SAF Programme Advisor

Job summary

Can you help deliver policy priorities in a complex area, while building strong relationships across government, industry and external partners?

Do you thrive in fast-paced environments, balancing competing priorities while delivering clear advice and effective project coordination?

Are you passionate about decarbonising the aviation sector?

If so, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges facing governments globally, with transport accounting for 26% of UK domestic greenhouse gas emissions in 2021. This role supports the Department’s work to accelerate greener transport and ensure the sector contributes to the UK’s climate ambitions.

Aviation emissions are projected to grow without intervention, making sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) a key decarbonisation solution. SAF can be used in existing aircraft and produces around 70% lower lifecycle emissions than conventional jet fuel. Aircraft are already permitted to operate using blends of up to 50% SAF.

The Government’s SAF Mandate requires aviation fuel suppliers to provide at least 10% SAF by 2030. While imported SAF can contribute, growing international demand highlights the importance of UK production. However, revenue uncertainty has slowed investment in domestic SAF projects. To address this, the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Act established the framework for a Revenue Certainty Mechanism (RCM), helping guarantee stable returns for producers and encouraging investment in UK SAF facilities.

Low Carbon Fuels is a friendly and supportive place to work. Colleagues are highly driven and passionate about promoting sustainable renewable energy and addressing climate change. We welcome flexible working arrangements and encourage applicants from all backgrounds. Existing team members are located across London, Hastings, Birmingham and Leeds.

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• 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), plus 8 bank holidays a privilege day for the King’s birthday

• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

Find out more about what it's like working at DfTc Policy: Policy opportunities at the Department for Transport - Department for Transport Careers

Job description

You will be part of the RCM division within the Low Carbon Fuels Directorate, which is the team responsible for implementing the RCM. The RCM programme is at a critical point in its delivery, with detailed policy work underway on key elements of scheme design to ensure that RCM contracts provide sufficient certainty for investors while also delivering good value for money for Government. Following a public consultation launched in January 2026, work is ongoing across a range of activities ahead of the launch of the first allocation round of RCM contracts.

Reflecting this, the role will focus on policy and project delivery. We expect the postholder to be adaptable in working across a range of objectives as they arise. This will include working with external delivery partners, supporting the policy design of certain elements of the RCM scheme, supporting with briefing and correspondence and advising ministers on key issues. There will be elements of project delivery within this role and the role holder will need to possess strong organisational skills, as the team works to ambitious timescales to meet the commitment to deliver the RCM.

Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to:

• Manage relationships and coordinate activities with key delivery partners, including the Low Carbon Contracts Company and legal advisors throughout detailed scheme This includes coordinating regular workshops with these delivery partners and contributing to papers and slide packs to maintain progress against the programme timeline.
• Support the policy development process across certain areas of RCM contract design, for instance, the definition of ‘Qualifying Volumes’ and sustainability requirements of SAF supported through the RCM.
• Engage with key stakeholders including SAF producers, fuel suppliers, airlines and trade associations, taking responsibility for organising roundtable and bilateral meetings and ensuring the RCM division is aligned with the broader Low Carbon Fuels stakeholder engagement approach.
• Act as contract manager with our external legal advisors, drafting regular Statements of Work and maintaining control of the budget to ensure effective delivery.
• Lead and maintain an integrated plan and timeline for delivery of work across the immediate team, monitoring key risks and milestones and feeding into wider divisional project plans.
• Support advice and briefing to Ministers and draft responses to relevant correspondence.
• Work collaboratively across the Low Carbon Fuels Directorate, including with the SAF Mandate team and Delivery Unit to maintain joined up working across the team and ensure that RCM policy is consistent with wider Low Carbon Fuels policy and DfT goals.

For further information on the role, please read the role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.

Person specification

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

• Enjoy working collaboratively with others and be able to build and maintain effective relationships with a range of stakeholders both internally and externally.
• Have excellent drafting and oral communication skills, being able to explain complex issues to non-specialists clearly.
• Be comfortable working within a fast-paced policy development environment.
• Have strong organisational skills and be able to manage time effectively to deliver several competing workstreams.
• Possess an eye for detail and be comfortable working with technical material in a complex policy area.
• Be comfortable taking on new responsibilities and working flexibly in response to new and changing priorities.
• Be able to work quickly and under pressure while remaining calm and focussed.

