Join our Policy Teams and Shape a Better Tomorrow
Would you like to play your part in connecting the UK and growing our economy? Then discover the exciting and challenging opportunities available in the Department for Transport’s hubs in Birmingham and Leeds.
At DfT, our job is to support the transport network that keeps people, goods and businesses moving around the country. We deliver multibillion-pound infrastructure projects across our road and rail networks, helping to connect our towns and cities more effectively to level up and grow our economy. We set the policy framework for our transport network to run smoothly and safely. We support and fund research and innovation in cutting-edge areas such as automated vehicles, spaceflight and green transport technologies. And we’re offering people more choices on how to stay connected while delivering the carbon reductions needed to achieve net zero.
Our policy teams are at the forefront of delivering key transport initiatives that will have a transformative impact on the country. We need exceptional people from all backgrounds to deliver on our ambitious transport agenda in the coming years. That’s why we’d love to hear from you.
Whether you have experience in making and influencing policy, or have the right skills and are looking for a new opportunity to deliver change, you’ll be warmly welcomed to our team.
What we do at the Department for Transport
You might think of DfT as a Department that’s only focused on building and maintaining transport infrastructure. But behind all our investment in the UK’s transport systems lies years of policy work.
Whether it’s our work to decarbonise the transport system, or setting the right rules and regulations for the transport of the future, the security we put in place at our borders, ports and airports, or our engagement and partnerships with local authorities to ensure transport meets local needs – all of this requires policy expertise.
Explore the Department for Transport Offices
DfTc Leeds
Wellington Place is located right at the heart of the city centre.
DfTc Birmingham
The Colmore Building is located in Birmingham’s business district.
About Policy at DfT
Every civil servant belongs to a “profession”. The Policy Profession is one of over 20 of these professions within the Civil Service. As a policy professional, your job is to design, develop and propose appropriate courses of action to help meet key government priorities and ministerial objectives.
You will help provide ministers with honest, impartial, objective and accurate advice so they can make the right decisions for the country, shaping our transport system for the present and the future. You’ll be working on exciting challenges at the cutting edge of government policy and the ideal platform to develop an immensely rewarding career.
We need people from all walks of life to work in the policy profession at DfT and deliver our ambitious transport agenda. You don’t need to have specific transport knowledge or sector experience, and you don’t need to have direct experience working in a policy role. Regardless of your background, work at the heart of government is ever-changing so it’s important that policy professionals are proactive and comfortable working in a dynamic environment.
Within a policy role you can expect to:
- Providing policy advice and guidance to others
- Analyse and develop amendments to regulations
- Building and maintaining effective working relationships with DfT teams and cross-Government stakeholders
- Leading on correspondence and parliamentary products relating to the portfolio
Why should you work at DfT?
We look after our people! You’ve got lots to offer us – and we’ve got lots to offer you in return.
As an employee at the Department for Transport you’ll have access to one of the most competitive pension schemes in the UK. We also offer lots of incentives to help you maintain a good work-life balance.
Keep reading to find out what DfT can offer you!
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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.
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A truly diverse and inclusive workplace
Our people are at the heart of everything we do. We’re proud to be a great place to work, and that’s why we’re working to become one of the most diverse and inclusive in the Civil Service and the transport sector.
We have a multitude of staff network groups and are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer and a signatory to the Care Leaver Covenant. We have been ranked in The Times Top 50 Employers for Women and the Social Mobility Foundation’s top 75 employers for social mobility. Wherever possible, we offer flexible and variable working hours to help our staff have a healthy work/life balance.
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Continuous Learning and Growth
We are committed to supporting talented people from all backgrounds to deliver and to develop themselves. We prioritise learning and development throughout your career at DfT, both through formal and informal learning, and will help you grow as a manager and leader.
These are demanding, stretching and complex jobs – and it’s this that makes them so rewarding and enjoyable. You’ll be surrounded by enthusiastic, committed teams who will help you to thrive in these roles.
Be a part of something important
Wondering what life is like as a policy professional looks like? Hear what our colleagues have to say!
Emma, Senior Policy Lead
“Being a Senior Policy Lead is a great role which offers so many opportunities to learn and develop as a Civil Servant. You will become the expert on your policy area and be responsible for delivering real change for the public.”
Lauren, Delivery Lead, Accessible and Inclusive Travel Division
“I love the blended approach of theory learning and having the chance to apply my skills in the work environment.”
A day in the life of the Maritime Team
Kate, Head of UK Shipping Office for Reduced Emissions, and Dominic, Head of Promotions and Partnerships, talk about their experiences at London’s International Shipping Week 2023.
“In a typical week, I mix working from home and the Leeds office, as well as regularly visiting colleagues in Birmingham and London, and visiting projects across the UK.” – Kate, Head of UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (SHORE) R&D Projects
Top tips for candidates
Your CV and Personal Statement
The panel reviewing your application want to know why you’re the best person for the job.
You should carefully read the role profile, so you are clear what skills and experience are required for the role. You should tailor your CV and personal statement to provide evidence and examples on how you meet the criteria.
In both the CV and personal statement, the assessor will be looking for information on what you did, how you did it and why. Keep the focus on you – use “I” rather than “we” to explain your actions that led to the result. Don’t be afraid to take credit for your work – we want to know what you’ve achieved and what impact you made.
Your Policy Exercise
We use a Policy Exercise to assess your ability to write clearly and logically. You will have 75 minutes for the exercise. You will need to draw on relevant information from the materials provided, to develop a full and balanced assessment of a policy issue and set out a clear recommendation for what action the Government should take to address the issue. You should use clear, direct and concise language without jargon or acronyms.
Preparing for Your Interview
Think about the work you’re proudest of and how you’ve demonstrated the core behaviours through that. You should choose examples that will allow you to explain in some detail what you personally did. You should use examples that had positive results, although you can also examples that had a less successful outcome, if you can demonstrate the lessons learned and how errors would be avoided in future.
Find your next role in DfT!
Follow the link below to view current vacancies at the Department for Transport.