Details
Reference number
429939
Salary
£57,515
Accredited transport modellers at this grade receive an additional £4,000 annual retention allowance.
GBP
Job grade
Grade 7
Contract type
Permanent
Business area
DFT - Decarbonisation, Technology & Strategy Group (DTS)
Type of role
Analytical
Working pattern
Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time
Number of jobs available
1
Contents
* Location
* About the job
* Benefits
* Things you need to know
* Apply and further information
Location
Birmingham, Leeds
About the job
Job summary
Do you have the passion to enhance data quality and modelling practice to accelerate transport model development and inform transport infrastructure business case development across the country?
Do you have the successful experience in working with complex modelling systems, improving the efficiency of transport models and deliver high quality results through creative thinking and effective collaboration with stakeholders?
Are you proficient in coding and cloud digital infrastructure to deal with large amount of data?
If so, we'd love to hear from you
The Department for Transport is recruiting for a Modelling Advancement Lead in its Modelling Insights (MI) team within Transport Appraisal and Strategic Modelling (TASM) division, sitting at the heart of the DfT's analytical community.
TASM manages the DfT's Transport Analysis Guidance (TAG) for transport modelling and appraisal, develops national transport models to support policy development and transport investments, works closely with stakeholders to strengthen the evidence base and provides analytical assurance to the Department's work.
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
As a Modelling Advancement Lead with strong technical capabilities, you will lead changes, think creatively and systematically, work with stakeholders to deliver impacts and confidently bring your own perspective to discussions.
You will have the expertise in complex modelling, practical experience in Google Cloud Platform, programming, analysis and GIS, strong understanding in transport data and data structure, and knowledge of quality assurance. You will commit to uphold best practice and a practical approach throughout your work and communicate changes and impacts to a range of audiences, both internal and external to the department. You will have strong interest in automation through programming and be a keen learner on new skills and knowledge to support TASM's work.
Your responsibilities will include, but aren't limited to:
* Lead part of the TASM Modelling Advancement Programme to transform TASM's modelling capabilities
* Provide expertise to enhance TASM's models and analysis
* Improve general modelling practices and the evidence base through machine learning or other advanced approaches
* Lead modelling and analysis tasks and support others for technical improvements in transport modelling and policy developments
* Identify research and development opportunities and take the initiative to strengthen modelling capability in DfT and the sector more generally
* Promoting TASM analysis within and outside of the Department and improve modelling across the sector
Great line management is important to us as an organisation, and we will equip and support line managers to develop the skills they need. We aim to empower line managers to create teams where people can flourish and deliver excellent outcomes for the public.
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
This role requires strong skills in complex modelling, programming and understanding cloud digital infrastructure. Good knowledge and experience in multi-modal transport modelling, GIS, Google Cloud Platform and data engineering would be an advantage to perform in the role.
To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:
* Strategic transport model development, including data collection, and clear understanding the strengths and the weakness in modelling approach and result interpretation
* Delivering solutions and integrating multiple workstreams to improving practices
* Being proficient in applying programming skills and tools (ideally Python and Big Query) with knowledge in GIS and cloud digital infrastructure to accelerate data manipulation and develop analysis processes.
* Effective analytical project management, including managing complexity (e.g. prioritisation of tasks, working with incomplete data sets) and ensuring appropriate and proportionate quality assurance checks are implemented
* Communicating complex data and ideas clearly and tactfully to a range of technical and non-technical audiences in an authoritative, informative and engaging manner.
Additional Information
Occasional travel to other DfT offices may be required.
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.
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 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).
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Leadership
* Changing and Improving
* Communicating and Influencing
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
* Transport Modelling Profession Framework - Achieving Impact with Analysis
* Transport Modelling Profession Framework - Creativity and Problem Solving
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
* 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, Experience and Technical skills.
How to apply:
Our selection process ensures a comprehensive assessment of each applicant's 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 and a presentation
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:
* Strategic transport model development, including data collection, and clear understanding the strengths and the weakness in modelling approach and result interpretation
* Delivering solutions and integrating multiple workstreams to improving practices
* Being proficient in applying programming skills and tools (ideally Python and Big Query) with knowledge in GIS and cloud digital infrastructure to accelerate data manipulation and develop analysis processes.
* Effective analytical project management, including managing complexity (e.g. prioritisation of tasks, working with incomplete data sets) and ensuring appropriate and proportionate quality assurance checks are implemented.
* Communicating complex data and ideas clearly and tactfully to a range of technical and non-technical audiences in an authoritative, informative and engaging manner.
The sift will take place from Thursday 16th October 2025.
Stage 2: Interview and Presentation
At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:
* Behaviours – Leadership, Changing and Improving and Communicating and Influencing
* Technical – Transport Modelling Profession Framework (attached) - Achieving Impact with Analysis, Creativity and Problem Solving
You will also be required to create and deliver a presentation to assess the Technical element Transport Modelling Profession Framework. Guidance will be provided if you are invited to interview.
The interviews are likely to take place from Wednesday 5th November 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.
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 as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
Document Accessibility
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
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 cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email for assistance.
Further Information
For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How 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.
Pre-employment Checking
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.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
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)
* 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
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code 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 .
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 the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans 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 : Qi Feng
* Email :
Recruitment team
* Email :
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: 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