280 Jobs in Yorkshire and the Humber

Job summary

Can you shape policy and influence decisions that make a real difference?

Have you delivered results through collaboration, analysis and sound judgement?

Are you a proactive and curious professional looking for your next challenge?

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

The Department for Transport is at the heart of some of the UK's most ambitious and high-profile initiatives, shaping the future of transport across the nation. From major infrastructure projects and transport innovation to improving connectivity and supporting economic growth, our work impacts millions of people every day. As part of our Policy Profession, you will join a supportive and collaborative community, providing trusted advice, developing evidence-based solutions and helping to deliver meaningful outcomes for citizens, businesses and communities across the UK.

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: Policy opportunities at the Department for Transport - Department for Transport Careers

Location Information

This campaign is advertising 8 roles that are immediately available in Birmingham and Leeds. London is included as a potential if roles remain vacant after exhausting the Birmingham and Leeds list.

During your application, you should indicate which location you wish to be considered for and, if successful, you will be placed on an individual list of candidates for each location and drawn from it in merit order.

Appointments offered in merit order and offers made first for Birmingham and Leeds roles, moving onto the London list as required. Candidates will not be removed from the reserve list if they decline an offer for a location they did not apply for.

Appointable candidates who are not offered an immediate role may be placed on the reserve list for up to 12 months.

Placement on the reserve list does not guarantee an offer; the department may re-run the campaign without appointing from the reserve list.

Job description

As a Senior Policy Advisor, you are expected to work with a degree of flexibility, meaning responsibilities may change to support priority delivery.

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

• Leading policy advice for Ministers, other Government Departments (including Cabinet Office, No10 and HM Treasury) and senior officials, including but not limited to: Ministerial briefings, Parliamentary business, freedom of information requests and correspondence.
• Supporting senior managers with policy creation/implementation.
• Gathering information, including engaging with internal and external experts, and bringing it together to deliver high quality oral and written briefing.
• Developing and maintaining good working relationships with departmental, cross-Government and external stakeholders to support policy development and delivery.
• Making clear recommendations on complex questions, working with stakeholders in a fast-moving environment, managing ambiguity and handling the dynamics of multiple competing priorities.

We have the following Policy roles immediately available:

1. Decarbonisation Strategy Senior Policy Advisor

Transport is the largest contributor to the UK's domestic greenhouse gas emissions, making decarbonisation essential to reduce the transport sector's impact on the environment and contribution to climate change. As a Senior Policy Advisor in Decarbonisation Strategy, you will help shape and drive ambitious work across the Department, government and the wider transport sector. You will support delivery of greener and healthier transport and the transition to net zero by 2050.

2. International Trade Senior Policy Advisor

You will support DfT’s international trade policy work by developing clear briefing, evidence-based recommendations and policy positions for Free Trade Agreement negotiations and the department’s wider trade strategy. You will work closely with DfT modal teams and DBT, building a Whitehall network to understand and inform DfT’s international trade work, representing DfT interests, defending DfT positions and influencing others as appropriate. You will have develop in-depth knowledge of both transport and international trade policy issues.

3. Seafarers and Skills Senior Policy Advisor

This role sits within the People and Safety Division in the Department for Transport’s Maritime Directorate, supporting policy work to strengthen the UK maritime workforce. The post involves working with government and industry stakeholders on areas including seafarer visas, employment rights, skills, careers and diversity, helping to develop and deliver evidence-based policy solutions.

4. Aviation Carbon Markets and Removals Senior Policy Advisor (Part-Time, Job share, 22 hrs per week)

This is role focused on aviation carbon markets and greenhouse gas removals, supporting aviation’s pathway to net zero. Applicants require strong policy, analytical and stakeholder skills, with the ability to provide clear advice and work collaboratively in this job-share post.

5. Automated Vehicles Operations Senior Policy Advisor

This role supports the development and implementation of the UK’s regulatory framework for self-driving vehicles, leading on aspects of on operator licensing, licence conditions and guidance for vehicles operating without a user in charge. Working at the forefront of transport innovation, you will help translate the Automated Vehicles Act into a practical regulatory regime, collaborating with government, regulators and industry to support the safe deployment of self-driving technology across Britain.

