental sciences etc).

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

Technical skills

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

• GSE Technical Skills - Building and applying knowledge: Applying knowledge
• GSE Technical Skills – Communicating science & engineering for government: Interfacing with policy
• GSE Technical Skills – Technical oversight and management: Being an intelligent customer - Here's a link to the GSE Framework

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.

In addition, we can also offer you:

• access to learning and development tailored to your role and your career aspirations;
• shadowing and mentoring opportunities;
• opportunities to develop innovative solutions, take ownership of projects and develop leadership skills, while working in a fast pace environment;
• insight and knowledge of national security;
• reimbursement for your subscription and support with engagement with a relevant professional body e.g. to achieve chartered status or other continuing professional development.

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

Things you need to know 

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

People working with government assets must complete basic personnel security standard checks.

Selection process details

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

We are closely monitoring the situation regarding the coronavirus, and will be following central Government advice as it is issued. There is therefore a risk that recruitment to this post may be subject to change at short notice. In addition, where appropriate, you may be invited to attend a video interview.

Please continue to follow the application process as normal and ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way.
How to apply:

Please apply for this role by submitting a CV and Personal Statement (1250 words). When considering your experience, please tailor your CV/Personal Statement to provide evidence of when you have:

• Led on (or components of) impactful projects or advice (e.g. briefing, factsheets, publications) based on analysis, science, or engineering related to resilience, natural hazards or climate change;
• Built and maintained effective relationships and networks at all levels;
• Understood own and other’s needs and priorities – shaping and influencing activities to achieve business objectives;
• Communicated complex scientific or technical information clearly to a non-expert audience;
• Kept up to date with the latest research, emerging trends and technologies, aligning your work to reflect these.

The sift is due to take place 02/02/21.

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held from 15/02/21.

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

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.

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

• an interview

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

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.

The Civil Service Nationality Rules has been updated following the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union. The new rules will come into effect on 1st January 2021. We urge people from the EU, European Economic Area and Switzerland to be familiar with the updated Nationality rules prior to applying for this role.

For further information on Success Profiles visit our Careers website.

Further Information

To learn more about applying for a role within the Department for Transport, visit the Application Process page of our Careers website.

Before submitting your application, we encourage you to visit our Things You Need to Know page for further information about applying for a role within the Department for Transport and the Civil Service.

Throughout this job advert there are links to the DfT Careers website, which provides you further information to support your application. Should you be unable to access the information on our website, please email [email protected] for assistance.

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

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UKs
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals from the EU, EEA or Switzerland with (or eligible for) status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals working in the Civil Service
• relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals who have built up the right to work in the Civil Service
• certain family members of the relevant EU, EEA, Swiss or Turkish nationals

Further information on nationality requirements

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 equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants Job contact : Name :   Rachel Norman Email :   [email protected]   Recruitment team : Email :   [email protected] Further information

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: Visit the Civil Service Commission website at https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk