Policy Adviser - Rail Infrastructure and Decarbonisation

Are you looking to join a fun and encouraging team, working on managing the costs of building, maintaining and decarbonising the UK's transport network? If so, we'd love to hear from you!

About the Team

Transport is the highest emitting sector of the economy and reducing emissions is critical for meeting the UK’s climate goals. HM Treasury holds key levers to deliver the transition to net zero, and the Transport Spending team work across HM Treasury and other Government departments to advise Ministers on the best value for money and growth enhancing ways to decarbonise transport.

It’s an exciting time to join us, with the upcoming multi-year Spending Review presenting a critical opportunity to set direction on electric vehicles (including charging infrastructure) and the hard to decarbonise aviation and maritime sectors.

About the Job

We are looking for a Policy Adviser to join us in the Rail Infrastructure branch of the team. Our branch leads on both rail infrastructure projects (covering Network Rail’s investment in the existing network and new lines, but excluding major projects like High Speed 2), passenger services and wider reform of the rail industry. Our successful candidate will spend 60% of their time in the rail infrastructure branch and will spend the remaining 40% supporting the work of the transport decarbonisation branch which will include being the lead individual on specific policy areas.

This is a fun, stretching and multifaceted role with a mixture of policy and strategy development (e.g. aligning a portfolio of infrastructure spending with growth, decarbonisation and other government objectives); and spending control (such as reviewing cases for proposed investments).

Key accountabilities

• Leading HM Treasury engagement with the Department for Transport (DfT) on spending approvals for new rail infrastructure and provide advice to Ministers and senior officials.
• Building and maintaining positive relationships across the HM Treasury, DfT, Network Rail, No.10, the Cabinet Office and other Whitehall departments, and using this network to help meet your policy objectives.
• Preparing succinct and clear briefings for Ministers and senior officials, presenting sophisticated issues in a written and verbal form. This role covers a large number of projects across an expansive rail infrastructure portfolio, and you will be our point person on the detail of these projects.
• Leading on an area of transport decarbonisation spending, working closely with DfT to scrutinise and assure spending proposals.
• Being an integral part of the transport team’s ’hub and spoke’ model on decarbonising transport. This will involve close cross-team working to drive forward policy relating to decarbonising transport.

About you

We believe this role would suit someone who has good judgement and has experience of making evidence based decisions and enjoys solving problems at pace. You'll be able to identify the implications of your policy decisions with a curiosity about developing your policy, strategy and spending control skills. Lastly, you'll be good at actively involving colleagues and collaborators to achieve high-quality results. Prior experience of infrastructure and/or spending control is not required, as you will be supported in developing this knowledge.

About us

HM Treasury is proud of a diverse and inclusive work environment, committed to fairness and the promotion of equality of opportunity for all. We know that having a range of experiences, ways of working and thinking makes us a stronger organisation, better at developing policy that is reflective of the communities we serve. We embrace different views and experiences and value the fresh perspective that people from a variety of circumstances bring to the work we do. We welcome applications from candidates who have not previously worked for the Civil Service, mid- and late-career changers with transferrable skills, people from all backgrounds and circumstances.

Some of the Benefits our people love! 

• 25 days annual leave (rising to 30 days after 5 years), plus 8 public holidays and the King’s birthday (unless you have a legacy arrangement as an existing Civil Servant). Additionally, we operate flexitime systems, allowing you to take up to an additional 2 days off each month.
• Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, compressed hours). 
• Generous parental leave and adoption leave packages. 
• A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and average employer contributions of 27%
• Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme and season ticket advances.
• A Rental Deposit Advance Scheme to help meet the total costs of deposits for privately rented homes.
• Access to HM Treasury’s benefits portal allowing you access to a range of discount codes for online shopping.
• A range of active staff networks, based around interests (e.g. analysts, music society, sports and social club) and diversity
• Access to a range of allowances if eligibility applies. These include profession related allowances.  

For more information about the role and how to apply, please follow the apply link. 

If you need any reasonable adjustments to take part in the selection process, please tell us about this in your online application form, or speak to the HM Treasury recruitment team.