6. Automated Vehicles Data Senior Policy Advisor

This role leads data policy for self-driving vehicle regulation, supporting delivery of the Automated Vehicles Act and the development of a future safety framework. The postholder will work across government, industry and digital partners to deliver policy, manage data workstreams, and support innovation in automated vehicle deployment

7.Road Freight Division - Freight and Borders (FAB) Senior Policy Advisor

The Freight and Borders Directorate leads work across government and with the freight and logistics sector to keep goods moving smoothly into, out of and across the UK. This is a flexible deployment role within the Road Freight Division and the wider Freight and Borders (FAB) Directorate. The successful candidate will work across a range of policy, strategy and delivery priorities, with responsibilities shaped by business need and emerging departmental objectives.

8. HS2 Benefits and Business Case: Senior Policy Advisor

This role sits within the HS2 Benefits and Business Case Team, supporting delivery of the HS2 Programme Business Case and the governance, strategy and evaluation of programme benefits. You would be working across government and with senior stakeholders to align benefits with wider objectives, support the HS2 Growth and Benefits Board, and embed benefits management across the programme.

At the point of interview all candidates will be asked for their preferred team. As we will be appointing this role based on merit (offering to the highest scorer first) we will take your preferred team into consideration but please note that this will not be guaranteed.

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.

Open Session:

Would you like to find out more about the role, the team and what it’s like to work in our department? If so, we are organising an open session where you can virtually 'meet the team' on Tuesday 4th August 2026 at 12:30pm-1:30pm. Sign up here.

Person specification

Required experience:

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

1. Leading on discrete projects that support the delivery of a policy area by developing and taking forward your own initiatives.
2. Compiling, assimilating and interpreting evidence to inform policy making.
3. An effective communicator who can deliver important messages in a way which reflects the needs of different audiences.
4. Producing written work to required standard and tight deadlines.

Additional Information

Working hours, office attendance and travel 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.

Please note that the Aviation Carbon Markets and Removals Senior Policy Advisor role is a part-time, job share post of 22 hrs per week.

These roles are 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.

Please note that these roles may include some travel to other offices, which may involve overseas trips and overnight stays.

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 (see below for contact details).

Visa Sponsorship

Sponsorship is not offered for this role. Successful applicants must ensure they have and maintain the legal right to live and work in the United Kingdom.

Behaviours

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

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

Technical skills

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

• Pillar One: Strategy – using evidence and analysis. Generating, assessing and applying evidence and analysis to understand the context and develop new strategies.
• Pillar Two: Democracy – understanding and supporting good governance. Understanding and supporting good governance and accountability through the production of robust and challenging advice to inform decisions.
• Pillar Three: Delivery – designing policy implementation. Designing policy implementation and delivery systems in collaboration with delivery partners and users, including how policies will be evaluated and improved.

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 (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, Experience and Technical skills.

How to apply:

The selection process for this role will be:

Stage 1: Sift of CV and personal statement

Stage 2: Interview, Presentation and Policy Exercise

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:

• Leading discrete projects and taking forward your own initiatives to support the delivery of policy objectives.
• Compiling, analysing and interpreting evidence to inform policy development and decision-making.
• Communicating complex or important messages effectively, adapting your approach to meet the needs of different audiences.
• Producing high-quality written work to tight deadlines, ensuring accuracy and attention to detail.

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

The sift will take place between 17th & 18th August 2026.

Stage 2: Interview, Presentation and Policy Exercise

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

• Behaviours – Seeing the Big Picture, Delivering at Pace, Working Together, Making Effective Decisions, Communicating and Influencing
• Technical:

Pillar One: Strategy – using evidence and analysis. Generating, assessing and applying evidence and analysis to understand the context and develop new strategies

Pillar Two: Democracy – understanding and supporting good governance. Understanding and supporting good governance and accountability through the production of robust and challenging advice to inform decisions

Pillar Three: Delivery – designing policy implementation. Designing policy implementation and delivery systems in collaboration with delivery partners and users, including how policies will be evaluated and improved

Government Policy Profession - For this role you should demonstrate a developing (level 1) ability to apply these skills. For further details about the Government Policy Profession please see About us - Policy Profession - GOV.UK.

You will also be required to create and deliver a presentation and complete a policy exercise.

Further information will be provided to all candidates that are successful at sift and invited to stage 2.

The exercise and interviews are due to take place week commencing 31st August 2026.

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

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.

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.

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.

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 Sims
• Email : DfTcResourcing@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, 213kB)