Policy Advisor, Counter State Threats

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.
Are you someone who would enjoy working as part of a team to support the development of new policies and strategies?
Would you be excited to be at the heart of the Department for Transport’s national security agenda, developing policy responses to a range of complex threats that undermine the UK’s safety and prosperity?
If so, we would love to hear from you!, The National Security Division (NSD) exists to mitigate current and emerging national security threats to the transport sector. We are looking for an HEO to join the National Security Strategy and Projects team to support the department’s approach to countering state threats. You will work closely with partners across government, including the UK Intelligence Community, to protect the UK’s transport sector from a range of threats – such as espionage and sabotage – orchestrated by foreign governments to harm the UK.
NSD sits within the department’s Transport Security Directorate (TSD). TSD leads on national security matters, ranging from counter terrorism and cyber security to compliance inspections and overseas capacity building.
As you will be part of a team that works on a rapidly evolving policy area, you will be expected to work flexibly and adapt to changing requirements and priorities across the team, wider Division and Directorate.
TSD invests significantly in training and developing staff to prepare them not just for an interesting and challenging job, but also for a rewarding career in the world of national security., + Working on the department’s approach to a range of state threats and geographical issues, including security policy development.
+ Developing and maintaining effective relationships with partners across government to shape wider national security strategies and articulate DfT equities in a range of areas, including the emerging priorities of the new government.
+ Working on briefing for various senior meetings, including relevant national security councils and ministerial meetings.
+ Building DfT’s own understanding and awareness of state threats at all levels throughout the organisation and with industry partners. Build effective relationships across DfT teams to ensure security work is aligned and supports the department’s priorities.
+ Building and maintaining a strong cross-government network to understand and inform your work and influence others as appropriate.
+ Being flexible in providing support as needed to deliver other priorities in the wider team, including potentially supporting responses to live incidents.
+ Playing an active role in the team and wider division, contributing to a diverse and inclusive culture which values professionalism.
For an in-depth insight into the role please refer to the Role Profile., 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.
This role requires Developed Vetting (DV) clearance; however, candidates can be onboarded with SC clearance and undergo DV whilst in post.

Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Communicating and Influencing
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Working Together

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 - Policy Career Framework
+ 2. Democracy 2.1. Working with Ministers Level 1: Developing Policy Career Framework, As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and provide examples for the Behaviours - Communicating and Influencing Delivering at Pace and Working Together (250 words for each Behaviour). Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
When considering applying please look at how your experience relates to the role, and within your CV please provide detailed evidence of your experience of the following:
+ Strong written and verbal communication skills.
+ Building and maintaining a range of professional relationships with the ability to influence.
+ Working as part of teams to achieve shared goals.
+ The ability to collate and analyse information and build convincing arguments.
+ Working on multiple tasks at once with the ability to react flexibly to changing priorities.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead Behaviour, Communicating and Influencing. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
The sift is due to take place from w/c 06 January 2025
Interviews/assessments are likely to be held w/c 13 January 2025
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:
+ a written policy exercise.
+ an interview.
If you do not pass the policy exercise, you will not proceed to the final interview stage.
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, 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.
Reasonable Adjustments
As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are 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.

+ You have strong written and verbal communication skills.
+ You excel at building and maintaining professional relationships, using your influence effectively. As a team player, you work collaboratively to achieve shared goals.
+ Your analytical skills enable you to collate and analyse information, constructing convincing arguments.
+ You thrive in dynamic settings, adeptly managing multiple tasks and adapting to changing priorities.
+ You are adaptable, a natural relationship builder, and a continuous learner enthusiastic about national security.
Find out more about working within policy at the Department for Transport: https://careers.dft.gov.uk/policy

Alongside your salary of £38,289, Department for Transport contributes £11,092 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Please note, the above example is based on the London minimum salary. The employer pension contribution will be 28.97% of your specific salary.
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, 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.
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements
Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).
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.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.