Traffic Examiner

You have just contributed to ensuring that Britain’s roads are one of the safest in Europe.
How did you do that?
You’re on a check-site next to a busy motorway, inspecting a HGV belonging to a company with a high infringement rate. The driver is keen to finish the route and unhappy with the interruption.
You use your knowledge and experience to assess and monitor the tachograph records. Finding that the driver has been driving for too long without a break, you state your case as to why they must not drive any further and take a break, immediately.
The driver is not happy, but you keep a level head to explain the consequences and the impact on road safety.
You are a DVSA Traffic Examiner.
We are looking for self-motivated individuals to join our professional enforcement team as a Commercial Vehicle Traffic Examiner in Ashford.
Traffic Examiners contribute to the integrity of road safety and standards to keep Britain moving safely and sustainably.
What can you do in a week?
+ Carry out roadside checks on vehicles and prohibit dangerous vehicles and drivers at various locations such as fixed enforcement sites, coach parks and motorway service areas.
+ Complete inspections of vehicles to ensure they were compliant with - weight, operator’s licence, drivers’ hours, vehicle excise, driving licence and Construction and Use Regulations.
+ Inspect and analyse tachograph records for discrepancies or anomalies.
+ Prepare accurate and detailed reports and papers for prosecution cases or the Traffic Commissioner.
+ Answer driver’s hours queries from customers, offering advice, guidance and education as required.
+ Attend team meetings and collaborate with colleagues.
+ You will make a difference to the safety of our roads every day.
A typical Traffic Examiner will also:
+ Work on behalf of the Traffic Area Office. Investigating environmental complaints into illegal parking and operations of vehicles.
+ Preparing case papers and recommendations on investigation of the instigation of court proceeding and present evidence on behalf of DVSA in Court.
+ Ensure high levels of Customer Service and maintain good relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
+ Ensure Healthy & Safety standards are maintained by the team at DVSA and non DVSA locations.
+ Contribute to achievement of the DVSA business plan.
+ Continue their personal development, including professional competency, knowledge and skills.
+ Support DVSA compliance, safety and security commitments through adherence to and championing of policy, procedures and development.
To view the role responsibilities in more detail, please see the attached candidate pack., There will be extensive training on all aspects of the role, which should last around 18 weeks. Some of the training will take place in our training centres, usually in Avonmouth or Chadderton. Other training will be completed online over MS Teams.
You may be required to travel to various DVSA locations in order to carry out your role and there is potential for overnight stays. This may also include working outside of normal hours. An overnight allowance is paid to staff for overnight stays.
The Traffic Examiner role can be physically demanding, which will include getting in and out of large commercial vehicles.
It is requirement of this role that staff are able to meet the credible witness status in court proceedings on behalf of the DVSA. Any convictions or material casting doubt on the reliability of a witness could harm DVSAs chances of a successful prosecution and damage the reputation of the agency. Please note, as part of our onboarding process we facilitate social media and online checks.
Please take note that DVSA does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.
For further information please contact lindsay.hassett1@dvsa.gov.uk.
Reserve List Information
Some of the locations advertised will not have posts available immediately. However, we will hold a Reserve List for up to 12 months and will be in touch with the successful candidates when they become available.
During your application, you should indicate which location you wish to be considered for and, if successful, you will be placed on an individual list of candidates for each location.
Candidates will be held on that list and drawn from it in merit order. We advise you to carefully consider which location you wish to be considered for. If you decline an offer for a location, you have expressed a preference in, you will be withdrawn from any lists you may be held on.
We may also offer candidates a location that they have not expressed a preference for where we have the requirement to do so but this will again be done on the basis of your place in the overall merit order and, in this event, you will not be removed from the list if you decline.
Qualifications
None required
About Us
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) helps keep Britain moving, safely and sustainably.
We do this by helping people through a lifetime of safe and sustainable journeys, helping them keep their vehicles safe to drive, and protecting them from unsafe drivers and vehicles.
We’re working hard to:
+ Make roads safer.
+ Improve services for our customers.
+ Make road transport greener and healthier.
+ Harness the potential of technology and data.
+ Grow and level up the economy.
To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace and making DVSA a great place to work visit our Careers website.

Licences
Full UK driving licence.

Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Seeing the Big Picture
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Delivering at Pace
+ Communicating and Influencing, As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and 750 word personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
For your personal statement, please use the word count of 750 words to provide evidence of when you have:
+ Used your communication skills to engage others.
+ Followed a process that involves interpreting data, and writing detailed responses.
+ Remained positive when adapting to change of working requirements or business need.
+ Gathered further information so that you can make accurate decisions.
+ Worked effectively as part of a team while working towards a shared goal.
Please note that you will not be required to submit a CV for this role as we will not be assessing this as part of the application process.
The selection process will be designed specifically for the role. As a result, your assessment will include:
+ A written exercise and an interview
The sift is due to take place w/c 14th October 2024.
Interviews/assessments are likely to be held w/c 4th November 2024.
This interview could be conducted via a video interview, details of which will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.
We’ll try to meet the dates we’ve set out in the advert. But there may be occasions when these dates will change. We’ll give you plenty of notice of any important dates.
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.

This is a hands-on technical role where an eye for detail to spot anomalies and problems is highly important.
This is an excellent opportunity to access a new career path. Don’t worry, we won’t expect you to be an expert in the role straight away. Rest assured; we will provide you with all the training you need.
What we particularly need from you are skills such as:
+ Communication Excellent oral and written communication skills are needed to engage with others. Probing for information while gathering further details is a key part of the role. You will be looked upon as the example. You will have to keep a level head and be able to give advice and education effectively and pass that on to others.
+ Teamwork Individually you will be the professional contact representing the DVSA, but you will work with a team to coordinate your work focus. It's essential that you're the kind of person who can work effectively with others. A valuable team member, working towards shared goals.
+ Eye for Detail You will need to pay particular attention to detail for all aspects of the role from assessing vehicles to administration duties.
+ Resilience In terms of flexibility around working hours and adapting to changes in requirements. This is also a public facing role and can, at times, be a challenging job. You may be required to have difficult conversations and take action that may affect the income of a person or to prosecute at court. We support each other to cope with difficult situations, but it's important you understand what this job entails, and lone working is part of this.
+ IT Skills For administrative duties, the ability to follow processes, interpret data and write detailed reports will be required.

Alongside your salary of £37,178, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency contributes £10,770 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ An environment with flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.
+ Generous Annual Leave - 25 days holiday, increasing by 1 each year of service, up to 30.
+ 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.
+ Latest IT and Tech devices.
+ A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
+ Excellent learning and development tailored to your role including paid apprenticeships up to Masters leve.l
+ Wide range of discounts schemes on high street names.
+ Employee assistance program for health and wellbeing.
+ Cycle to work scheme and Gym membership offers., 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.
This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

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
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

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.