The Department for Transport (DfT) works to support the transport network that helps UK citizens, businesses, goods and services travelling around the country. We plan and invest in transport infrastructure to keep the UK moving.
What is the Department for Transport?
Transport touches the lives of everyone in the country. Across the road, rail, air, sea and space, our transport networks affect homes, businesses, schools, hospitals and more. It’s how we deliver goods to our shops, get people to work and reunite with our loved ones.
A safe, secure, efficient and reliable transport system is something that we all depend on. We aim to create a modern technologically advanced transport system that can bring lasting change to millions of people.
Our Values
Our values are the standards and principles that we share, representing what is most important to us. They reflect the best of what we are now and what we aspire to be in the future.
- Confidence: to challenge, to take action, to innovate
- Excellence: in our professionalism, in our delivery, in our learning
- Teamwork: we are inclusive, we collaborate, we support each other
What you could be doing at DfT
There are plenty of exciting career opportunities to be had at the Department for Transport. We offer roles in a diverse range of professions, and you may be surprised at the types of jobs we have available at the department! Whatever your skillset, experience or background we’ve got a diverse range of positions on offer at the Department, and we’d love to have you part of our team.
Some of the roles available at Department for Transport include:
Our Departments
Want to know which part of DfT you could land in? These are some of the departments that make up the Department for Transport:
Public Transport and Local Group
Roads Transport Group
Aviation Maritime and Security Group
The skills we value
We’re a forward-thinking department and we’re ambitious in our goals for delivering a great transport system. Above all we are looking for people who are enthusiastic and motivated about improving transport!
However, when we recruit, we’re always looking for the best fit for the role, and we need people who demonstrate the key skills that are vital across every role in the department:
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Teamwork
Being able to work not only with your own team, but working alongside key stakeholders in any given project. Providing an excellent transport system for the UK is a team effort!
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Self-motivation
We want you to feel energised and excited coming to work each day, and we’ll give you all the tools you need to succeed
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Communication
We value people with excellent communication skills, who can work with our partners and colleagues to create a welcoming, inclusive and productive work environment
Different People, One Team
Diversity is key to ensuring everyone’s voices are heard when we make decisions and at DfT everyone is involved in creating an inclusive workplace. We actively promote a flexible approach to working whilst giving out staff opportunities to develop their skills and achieve their full potential.
Staff networks
From flexible working to tailored well-being support, our award-winning staff networks understand what makes a difference, and have the power to achieve change.
Our staff networks provide a wide range of benefits that come from having a collective voice. They help to build a sense of community and cohesion. We want our staff networks to be the best in the Civil Service and transport sector, and we want your voice to be heard.
In DfT you’ll have access to the following:
Places for Growth: Driving growth across the UK
We’re building a more connected civil service – one that reflects the diverse needs of communities across the UK. By focusing on regional economic growth and tackling recruitment challenges outside London, we’re ensuring everyone feels their government takes care of their local areas, including, Leeds, Birmingham and Swansea!
What a career with DfT can offer you
Many of our staff say it’s the interesting, varied and worthwhile work that’s the real benefit of working with us.
Transport is a very high-profile area. Everyone relies on the transport network in one way or another, whether it is to get to work or school, visit friends and relatives or the movement of freight so there is food in the shops. Our staff know how important their work is and how they fit in.
Pay and allowances
We know when applying for a new job, one of the first things you might need to know about is the pay.
Your starting grade will be shown in the role description for your post. Department for Transport pay is set against our grading structure and there is a set starting level for each of these which varies depending on whether the role is in London (L) or in one of our many locations in the rest of the country (N – National). For all the most frequently asked questions regarding pay and allowances, visit our Pay and Reward page.
Our current pay scales are:
| Grade | Minimum | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| EOL | £32,251 | £33,058 |
| EON | £28,119 | £28,821 |
| HEOL | £36,466 | £39,371 |
| HEON | £32,603 | £34,862 |
| SEOL | £44,811 | £48,838 |
| SEON | £40,808 | £44,454 |
| G7L | £56,844 | £62,244 |
| G7N | £51,997 | £57,677 |
| G6L | £68,751 | £75,646 |
| G6N | £64,108 | £71,028 |
Working around your lifestyle
Wherever possible, we offer flexible and variable working hours to help our staff have a healthy work/life balance. DfT does not normally offer full time home working (i.e. working at home), but we do support flexible working where it can be accommodated by the business, including part-time working, compressed hours, homeworking, job sharing and part-year working.
