Strategy and Engagement Manager

Job summary

Are you looking to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment where your analytical, organisational and collaboration skills help deliver better outcomes from major transport projects to make transport better for people and businesses.?

Do you enjoy working with a wide range of colleagues and partners to deliver compelling communications and events to drive organisational change?

Are you confident managing competing priorities while maintaining accuracy and momentum in a busy delivery environment?

We are looking for someone to help deliver better outcomes across the Department’s portfolio of major transport projects and programmes by contributing to the development of strategies and delivery of communications and engagement activity to support change.

DfT has one of the largest and most complex portfolios of projects across Government worth over £119bn, delivering benefits to all transport users by making journeys easier, safer and faster and supporting the UK economy to prosper.

The Project Delivery and Performance Directorate (PDPD) is responsible for leading the Department’s Project Delivery Change Programme (PDCP) to ensure the Department has the capacity and capability to successfully deliver its portfolio of projects and programmes.

The Department also has a well-established programme to learn lessons from the delivery of its major projects. Most recently, it published the James Stewart Review: The HS2 Experience setting out recommendations for project delivery improvement that need to be applied to all current and future DfT projects. Drawing on this work, you will be helping the Department to develop and implement strategies for improving project delivery building on the successes of its on-going Project Delivery Change Programme.

You will work closely with our G7 Strategy and Engagement leads contributing to drawing insights from a wide range of sources to develop and implement the strategies ensuring buy-in and support for transformational change across DfT and beyond. This will include working collaboratively across the Division and wider Directorate to lead and coordinate the delivery of a programme of events and communications products (including the Project Delivery Portal). You will also work across Whitehall, notably with the National Infrastructure and Services Transformation Authority (NISTA).

Find out more about what it's like working at DfTc Department for Transport Central - Department for Transport Careers

Job description

You will be joining a new team, so there is an opportunity to work with the Grade 7s to agree the precise allocation of responsibilities. These are expected to include:

Strategy

• Contribute to the assessment of the Department’s project delivery capability drawing on insights and evidence from a range of sources including project learning and assurance findings.

• Support the development of the Project Delivery Change Programme to improve project delivery outcomes and internal ways of working across the DfT Group.

• Support the Grades 7s and senior leadership team to develop and maintain the Directorate’s strategy and priorities, aligned to the DfT Project Delivery Change Programme, providing a compelling vision for the Directorate, articulating our priorities and setting out how we want to work together to support a people-focussed culture.

Engagement, Communications and Community Building.

• Support the coordination and delivery of key engagement activities, including the Project Delivery Conference, Community of Practice events and other learning forums.

• Lead the development and delivery of the communications products, including the Project Delivery newsletter, ensuring high-quality, accessible, and engaging content.

• Lead the management and development of the Project Delivery Portal as a central information repository for project delivery teams across the DfT Group.

• Help plan, deliver and continuously improve a pipeline of regular engagement activity to share learning, promote best practice, and strengthen the Project Delivery profession.

Stakeholder management and collaboration

• Support the mapping and engagement of key stakeholders across DfT, Arm’s Length Bodies and central functions to enable effective delivery of project delivery initiatives.

• Build strong working relationships across PDPD and beyond, working collaboratively with policy, commercial, finance, assurance, and people colleagues.

• Coordinate and lead as appropriate on briefings and correspondence, including responses for ministers, senior leaders, and committees.

While these represent the core responsibilities of the role, there is an expectation that, subject to your capacity, you will use your skills and experience to contribute to team priorities as required. Opportunities are expected to arise to:

• Contribute to work to help projects capture, share and apply learning from project experience.

• Contribute to change initiatives such as those expected to arise from current work to improve project sponsorship capability in the Department.

• Provide support to the PDPD Assurance team and Centre of Excellence in reviewing Management Case maturity across the DfT Group.

For further information on the role, please read the attached 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

We are looking for an individual with experience of drawing insights from complex information and turning them into practical ideas for change.

You will be highly organised and comfortable managing competing priorities, working at pace while maintaining strong attention to detail. With experience of coordinating engagement, communications or learning activity, you will work confidently with a wide range of stakeholders, adapting your approach and style to suit different audiences and build strong, trusted relationships.

Comfortable working with ambiguity, you will take initiative and support senior colleagues to translate strategic intent into tangible delivery outcomes. You will communicate clearly and concisely in both writing and discussion, bringing sound judgement, a collaborative mindset, and a genuine enthusiasm for organisational improvement.

Required experience:

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

• Working across organisational boundaries with a range of stakeholders to deliver impactful communications and events in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities

• Using evidence, insight, or feedback from a range of sources to inform strategies, improve outputs or support decision-making.

Additional Information

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

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.

Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week. 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.

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.

You will be encouraged to travel a minimum of twice a month between the Department’s hub offices in Birmingham, Leeds and London to meet up in person with your team and stakeholders.

If you have a question about hybrid working, part time/job share hours, flexible working, travelling for work, or require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Vacancy Holder during the recruitment process to avoid possible disappointment later in the process should your working arrangements not be compatible with the requirements of the role.

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
• Changing and Improving
• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

• Working Together

Technical skills

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

• Working with analysts and other colleagues to use data effectively to understand and highlight risks to customers, and add value to the organisation
• Interpreting data to create and present evidence-based insight. Evaluating the effectiveness of interventions and providing recommendations

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,241, Department for Transport contributes £12,816 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

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, 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 (opens in a new window).

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, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

How to apply:

Our selection process ensures a comprehensive assessment of each applicant's qualifications, skills, and potential fit within our organisation.

The selection process for this role will be:

Stage 1: CV and Personal Statement

Stage 2: Interview

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

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form

Stage 1: Sift

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

Experience – you will be asked to provide a CV (2 sides of A4) and personal statement (1000-word count). Please provide evidence in the Personal Statement of your Experience of the following:

• Working across organisational boundaries with a range of stakeholders to deliver impactful communications and events in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities

• Using evidence, insights, or feedback from a range of sources to inform strategies, improve outputs or support decision-making.

The sift will take place week commencing 30th April

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be conducted using the lead Success Profile element ‘Working Together’. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Please note: the sift will be completed on a rolling basis whilst the campaign is still live, so you may receive your sift scores before the advert closing date.

Stage 2: Interview

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

Behaviours –

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

Experience

Working in a fast passed environment providing support, delivering, strategic or operational workstreams.

Strengths

The interviews will take place week commencing 15th May, however, dates are subject to change due to operational circumstances.

Interviews will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams only. Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview including providing evidence of Identification.

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

Feedback on your application can only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

We will also hold a12 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

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.

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.

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 : Moses Bernard
• Email : moses.bernard@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 (1) Opens in new window (docx, 96kB)