SEO Transport Environment Analyst - Birmingham

Job summary

Can you build a strong evidence base to inform decision making? Do you have experience of developing, using and scrutinising analytical tools? If so, we'd love to hear from you

DfT is a high-profile department at the heart of UK government. We work with agencies and partners to support the transport network that helps businesses and gets people and goods travelling around the country. We plan and invest to make journeys better.

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 DfT: Department for Transport Central - Department for Transport Careers

Job description

Reducing the environmental impacts of transport will be vital to meeting legally-binding environmental targets. In 2023, 49% of nitrogen oxides and 26% of fine particulate matter emissions came from domestic transport. It is also important to ensure that the transport system is resilient to climate change. Weather-related delays on the rail system already cost the economy around £200-300m per year. Transport operators are also major landowners, with the combined estates of Network Rail and National Highways roughly equivalent to twice the size of the Isle of Wight.

We are looking to recruit an experienced analyst to build the evidence base on how transport impacts the environment and is impacted by climate change to inform government strategy and investment decisions. The role is a great opportunity to gain experience working on long-term, cross-modal, strategic issues and collaborating with analysts from other professions and departments. The role involves applying multidisciplinary analytical skills including economic appraisal, modelling, statistics, and research delivery.

The role sits in the Environment Strategy Analysis team, within the Strategy and Environment Analysis Division. Here, team members provide vital analysis on strategic transport matters. The role supports the Environment and Adaptation Strategy (EAST) Division, a team of around 20 policy officials leading DfT's environmental strategy. The postholder will work in a team of three analysts supporting EAST, led by one Grade 7 and one other SEO.

We are looking to recruit someone who is either an existing member of the Government Economics Service (GES), Government Operational Research Service (GORs) and Government Statistical Service (GSS) or an experienced analyst who meets the minimum requirements for one of these professions. If the successful applicant is not an existing Civil Servant, they will be expected to pass a 'badging exercise' to join one of these professions within six months of taking up the post.

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

• Designing and leading analysis to understand transport's impact on the environment and the impact of climate-related damage and disruption to the sector.
• Undertaking analysis on the impact of environmental policies and targets on the transport sector.
• Developing tools, evidence and guidance to help transport operators better understand the benefits of measures to enhance the environment and increase climate resilience.
• The job will involve a substantial amount of delivering through others, for example commissioning research and working closely with modal teams and other departments.

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

This role is suitable for a capable analyst with experience of scoping out and leading multi-disciplinary analysis to build a strong evidence base, to inform and appraise future policy decisions, whilst managing a busy portfolio of work.

Essential qualifications/licenses:

This role is open to existing members of the Government Economics Service (GES), Government Operational Research Service (GORS) and Government Statistical Service (GSS) and analysts meeting the minimum requirements for at least one of these professions. If the successful postholder is not an existing member of a Government Analytical profession they will be expected to pass a 'badging exercise' to demonstrate they have the technical skills for their relevant profession within 6 months of starting the job (with at maximum two attempts).

The minimum entry requirements for the GES, GORs and GSS are as follows.

To join the GES as a full or associated membership, you must:

• have a first or upper second-class honours degree in economics (or international equivalent), or a postgraduate degree in economics. If it is a joint degree, at least 50% of the course modules must be in economics;
• have studied both macroeconomics and microeconomics;
• be a civil servant or be on Civil Service terms and conditions; and
• be in an economics role at the time of joining or have previously been a member of the GES and have chief economist support for re-joining.

The minimum requirements for the GORs are:

• you have, or expect to have, a 2:1 or higher degree or degree apprenticeship in a highly numerate degree subject; or
• you have, or expect to have, a 2:2 or higher degree and a highly numerate postgraduate degree.

The minimum requirements for statistical posts in the Government Statistical Service are:

• a first-class or second-class honours degree in a numerate subject (2:1 minimum for Assistant Statistician and 2:2 minimum for Statistical Officer) containing at least 25% taught statistical content (for example, Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Sciences, Business Studies, Psychology, Geography, or similar); or
• a higher degree, such as an MSc or PhD, in a subject containing formal statistical training (for example. Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Sciences, Business Studies, Psychology, Geography, or similar).

Joining the GSS and GSG – Government Analysis Function )

You will be required to provide evidence that you hold any essential qualifications/licenses at some point during the recruitment process. If you cannot provide evidence, your application will be withdrawn.

Required experience:

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

• Experience of building a strong evidence base to inform decision making, including scoping out and leading multi-disciplinary analysis.
• Experience of developing, using and scrutinising analytical tools for the purposes of assessing the impacts of policy proposals.
• Ability to clearly and effectively communicating key messages and findings from complicated and incomplete evidence.

Additional Information

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

Full time roles consist of 37 hours per week.

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.

Qualifications

Please Specify which qualifications you have with the below mandatory qualification requirements:

To join the GES as a full or associated membership, you must:

• have a first or upper second-class honours degree in economics (or international equivalent), or a postgraduate degree in economics. If it is a joint degree, at least 50% of the course modules must be in economics;

• have studied both macroeconomics and microeconomics;

• be a civil servant or be on Civil Service terms and conditions; and

• be in an economics role at the time of joining or have previously been a member of the GES and have chief economist support for re-joining.

The minimum requirements for the GORs are:

• you have, or expect to have, a 2:1 or higher degree or degree apprenticeship in a highly numerate degree subject; or

• you have, or expect to have, a 2:2 or higher degree and a highly numerate postgraduate degree.

The minimum requirements for statistical posts in the Government Statistical Service are:

• a first-class or second-class honours degree in a numerate subject (2:1 minimum for Assistant Statistician and 2:2 minimum for Statistical Officer) containing at least 25% taught statistical content (for example, Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Sciences, Business Studies, Psychology, Geography, or similar); or

• a higher degree, such as an MSc or PhD, in a subject containing formal statistical training (for example. Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Sciences, Business Studies, Psychology, Geography, or similar).

Memberships

Please confirm if you are either a member or are able to meet the mandatory requirements for either of the following groups - please specify which group you would belong to:

Membership - Government Economic Service - GOV.UK )

Government Operational Research Service - Mainstream Recruitment - GOV.UK )

Behaviours

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

• Working Together
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £42,848, Department for Transport contributes £12,413 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, 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 .

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

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: Sift of CV and personal statement

Stage 2: Interview

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 (750-word count). Please provide evidence of your Experience of the following:

• building a strong evidence base to inform decision making, including scoping out and leading multi-disciplinary analysis.
• developing, using and scrutinising analytical tools for the purposes of assessing the impacts of policy proposals.
• clearly and effectively communicating key messages and findings from complicated and incomplete evidence.

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

The sift will take place week commencing 13th October 2025

Stage 2: Interview

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

Behaviours – (Working Together, Seeing the Big Picture and Delivering at Pace)

Technical - the technical assessment will be aligned to the relative profession, please refer to the Role Profile for details on technical skills that may be assessed

You will also be required to create and deliver a presentation. Guidance will be provided if you are invited to interview.

The interviews will take place week commencing 27th October 2025

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

You can find out more about our hiring process, how to apply, and application and interview guidance on our careers site .

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 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.

AI Tools and Platforms

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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

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.

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Job description