About the job Summary

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.

Head of Global Aviation Strategy

Salary: National - £48,77 &, London - £54,105

Locations: Birmingham, Leeds and London

We have an exciting opportunity within our Aviation Directorate and we would love to hear from you!

Job description

Leading our global strategy to advance the UK’s international objectives for aviation is a key priority of the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Government, and is at the heart of the UK’s wider Global Britain ambitions.

This role is at the core of the DfT’s international aviation strategy team, and requires a strategic thinker and skilled policy professional to help drive forward the UK’s global priorities. This is a high-profile role in the department, with regular interaction with DfT Ministers and senior officials.

The role is stretching and rewarding, and we are looking for candidates who are experienced and confident in collaborating with a wide range of stakeholders to develop both strategy and policy. The role is internationally-facing, and candidates will need to have experience working internationally.

The global strategy team is responsible for developing and delivering a strategic approach to the influencing of both (non-European) countries around the world and international organisations in order to effectively advance the UK’s aviation interests.

This includes the UK’s engagement with the UN International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). ICAO is responsible for setting global aviation standards, frameworks and shared objectives, including for the decarbonisation of aviation, the safe reopening of international travel, aviation security and safety, and much more.

Alongside this work, the international aviation strategy team leads the department’s wider strategic approach to engagement with Europe and the EU, as well as the international collaboration required to facilitate the reopening of global travel.
 

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will set the strategy for the aviation directorate’s engagement with international partners to drive forward UK priorities globally across a range of policy areas. This includes: the decarbonisation of aviation; new and emerging aeronautical technologies, such as space travel; the safety and security of air travel; and much more. The post-holder will need to build strong strategic relationships with colleagues across the directorate, department and Government to successfully meet these aims.

The successful candidate will need to prioritise and solidify the UK’s strategic relationships with key bilateral partners, such as the US. They will also lead the department’s engagement with a range of political groupings and multilateral organisations, such as G7, G20 and Five Eyes (US, Australia, New Zealand and Canada).

The post-holder will lead the department’s relationship with the UK’s ICAO delegation in Canada by getting to grips with cross cutting policy questions, and working with a wide range of colleagues to support the negotiation of global policies. The post-holder will need to coordinate advice and support to the UK’s delegation, to ensure they are fully-prepared for international negotiations, and to help secure optimal outcomes for the UK. They will also need to facilitate successful communication between the ICAO delegation and teams in the UK, to ensure that global standards and objectives are reflected in domestic policy-making.

Responsibilities include:
• Embedding a strategic approach to international engagement and collaboration with key strategic global partners.
• Developing clear processes and coordination across the department and Government for international engagement, bringing in key stakeholders as appropriate, and ensuring high-quality briefings.
• Providing international advice and insight to steer, prioritise, and maximise the impact of the UK’s international collaboration.
• Developing a US-country strategy as a priority, and consider how the department should be prioritising engagement and collaboration with other key partners.
• Collaborating closely with colleagues overseas, including in international organisations, to advance UK policy aims.
• Building and influencing a network of contacts from across the Department and Government to maximise UK impact in ICAO.
• Leading preparations for the ICAO Assembly in Autumn 2022, including through management of internal and external coordination and lobbying, and planning of the ICAO High-Level Meeting in Spring 2022.
• Line management responsibilities.
• Potential for regular international travel, including to Montreal (ICAO).

About You

You have the ability to build strong, sustainable, working relationships quickly, often in the face of cultural and/or attitudinal differences.

You will be a resilient, resourceful and flexible person with excellent communication skills, able to deliver results that command broad buy-in, not just from our international partners, but from industry and from colleagues across Government.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills

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

• Analysis and use of evidence - Knowledge of Policy Making in your Policy Area
• Analysis and use of evidence - Policy Framing
• Politics and democracy - Advising - Briefing & Drafting
• Policy delivery - Understanding the Delivery Context and Effective Implementation Planning

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.

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

Things you need to know Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check.

See our vetting charter.

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, Strengths, 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.

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

The sift is due to take place from 26th May 2021.

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held from 9th June 2021.

How to apply

As part of your application, you will be required to complete a Statement of Suitability, please utilise the 1000-word count to outline your experience of the following:
• Leading a team to deliver high-profile strategic and/or policy outcomes;
• Communicating with a range of stakeholders to influence effectively, and to secure key priorities for your team/business area;
• Maintain a view of the big picture to ensure plans and activities in your area of work reflect wider strategic priorities.
• Take important and wide-ranging decisions effectively, and with confidence.
• Working internationally.

As part of the Policy exercise, you will be tested against Level 2 of the Policy Framework, which can be found here.

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 and written Policy Exercise.

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.

For further information on Success Profiles visit our Careers website.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section

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 UK
• 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 :   Head of EU and International Aviation Strategy - Joe Delafield 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