Senior Policy Adviser, Road Safety Data

Job summary

Can you lead complex digital projects, manage stakeholders, and deliver data-led policy to improve road safety outcomes?

Do you communicate complex issues clearly, work collaboratively at pace, and adapt to emerging technologies and changing priorities?

If so, we'd love to hear from you!

The Road Safety Division in the Department for Transport is an exciting, fast-paced environment where your work directly contributes to reducing casualties on our roads. In January 2026, we published a new Road Safety Strategy - the first in over a decade - underpinned by the Safe System approach. This recognises that while human error occurs, collisions are not inevitable but preventable, and focuses on delivering evidence-based interventions to improve safety for all road users.

The Road Safety Data team plays a vital enabling role across the division, supporting Safer Road Users and Safer Roads and Speeds through the provision of high-quality, rich, and linked data. This evidence base underpins decision-making and delivery of key commitments within the strategy, including developing a data-led Road Safety Investigation Branch and innovative data applications, while working collaboratively to deliver wider ministerial priorities.

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

This role supports the team delivery of the Forensic Collision Investigation Application (FCIA) project and road safety data programme. The successful applicant for this job will support the accompanying consultation and research programme that will underpin the development and setting up of the Road Safety Investigation Branch.

This is an exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of road safety in the UK. You will play a key role in shaping the future of emerging road safety data policies and delivering projects that make a real-world impact. If you are motivated by challenge, enjoy working collaboratively across teams and sectors, and want to contribute to high-profile, high-impact programmes, this role offers the chance to support our vision for a safer future on our roads for all.

You will be the lead for the Data Policy. This means taking forward the multi-million-pound digital project focused on delivering the end-to-end system, leading the relevant work packages to deliver the policy, owning correspondence, and briefing senior officials and Ministers. This is a great opportunity to develop your overall leadership skills.

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

• Owning the running and delivery of the different phases of the Road Safety data programme digital projects such as the FCIA, by setting clear policy intent and delivery objectives, overseeing progress against agreed milestones, managing risks and dependencies, and working closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure solutions meet user needs, policy requirements and statutory obligations. This may include a level of contract management in the future.
• Leading the identification and articulation of the expected data and information requirements across the road safety data programme, working cross‑functionally with policy, digital, analytical and operational teams.
• Support the Team Leader in working with analytical colleagues on the business cases, research projects, including those which have already been commissioned and those still in the planning stages. Work with the contractors who are leading each piece of research to ensure robust delivery, including financial reporting. These pieces of research will be the underpinning evidence to support the business cases for further funding under future Spending Reviews.
• Draft and analyse policy options to establish well evidenced, legally sound and reasoned policy positions. Briefing Ministers and senior officials, parliamentary committees, press office etc. Excellent drafting skills will be required to ensure that information provided is appropriate, accurate and timely– explaining complex issues in digestible formats.
• Understanding the emerging trends for road safety casualties and work with the Team Leader to scope out potential road safety data use cases according to the Safe System principles. Working on scoping and preparing for future road safety data work as appropriate.
• Providing secretariat support across all areas of the road safety data programme.

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:

The successful applicant will be:

• Confident working with emerging technologies and digital projects, and have a strong attention to detail and nuance.
• Highly organised with an ability to work in a structured way, with strong programme and project management skills.
• Have the ability to work at pace and in an agile manner and be adaptable to the changing needs of the team.
• Have excellent communication skills both verbally and in writing, with the ability to adapt your delivery to suit a wide variety of audiences, maximising both impact and understanding.
• Confident in dealing with and sometimes leading a diverse range of stakeholders, including high-profile people such as ministers.
• Someone who gains rapport quickly with others as you build effective working relationships with both colleagues and stakeholders.
• Have strong strategic thinking and policy skills - you will be able to analyse information; be creative in suggesting and assessing options; and exercise sound judgement in making decisions.

Additional Information

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week.

Occasional travel to other offices will be required, which may involve 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:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Delivering at Pace

Technical skills

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

• Strategy 1.1. Policy Context and Purpose Level 1: Developing - Define the sought impacts and outcomes of a policy.

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, Experience and Technical skills.

The selection process for this role will be:

Stage 1: Sift of CV and personal statement.

Stage 2: Interview and presentation.

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

Please provide evidence of your Experience of the following:

• Experience of contributing to policy development in a complex or high-profile area.
• Experience in drafting clearly and concisely for a range of audiences, producing high quality written material.
• Experience of working in the digital, data and technology space.
• Experience of managing multiple, often conflicting, priorities to meet a tight deadline, including working flexibly and proactively.

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

The sift will take place week from the 01st June 2026.

Stage 2: Interview and presentation.

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

• Behaviours - Seeing the Big Picture, Communicating and Influencing, Delivering at Pace, Making Effective Decisions.
• Technical - Strategy 1. Policy Context and Purpose Level 1: Developing - Define the sought impacts and outcomes of a policy.
• Experience.

You will also be required to create and deliver a presentation to assess Communicating and Influencing. Guidance will be provided if you are invited to interview.

The interviews will take place from the 15th June 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.

Further information on the selection process

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.

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

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

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 cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.

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.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).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 : Kay Asuni
• Email : Kay.Asuni@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, 238kB)