About the job Summary

This is a challenging and exciting role reporting directly to the Secretary of State for Transport on all matters related to railway accident investigation.

Job description

You will play a key role in the effective leadership of the investigation activities undertaken by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch, which has a mission to improve the safety of the UK’s railway and tramway systems.

You will need to be comfortable working in a fast-moving environment with the ability to communicate at all levels of the rail industry and represent RAIB as a professional organisation both within and outside the UK.

We are looking for an outstanding railway professional to lead the branch into the future, building on the international reputation it has established for the quality of its work.
 

Responsibilities

The purpose of the role is to improve the safety of the rail industry by leading a team of professionals that undertake independent, expert rail accident investigations to the highest standard.

The key requirements of the role are as follows:

• Ensure that all rail accident investigations are conducted thoroughly and efficiently, in full compliance with the requirements of relevant legislation;

• Engage with the rail industry, and other stakeholders, to assure effective working relationships and knowledge sharing;

• Promote the recruitment, retention and development of a talented and diverse team of professionals;

• Develop strong working relationships and cooperation with equivalent bodies in Europe and elsewhere in the world;

• Play an active role in developing close working relationships with the UK’s other investigation bodies, the AAIB and MAIB, and attend the Accident Investigation Chiefs’ Council;

• Ensure effective and sensitive engagement with bereaved families and others affected by accidents;

• Implement a strategy for communicating safety learning via the media, industry fora and other effective means;

• Lead the identification and execution of initiatives to promote the continuous development of the RAIB and its people.

Person Specification

We are looking for someone who has:

• A relevant professional background with recognised expertise and credibility in the rail industry – or a proven record of senior management in a safety critical sector, which is clearly and demonstrably transferrable to railway safety;

• Excellent leadership skills with a strong record of achievement, strategic planning, expert judgement and the management of people and teams;

• An ability to work, and make sound decisions, in an unusual and highly stressful situations;

• A strong ability to develop and maintain credible and trusted relationships with senior stakeholders;

• Excellent communication skills extending to media appearances and resolving highly sensitive situations;

• A well-developed understanding of the concerns of those likely to be involved in the consequences of a rail accident, including the bereaved.

Benefits

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits.

This includes:
- a generous annual leave entitlement,
- attractive pension options,
- flexible working,
- good career development opportunities,
- a variety of career paths,
- inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance.

Things you need to know Security

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

See our vetting charter.

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

Selection process details

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.

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

Application
To apply for any of these posts, you will need to complete the online application form no later than (23:55) 26th September 2021.

The application will include:
1. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
2. A Statement of Suitability (no longer than 1000 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills,  qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for this role, with particular reference to the  criteria in the person specification. 

Failure to complete both sections of the form (CV and Statement of Suitability) will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application.

We hope to notify candidates of the results of shortlisting by 4th October 2021. Please note that we are unable to provide feedback to those candidates who are not shortlisted for interview. Written feedback will be made available (on request) to those candidates who attend interview.

Should you encounter any issues with your online application please get in touch with us on: [email protected]

If you do not receive acknowledgment of your application within 48 hours, please contact Trish Marshall on: [email protected]

Shortlist
Your application will be acknowledged when it is received.

A panel, including the hiring manager, will assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the ‘Person Specification’ section. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.

The timeline later in this pack indicates the date by which decision is expected to be made, and all shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter.

Assessment
If you are shortlisted, you will then be asked to attend an interview in order to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence.
The Success Profile Framework will be used to assess and recruit the most suitable candidate. The following five behaviours will be used at the interview stage:

1. Working Together
2. Making Effective Decisions
3. Communicating and Influencing
4, Leadership
5. Changing and Improving

Full details of the assessment process will be made available to shortlisted candidates.

An Individual Leadership Assessment is currently planned to take place from 4th October 2021 and Interviews week commencing 25th October 2021.

Offer
Regardless of the outcome, we will notify all candidates as soon as possible.

We will send you a copy of any report for any assessment that you may have undergone as part of the recruitment process (where applicable).

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 settled or pre-settled status or who apply for either status by the deadline of 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 :   Trish Marshall Email :   [email protected]   Recruitment team : Email :   [email protected] Further information

If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles and wish to make a complaint then you should contact Seanagh.Darby@ dft.gov.uk in the first instance.