Additional Information

Applicants should hold or be willing to work towards contract management accreditation.

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week.

Some travel between DfT office locations is likely to help in supporting team integration. This could occur 1-2 times a month and may include overnight stays. There may also be some other travel involved to visit developing SAF plants or industry sites across the UK and to attend industry and government meetings across the UK or the EU. This could occur 2-3 times a year and may include overnight stays.

Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 30 hours per week.

This role is suitable for hybrid working, which is a non-contractual arrangement where a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements.

The expectation at present is a minimum of 60% of your working time a month will be spent at either your designated workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, in another office/work location/visiting stakeholders. Your designated workplace will be your contractual place of work. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.

Visa Sponsorship

DfTc does not offer Visa Sponsorship for this role.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together

Benefits

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic 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.

Find out more about the benefits of working at DfT and its agencies

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

The selection process for this role will be:

Stage 1: Sift of CV and personal statement

Stage 2: Interview

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

You must be successful at each stage to progress to the next stage.

Stage 1: Sift

At sift, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

Experience – you will be asked to provide a CV (unlimited wordcount) and personal statement (1000-word count). Please provide evidence of your Experience of the following:

• Be comfortable working within a fast-paced policy development environment, able to manage several competing workstreams.
• Have excellent drafting and oral communication skills, being able to explain complex issues to non-specialists clearly.
• Possess an eye for detail and be comfortable working with technical material in a complex policy area.
• Enjoy working collaboratively with others and be able to build and maintain effective relationships with a range of stakeholders both internally and externally.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead experience element:

• Enjoy working collaboratively with others and be able to build and maintain effective relationships with a range of stakeholders both internally and externally.

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

The sift will take place week commencing 08/06/2026.

Stage 2 - Interview

At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

• Behaviours - Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together.
• Experience

The interviews will take place week commencing 24/06/2026.

This interview will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.

You can find out more about our hiring process, how to apply, and application and interview guidance on our careers site (opens in a new window).

Please note that we will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change.

We will also hold a 12-month reserve list for this role, which may lead to potential opportunities beyond the role you applied for. You can read more about our reserve lists here.

During your application, you should indicate which location(s) 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 locations you wish to be considered for. If you decline an offer for a location you have expressed a preference in or have expressed an interest in more than one location and accept an offer, 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.

Appointments for this position will be made in order of merit. If you are successful in the selection process but there are no further available posts for the advertised role, you may be contacted to discuss an offer for a lower graded role (with similar experience and responsibility requirements).

If you are unsuccessful in the selection process, your application may be considered for a lower graded position if your demonstrated skills and experience meet the requirements of the alternative position. Candidates will be considered in order of merit.

If your application is successful but you have been dismissed from the Civil Service, your application could be removed at the pre-employment checking stage depending on the nature of the dismissal.

Pre Employment Checking

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 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.

All external applicants and current employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) will be required to undergo a Social Media Check. A Social Media Check is a review of your publicly available online activity, typically across platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and others. The purpose is to identify any public posts or content that could raise concerns for employers, such as:

• Hate speech or discriminatory behaviour
• Threats or acts of violence
• Illegal activity or substance misuse
• Sexually explicit material
• Extremist views or affiliations

Importantly, this check does not involve hacking into your accounts or accessing private messages. It only considers content you have chosen to make public. Employers use this kind of screening to help ensure their workplace remains safe, inclusive, and aligned with company values. It’s not about judging your personality or lifestyle - it’s about checking for potential red flags that might affect the role or company culture. If you have questions or concerns about the social media check, we would be happy to explain in more detail what’s being looked at and how your data is handled securely and fairly.

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.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Document Accessibility

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert or the information on our website, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Further Information

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit theHow We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

Feedback

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.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Jane Farrington
• Email : jane.farrington@dft.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email: dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Visit the Civil Service Commission website Here

Attachments

Role Profile Opens in new window (pdf, 223kB)