Compliance Inspector

Job summary

Can you stay calm under pressure while leading inspections that help keep the UK’s land transport network safe and secure?

Do you enjoy building professional relationships, travelling across the country, and making a real impact on national transport security?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

The Department for Transport’s Land Transport Security Compliance team have a key role to play in the Government's counter terrorism strategy, alongside colleagues in other Government Departments, including the Police and Security Service.

Their aim is to protect the travelling public, rail transport facilities (Dangerous Goods, International Rail, Heavy Rail and Light Rail), and those employed in the transport industries from terrorist motivated acts of violence and to retain public confidence in land transport security.

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: Department for Transport Central - Department for Transport Careers

Job description

The posts are an exciting opportunity that focus on direct monitoring and assessing of industry compliance against regulatory requirements of the UK land security regimes, as instructed by the Secretary of State for Transport.

Successful applicants will be appointed as Transport Security Compliance Inspectors and assigned to the Land Transport Security Compliance team in the Department for Transport.

The posts require the ability to deliver results with, at times, light supervision, often under pressure, and working to tight timescales. A flexible approach is needed, as the work does not always fit to standard conditioned hours. The posts require a willingness to travel regularly within the UK including overnight stays.

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

• Undertake observations, inspections, audits and covert tests across Great Britain as part of a risk-based programme of compliance activity to assess and improve industry compliance with security requirements.
• In the event of less than full compliance with the requirements, follow the ‘stepped approach’ in accordance with internal procedures and guidance, seeking swift and sustainable rectification of any failings by industry.
• Ensure accurate, succinct and focused information about the findings of the above compliance activity are entered into the relevant database in a timely manner to contribute to an accurate picture of compliance levels across the transport industries.
• Liaise with industry representatives on site visits to conduct compliance activities in an effective, professional and consistent manner likely to improve the chances of achieving maximum compliance; ensuring that constructive feedback is given to appropriate industry management and staff at the conclusion of compliance activity.
• Act as Lead Inspector for specific transport entities. Lead Inspector role includes ensuring timely and effective interaction with industry stakeholders to promote best practice; assessing industry security assurance programmes; identifying and assisting with resolution of problems and delivery of credible rectification strategies.
• Willingness to undergo security clearance to SC level. Regular GB travel, typically 3 days per week and possible overnight stays depending on location and type of activity. Must hold full valid UK driving license. Early morning, evening and weekend working by arrangement as necessary. Willingness to be contacted out of hours.

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:

• Able to communicate in a succinct, engaging manner using appropriate styles, methods and timing, including digital channels, to maximise understanding and impact ability to stand ground when needed.
• Able to draft high quality written documents/communications.
• Can build strong relationships with a range of stakeholders to support delivery of business outcomes.
• Ability to actively seek out and share experience to develop understanding and knowledge of own work and of team’s business area.
• You should be capable of identifying a range of relevant and credible information sources and recognise the need to collect new data, when necessary, from internal and external sources and successfully manage, support and stretch, self and team to deliver agreed goals and objectives.
• Previous regulatory experience.
• Protective security knowledge.
• Previous experience in an outward facing / Industry contact role.
• Diplomacy/relationship building skills.
• Willingness to undergo security clearance to SC level. Regular travel around London, typically 3 to 4 days per week and possible overnight stays depending on location and type of activity. Must hold full valid UK driving license. Early morning, evening and weekend work by arrangement as necessary. Willingness to be contacted out of hours.

Additional information

The positions being advertised are primarily London-focused and will require successful candidates to be based in London at least three days per week. Official business travel may be claimed in line with the department's Travel and Subsistence policies. Candidates should therefore be prepared to commit to a substantial amount of time working in London.

You may need to undertake a pre-employment medical relevant to the requirements of the role.

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 32 hours per week.

Regular travel to other offices and/ or stakeholder sites will be required, typically 3-4 times per week which may involve overnight stays.

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.

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 du