Location

City of Westminster, London, SW1P 4DR

About the job

Are you a commercially-minded professional with an understanding of public policy making?

Would you like the opportunity to be at the forefront of designing future commercial approaches for the next generation of rail franchises?

If so we’d love to hear from you.

Job description

We are looking a Franchising Commercial Policy Adviser to join our Franchising Finance Policy Team. Our team is responsible for contributing to the Department’s commercial design for rail franchising, leading on key finance and commercial policies on diverse issues, including capital requirements, risk allocation and financial robustness of franchise bidders.

As Commercial Policy Adviser you will focus on advising on and developing policy for the financial and commercial aspects of franchising.

You will have the opportunity to work with the wider Policy, Operations and Change (POC) team, , strategy and reform colleagues, economists and rail analysts, lawyers, industry representatives, and external advisors to drive and influence emerging policy thinking.

You will think strategically to develop new policy, testing and refining this through consultation with internal and external partners to support ministerial sign-off. With the upcoming release of the Williams Rail Review, this is an outstanding opportunity to be at the forefront of designing future commercial approaches, and implementing the recommendations of the review.
 

Responsibilities

Your duties and responsibilities will include:

• Leading and managing the review and development of finance and commercial policies to deliver the Department’s strategic aims and objectives for the franchising programme,
• Engaging with individual franchise project teams, providing support and advice on finance and commercial policy to ensure that existing/new policies are embedded into specifications for future franchises.
• Supporting and advising the contract management teams on the implementation of contractual provisions relating to finance and commercial policy.

About you

You have knowledge and understanding of public policy making and/or experience of working in a commercial environment. You have a good working knowledge of key commercial, financial and economic principles preferably in the transport sector and/or a regulated industry.

You have experience of balancing competing objectives and views to deliver solutions. You engage effectively to build collaborative relationships with individuals across a large number of different teams to achieve consensus on the direction of particular projects.

You work well independently and as part of a team, with the ability to prioritise tasks and manage the delivery of key projects.

About us

Our mission at the Department for Transport is ‘connecting people and places’. Everything we do to achieve this is reinforced by our values:
- Confidence: to challenge, to take action, to innovate
- Excellence: in our professionalism, in our delivery, in our learning
- Teamwork: we are inclusive, we collaborate, we support each other

These values define the kind of organisation we want to be – delivering for today whilst being ambitious for tomorrow.


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

Behaviours

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

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

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.

Selection process details

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

How to apply

After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Verbal Reasoning. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application.

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 02/03/20. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

When considering your experience, please tailor your CV and personal statement to provide evidence of when you have:
• Worked effectively in a commercial environment
• Demonstrated a good working knowledge of key commercial, financial and economic principles in the transport sector or a regulated industry
• Built strong relationships with individuals across a large number of teams

The sift is due to take place 03/03/2020.

Interviews/assessments are likely to be held week commencing 16/03/2020.

Interview location to be confirmed.

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 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.

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.

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

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.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstance some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing [email protected] stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

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.

Any move to the Department for Transport will mean you will no longer be able to carry on claiming childcare vouchers.

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 Job contact : Name :   PassengerServicesResourcing 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: Click here (https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/) to visit Civil Service Commission