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About the job
Job summary
We recognise the challenges that people with 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 ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.
KICK START YOUR CAREER BY JOINING THE DEPARTMENT FOR TRANSPORT AS A POLICY OFFICER APPRENTICE.
Are you interested in policy development and keen to learn more about delivering policy solutions?
Would you like to gain a nationally recognised qualification whilst undertaking a stretching role, so you can earn whilst you learn?
If so, then we would love for you to apply!
Job description
The Department for Transport is made up of the central Department (DfTc) and four Executive Agencies – the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA); the Vehicle Certification Agency
(VCA); the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA); and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA). We work with our agencies and partners to support the transport network that helps the UK’s businesses and gets people and goods travelling around the country; keeping the UK on the move.
DfT is working on some of the largest and most complex infrastructure projects this country has ever seen. Our policies do and will continue to, affect the shape, prosperity and connectivity of British citizens, companies and industries.
To do all of this, and continuously build and improve on our achievements, we need policy professionals who are looking for exciting and challenging roles. As a Policy apprentice at DfT, you will be making a direct contribution to the ways people and goods can get to where they need to go. If you would like to develop policy, provide high-quality advice and guidance on important issues whilst developing your career in the policy profession, this apprenticeship at DfT is for you!
Responsibilities
Key accountabilities of the role include:
- Supporting the business by drafting written policy advice and recommendations to Ministerial briefings, Parliamentary business, freedom of information requests and correspondence.
- Supporting in delivery of the strategic overview of policy matters impacting the policy area you are working within.
- Gathering information, including engaging Arm’s lengths Bodies, and bringing it together to support policy decision-making or to provide oral and written briefing / correspondence.
- Developing and maintaining positive working relationships with internal, external and across-Government stakeholders to support the development of policy.
- Providing general policy support across the team including working with a range of stakeholders to contribute to the development and introduction of new policies.
- Ensuring policy records remain accurate and up to date.
For an in-depth insight into the role please refer to the Role Profile.
Person specification
To be successful in this role, you will be enthusiastic about policy development and keen to learn more about delivering policy solutions. You will be passionate about personal development and are committed to working towards completion of a Level 4 Policy Officer Apprenticeship.
You can produce written work to a high-standard and to tight deadlines, drawing out key evidence to inform decision making. You will be an effective communicator who can deliver key messages in a way which reflects the needs of different audiences. You are adaptable, flexible and thrive on managing a varied workload. You will be highly organised with good time management skills. You are confident in using Microsoft Office packages, including Word, Excel and Outlook.
To be eligible for this programme, you will need to:
- Be at least 16-years old.
- Have the right to work in the UK.
- Have been a resident in the UK/EA/EEA continuously for 3-years before starting the apprenticeship.
- Have left full-time education when the apprenticeship starts.
- Not be in receipt of funding for other learning programmes (including another apprenticeship)
Additional Information
A minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace, although requirements to attend other locations for official business, or carry out detached duty in another DfT workplace, will also count towards this level of attendance.
Occasional travel to other DfT offices will be required.
Policy Officer Information Session
To learn more about working at DfT and the Policy Officer Apprenticeship, we are holding a candidate information session on Wednesday 27th March from 12:30 - 1:15, please click here to book your space.
Qualifications
Individuals who hold or who are working towards a similar qualification of the same level or higher i.e. Policy Officer Level 4 will not be eligible to apply. Candidates who possess unrelated qualifications will be considered. In order to be eligible for the apprenticeship, any qualifications previously held or currently being worked towards must differ in content so that this apprenticeship provides substantial new skills. If you apply and are found to possess any of the above, your application will not be considered and any offer of employment will be withdrawn and your contract terminated. If you are unsure on whether you will be eligible for this apprenticeship, please do contact the hiring manager outlined on this job advert for advice.
Please click 'yes' to confirm that you do not hold a similar qualification at the same level or higher. By clicking ‘no’ you are indicating that you DO hold these qualifications and are therefore ineligible to apply for this role.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Delivering at Pace
- Making Effective Decisions
- Working Together
- Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- 1. Strategy 1.1. Policy Context and Purpose Level 1: Developing
- 2. Democracy 2.1. Working with Ministers Level 1: Developing
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
Selection process details
How to apply
When considering applying please look at how your experience relates to the role, and within your Personal Statement please provide detailed evidence of your experience of the following:
- Experience of producing written work to a high-standard and to tight deadlines and drawing out key evidence.
- Effective communication with the ability to deliver key messages.
- Highly organised with good time management skills.
Your personal statement will be limited to a maximum of 750 words.
The sift is due to take place from w/c 8th April.
Written Policy Exercises are likely to be held w/c 22nd April.
Interviews are likely to be held w/c 6th May.
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 will include:
- Written Policy Exercise
- Interview
This interview could be conducted online via Teams or face to face at one of our offices. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.
You’re encouraged to become familiar with the role profile and the Policy Professions Standards, 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.
Please see attached candidate notes for further information about our recruitment process.
Reasonable Adjustments
As a Disability Confident Leader employer, DfT is committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.
If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Document Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.
Further Information
For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.
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.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5-year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team
Further information
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 Here
