Senior Policy Advisors – Aviation Decarbonisation

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.  

Would you like to use your passion and skills to help the UK in its efforts to reduce aviation emissions?

Do you have the ability to deliver, communicate with confidence and enjoy working with people at all levels?

If so, we have an exciting opportunity for 2 Senior Policy Advisors looking to expand their skills in a high priority area, and we would love to hear from you!

We are looking for enthusiastic, capable and credible individuals who can provide expertise in the development and implementation of aviation decarbonisation policies. The roles are rewarding and diverse and will suit motivated team players who are passionate about environmental issues, able to quickly get to grips with complex policy and technical issues, while building effective working relationships across the government, with industry and beyond.

These roles sit within the Aviation Decarbonisation Division – made up of a diverse and fun team working on a broad portfolio of exciting and important areas to ensure the aviation sector plays its part in the UK reaching our net zero commitments and will require working with other teams in DfT, and other government departments including the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero and the Department for Business and Trade.

The roles will be leading on the development and delivery of two important policies set out in the Jet Zero Strategy: the 2040 zero-emissions airports target and the 2040 net zero target for UK domestic aviation. This will include leading on development on consultations, as well as developing relationships with industry stakeholders and working across government.

You will build expertise in green aviation policies, climate change science and policy, the wider aviation sector, technology and innovation, and will have the opportunity to engage and influence a variety of stakeholders across the sector, wider industry and government.

Responsibilities 

The two successful candidates will join the Aviation Decarbonisation Division, leading the policy development and delivery of two important policy areas. Both roles are challenging where you will have the opportunity to lead, develop and shape government policy.

Role 1 – Senior Policy Advisor – Zero Emission Airports, Aviation Decarbonisation

• Leading the policy development of the zero-emissions airport operations target, as set out in the Jet Zero Strategy. You will need to work effectively across government, with industry and other partners to ensure that Ministers are equipped with a robust evidence and clear recommendations and policy options to make decisions.
• Leading the development, drafting and publication of a consultation on the zero-emissions airports target, due in 2024. You will also be responsible developing all supplementary materials related to the consultation, including ministerial briefings, speeches and other communications materials.
• Developing effective working relationships with industry stakeholders to gather views and further evidence to inform the development of the consultation and policy options. You will also need to work across government to ensure that the policy is aligned to wider government strategies and policies and will need to work closely with Analysts and Legal in DfT to ensure that the policy options are supported by a detailed evidence base.
• Supporting the delivery of other policy commitments in the Jet Zero Strategy, including leading on developing policy on ghost flights (where airlines may fly routes to retain airport take-off rights with under capacity aircraft) and tankering (where airlines may carry more fuel than required due to lower costs, which results in more emissions). You will also need to work closely with the Airspace Modernisation team and ensure that changes to UK airspace are aligned to the approach set out in the Jet Zero Strategy.

Role 2 – Senior Policy Advisor – Domestic Net Zero, Offsets and Removals, Aviation Decarbonisation

• Leading on the policy development and delivery of a new net zero 2040 target for UK domestic aviation. This will include including managing research and analysis workstreams, liaising with relevant policy teams and external stakeholders, developing a call for evidence and public consultation, and advising Ministers.
• Development of UK policy on the approach to use of Greenhouse Gas Removals (GGRs) by the aviation sector, to help set UK aviation up for achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
• Monitoring, engaging with and supporting cross-government efforts to scale-up production of GGRs in the UK and beyond, seeking to ensure adequate supply is brought forward for the aviation sector’s needs.
• Promoting and helping implement monitoring frameworks and incentives which can facilitate the use of GGRs by the aviation sector to reduce their net emissions, including through the UK Emissions Trading Scheme and the Carbon Offsetting and Removal Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).

For more information about the roles and responsibilities please see the attached Role Profile.

About you

To thrive in these roles, you will have good analytical and problem-solving skills, teamed with verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to adapt your delivery to suit a wide variety of audiences, maximising both impact and understanding of complex policy matters.

You are someone who can gain rapport quickly with others as you look to build effective working relationships both inside and outside government. 

You are someone who works well both autonomously and as part of a team to ensure that you deliver departmental objectives. 

You are someone that can get to grips with complex technical information and have the ability to summarise this for senior audiences.

Additional information

A minimum of 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace, although requirements to attend other locations for official business, or carry out detached duty in another DfT workplace, will also count towards this level of attendance. 

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 4 days a week (30 hours).

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

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

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

• Policy Professional Standards – 1. Strategy 1.1. Policy Context and Purpose Level 1: Developing

  Define the sought impacts and outcomes of a policy.

• Policy Professional Standards – 2. Democracy 2.1. Working with Ministers Level 1: Developing

  Deliver effective internal communication. Write for different audiences and purposes, including scrutiny.

Being part of our brilliant Civil Service means you will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. We offer generous annual leave, attractive pension options, flexible working, inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance. 

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

Job contact :

• Name : Ruhana Begum
• Email : ruhana.begum@dft.gov.uk

Recruitment team

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