Senior Policy Advisor 46 views

459651 Senior Policy Advisor

Department for Transport

Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 17th May 2026

📍 Location: Birmingham, Leeds, London (This role is suitable for hybrid working)

💷 Salary: National salary: £44,241; London salary: £48,581
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

🕘️ Contract Type: Permanent – Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

🏆️ Available Positions: 1

This post in the Dangerous Goods Unit is key to shaping the strategy of our work. Comprising of two teams, the Frameworks and Engagement Team and the Evidence and Assurance Team, this post uniquely straddles the work of both teams as it is responsible for the contracts and agreements we have in place with our key partners who help in delivering the requirements of the dangerous goods frameworks in the UK. To effectively deliver our responsibilities as the competent authority we have a number of Memorandums of Understanding and Service Level Agreements with key partners such as enforcement bodies, to formalise our working arrangements.

The post holder will be largely responsible for the review of existing contracts and agreements, management of the team’s relationship with relevant stakeholders, and assessing compliance with the agreed deliverables. The role also offers policy responsibility as the post holder will be the lead for the enforcement and security policy for the transport of dangerous goods and so will work closely with the police, the DVSA and other enforcement bodies to deal with emerging issues. Finally, the role involves international work as the post holder will be required to attend international meetings at the UN, most likely twice a year.

Top Responsibilities

• Conducting a strategic periodic review of the framework agreements DGU has with key agencies and partners, and making amendments to such agreements.
• Collaborating with the Vehicle Certification Agency to ensure that transitional arrangements are in place to maintain delivery of the Service Level Agreement when there are changes to key personnel and managing the financial arrangement for funding the Vehicle Certification Agency.
• Policy lead on enforcement and security issues linked to the carriage of dangerous goods, includes regular engagement with enforcement bodies (e.g. Police, HSE, DVSA) and the Department’s security teams as well as being a key point of contact for any emergency response work arising.
• Support the G7 at the UN to ensure that the UK’s aims and objectives for transporting dangerous goods are safeguarded at the international level, promoting our interests and working to secure them including presenting papers and negotiating in the margins to build support for UK positions.
• Contribute to the DGU preparations of dangerous goods international meetings by providing briefings on subjects where you are the policy lead, and attending national stakeholder briefings.
• Maintaining and improving stakeholder engagement, including presenting to stakeholders at dangerous goods events/meetings.
• Recording, monitoring and approving financial spend for deliverables contained in contracts/agreements and co-ordinating financial returns.

Benefits

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave).
• 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.
• Access to the staff discount portal.
• Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.
• Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

About You

• Work collaboratively with others and able to build and maintain relationships with a range of stakeholders both internally, externally and internationally.
• Excellent drafting and oral communication skills; able to clearly explain complex issues to non-specialists.
• Strategic thinking, using big picture assessment to spot opportunities and risks, and find solutions to technical problems.
• Comfortable taking on new responsibilities and working flexibly in response to new and changing business pressures.

Additional Information

This role involves regular international travel and occasional travel within the UK. Dates for this are communicated well in advance. Travel is mainly to Geneva for 2 major meetings per year although other international travel is also possible. Meetings in Geneva can last up to two weeks at a time and the date of these is communicated well in advance.

How to Apply

👉 Read the full description and apply here: https://bit.ly/4dd2tSn

This vacancy closes at 23:55 on Sunday 17^th May 2026