Details
Reference number
429838
Salary
£84,838
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
Job grade
Grade 7
Grade 7 AN
Contract type
Permanent
Business area
DFT - Aviation, Maritime and Security Group (AMS) - Rail Accident Investigation Branch
Type of role
Investigation
Working pattern
Flexible working, Full-time
Number of jobs available
5
Contents
* Location
* About the job
* Benefits
* Things you need to know
* Apply and further information
Location
Aldershot, Derby
About the job
Job summary
Are you interested in making a significant contribution to railway safety in the United Kingdom?
Are you looking for a job that enables you to travel and get out and about in the railway industry, as well as working in a highly collaborative and supportive office
environment?
If the answer to all of the above questions is yes, and you have the experience and knowledge we are looking for, then you might be interested in applying to be an
inspector at the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB).
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 and 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 RAIB:
Job description
The RAIB is the independent railway accident investigation organisation for the UK. Our aim is to improve the safety of railways and inform the industry and the public. We do not apportion blame or liability. The RAIB is a highly professional and widely respected investigation body with well-established links with every part of the UK industry, and international equivalents.
The scope of the RAIB's investigations is wide and varied. The RAIB's remit extends to the whole of the UK and includes the mainline railway network, metros (including the London Underground), light railways and tramways, the Channel Tunnel, Northern Ireland Railways and heritage railways. It is independent of the railway industry, safety regulators and prosecution bodies.
The RAIB has operational centres in Derby and Aldershot. It employs a team of specialists drawn from the railway industry, including those with backgrounds in rolling stock design, infrastructure, railway signalling and operations on the mainline network. Others have experience in the metro and light rail sectors. It also employs people who have investigative experience and those with experience in relevant areas such as human factors and data recorders.
You will be directly responsible for investigating accidents and incidents, which will include deploying to site, gathering evidence, conducting tests, detailed analysis
and report writing. You will not work alone, but as part of an experienced, enthusiastic and collaborative team. You will also liaise and work with other
specialists and industry parties.
Although you will join the RAIB with skills, knowledge and experience that will be of value to the Branch, your RAIB training will ensure you have a thorough understanding across all rail technical and operational matters, as well as comprehensive investigation skills.
There are four teams of Inspectors, two each at Derby and Aldershot.
As a front line investigator you will be part of a team of inspectors with diverse skills. You will:
* investigate accidents to determine the circumstances and the causes;
* be accountable for the quality of your investigation;
* prepare clear and accurate reports, formulate recommendations to prevent future accidents;
* provide expert advice to colleagues; and
* represent the RAIB and liaise with the public and with external organisations
To enable you to become a rail accident investigator, the RAIB will train you and you will gain experience by working alongside other team members in support of their investigations. You will be expected to develop a detailed knowledge of relevant RAIB investigation processes and will be required to demonstrate competencies and experience to become qualified to lead an investigation.
On an ongoing basis you will be expected to keep abreast of developments in railway technology and operations to ensure the currency of your knowledge.
These roles offer exceptional job satisfaction, team working, personal challenge and a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in every aspect of a complex and dynamic industry.
Special Features of the Role
One week in every three inspectors are on-call and can be required to travel to an accident site anywhere in the UK with only 30 minutes notice. Although at first sight this might seem onerous, duty rosters are published well in advance to enable you to plan ahead, and can nearly always be flexed to accommodate family events and other commitments.
Although we welcome applications from all interested candidates, you must be aware that you will be required to live within approximately one hour's travelling
time from the relevant operational centre once in post. If you have to relocate to take up a position with us, you may be eligible to claim relocation expenses up to a maximum of £5,000, in accordance with Departmental policy.
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
Transport accident investigation is a specialist role, and we will provide comprehensive training for the successful applicants. The experience we are seeking is therefore focused on the attributes that will make a good investigator. We will be seeking people who have experience of:
* working in an environment where delivery of evidence-based output, based on structured analytical techniques, has been a primary requirement
* applying your empathetic skills to obtain the best possible information from people
* leading a team to solve a complex and/or multi-disciplinary problem, and then using the output of that work to successfully address a real-world challenge
* using your interpersonal skills to enhance collaboration with people outside your immediate team
* effective communication of a complicated or difficult message
* An understanding of safety and safety learning and experience of involvement within it
* Ability to communicate complex issues in a way that is easy to understand
* Experience of using evidence and applying expertise to analyse a complex issue, and using the knowledge gained to make effective decisions
* Delivering significant projects whilst working under time pressures
* Proven ability to build and maintain a network of colleagues and stakeholders
You will also need to have substantial experience at a senior level in one or more of the following disciplines:
* Railway Safety and risk management
* Track (S&C or plain line)
* Railway – structures
* Traction and Rolling Stock
* Software systems engineering in a safety critical industry
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.
Licences
Full Drivers Licence Valid in the UK
Memberships
Candidates will need to be a member of or working towards full membership of one of the following:
IOSH
IMechE
IET
PWI
ICE
IRSE
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Making Effective Decisions
* Communicating and Influencing
* Working Together
* Delivering at Pace
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
* Applying Expertise and Technology - AIB Competency
* Written communication - AIB Competency
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £84,838, Department for Transport contributes £24,577 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, Experience and Technical skills.
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
Stage 3: Final 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 (1000-word count). Please provide evidence of your Experience of the following:
* Your understanding of safety and safety learning and your experience of involvement within it.
* Communicating complex issues in a way that was easy to understand, and how you influenced a beneficial outcome;
* Using evidence and applying your expertise to analyse a complex issue, and using the knowledge gained to make effective decisions;
* Delivering a significant project when working under time pressure;
* Actively built and maintained a network of colleagues and contacts to achieve progress or shared objectives.
The sift will take place from 3rd November to 25th November 2025
Stage 2: Assessment Day
At this stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:
* Behaviours – (Making Effective Decisions, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together and Delivering at Pace)
* Experience – (Criteria Mentioned Above)
* Technical – (AIB Competency Framework found in attachments)
Your assessments will include:
* A panel Interview
* A Written Assessment
* A presentation
* A Role Play Exercise
Interviews/assessments will take place from 12th January to 15th January 2026.
Please note, due to the technicalities of running an assessment centre as part of this interview process, interview and assessment dates are non-negotiable. Please make every effort to keep these dates free as we won't be able to accommodate a request to reschedule.
This interview will be conducted in person at our Aldershot office (Cullen House, Berkshire Copse Road, Aldershot GU11 2HP (Satnav GU11 2HH) Further details will be provided to you should you be selected for interview.)
Stage 3: 2nd Interview
At this stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:
* Technical – (AIB Competency Framework found in attachments)
Your assessments will include:
* A teams interview which will take place from 20th January to 6th February 2026
The successful candidate will be expected to undertake a Medical as part of their pre employment checks.
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.
This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.
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.
NSV
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.
Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check .
See our vetting charter .
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 : Nicky Pirrie
* 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 Here