Deputy Head of Engagement – Wales

We recognise the challenges that people with protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups, including ethnic minorities, people with a disability, and people with gender diverse identities.  

Are you a strong and confident communicator who can build positive relationships with a range of senior partners and stakeholders?

Do you enjoy travelling and meeting new people?

Have you got experience of planning and organising events or visits?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

Earlier this year, the department recruited its first ever Head of Engagement for Wales. Since then, we have been working to establish relationships with a broad cross-section of partners and stakeholders at a local, regional and national level. We also aim to foster a culture of collaboration with other government departments and raise the profile of DfT across Wales.

The Deputy Head of Engagement – Wales role is an exciting opportunity to build on these successes by further expanding DfT’s network of partners and stakeholders, strengthening relationships with DfT modal leads and agencies, and increasing the visibility of DfT ministers and senior officials in Wales.

As well as deputising for the Head of Engagement, the role holder will be responsible for all aspects of strategic engagement in designated places and sectors in Wales – managing relationships, gathering insight and organising visits/events. 

This post is a combination of a leadership and a hands-on delivery role. You will collaborate with a talented and passionate group of colleagues to support the UK Government as it works to grow and level up the economy, reduce environmental impacts and deliver improved transport outcomes in all four UK nations.

Responsibilities include, but not limited to:

– Co-leading on the planning and implementation of an evolving programme of strategic engagement in Wales with measurable outputs and outcomes.

– Developing an extensive and useful network across Wales, including with the Welsh Government, local authorities and a range of other stakeholders to gather intel, influence delivery and promote the aims of DfT and the UK Government.

– Building and maintaining effective networks with devolution policy and communications teams in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC), Department of Business & Trade (DBT), Department for Science, Innovation & Technology (DSIT), Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), HM Treasury (HMT), Cabinet Office and the Wales Office.

– Planning, organising and coordinating visits for ministers and senior officials.

– Gathering data and information, analysing this for key trends, insights and issues, and presenting this to ministers and officials in an impactful way.

– Providing support to ministers on parliamentary business linked to Wales, including parliamentary questions, debates and correspondence.

– Representing DfT at local, regional and national events.

– Deputising for the Head of Engagement – Wales, including at departmental and cross-government meetings and working groups.

For further information, please see the attached Role Profile  

About you

To thrive in this role you will be:

• Be a self-starter, capable of working independently as well as within a small team.
• Be a confident and strong communicator able to represent the Department in meetings with senior partners and stakeholders.
• Be a collaborator, able to build and maintain good relationships with a range of stakeholders and work together toward common goals.
• Have the ability to explain complex issues clearly and concisely, verbally and in writing.
• Have the ability to identify risks, issues and opportunities; the initiative to act on these and the judgement to decide when to escalate.
• Possess strong problem-solving skills; able to help broker solutions.
• Possess strong organisational skills: able to not only plan but also reassess workloads and discuss priorities if situations change or you face conflicting demands.
• Have an understanding of the bigger picture and sensitivity to local and national politics, as well as the media and stakeholder landscapes in Wales.

Additional Information

Your place of work will be the Wales Region. As a mobile worker, you will be required to travel to sites around this region for meetings with partners and stakeholders as required. When not on site you may work from a DfTc office (to be determined) or from home. Travel expenses will be paid for official business travel. In line with current departmental policy, the post holder must spend at least 40% of their working time on official business or in a DfTc office.

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

• Leadership
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

Find out more about what it’s like working at the Department for Transport.

Job contact :

• Name : Ant Hobbs
• Email : ant.hobbs@dft.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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