For the majority of roles within DfTc, these can be undertaken on a hybrid basis which is a non-contractual arrangement where employees can combine workplace and home-based working, with a minimum of 60% of their working time a month at either their principal workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, visiting stakeholders and colleagues, or carrying out detached duty in another DfT workplace. Applicants should check the specifications of each role, as to whether hybrid working is applicable, as there may be some roles where this cannot be accommodated.
When employed by DfT, staff have a statutory right to request a flexible working pattern from day one, with such requests considered in line with business needs. We offer 25 days annual leave for new starters rising to 30 days after 5 years’ service. Additionally, we offer 9 public and privilege holidays throughout the year including Christmas and Bank Holidays.
Maternity, paternity, adoption and parental leave
We offer maternity, adoption and shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks full pay followed by 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid. We offer paternity leave of 2 weeks full pay.
Paid maternity and paternity leave which is notably more than the statutory minimum offered by many other employers.
For more information on the childcare choices available to you and to determine your eligibility, please visit https://childcarechoices.gov.uk/
Pension
Obviously if you are just thinking about joining us we don’t want you to already be thinking about leaving but we also want all of our employees to feel that they can plan for financial security when they retire.
All DfT staff are invited to join the Principal Civil Service Pension scheme, which offers generous defined benefits.
You can find out more about the DfT’s pension offer by clicking the link below.
DfT Employee Benefits
MyLifestyle
MyLifestyle is a benefits package giving you access to a wide range of attractive and flexible offers. You could save money on gym memberships, dental insurance, dining, shopping and so much more.
Cycle to Work Scheme
To promote a healthy lifestyle and greener transport, we offer our staff the opportunity to request a cycle to work loan which allows you to save money on the purchase of a bike and safety equipment.
Eye test reimbursement
You are entitled reimbursement for the cost of an eyesight test and, if appropriate, glasses.
Committed to your development
Learning and development is hugely important to us all. No matter how skilled or experienced we are, there is always more that we can learn. Within the department there are a huge range of learning opportunities on offer to help you to be the best that you can be and support you in continuing to develop.
We have a range of development programmes that have been designed to help build new, and develop existing management, leadership and personal effectiveness skills. You’ll get at least 5 days learning and development every year. We offer professional and people skills learning, plus specific internal programmes that combine formal and informal development.
Our learning and development focuses on:
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Developing core skills
Providing opportunities to develop the wide range of skills that we all need to perform well in our roles, no matter what role that may be.
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Building our professional capability
Once you join the Civil Service, you’ll become part of a profession. Your profession offers networking opportunities, career routes, training and development programmes and a real sense of belonging. There’s also scope to work in other professions. So whatever your passion, to specialise or try something new, there’s a path for you.
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Leadership and management skills
Effective leadership and management skills are central to so many things we do in the Department, yet no matter what your level of line management experience it can sometimes be a daunting prospect. Whether you are looking to take on management responsibility for the first time, are new to management in DfT or are an experienced manager looking to further develop your skills there are opportunities for you to develop your leadership and management skills.
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Diversity and inclusion
DfT’s diversity and inclusion strategy sets out our ambition to be one of the most inclusive departments in the Civil Service, supporting people to be themselves at work and actively supporting their well-being. Development opportunities are provided to help everyone understand how they can make a difference within their teams.
What our people say about working for DfT
Grant Springford, Comms
“I can honestly say no two days are the same here at DfT! It’s great to work in an environment where I can try new and creative ways to provide internal communications to staff.”
Peter Parr, Project Delivery
“For me, the ability to maintain a good work-life balance is one of the major selling points of working at DfT. With my line manager’s support, I switched to working a…”
Akua Aidoo, Finance
“I will recommend DfT as an all-round department that offers diverse opportunities, career development and excellent staff engagement that maximises productivity.”