Transport security capability and innovation lead

Job summary

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. 

Do you have a proactive and confident approach?

Have you got experience fostering innovation or building technical capabilities within organisations?

Can you think outside of the box and are not afraid to try new things?

Would you like the chance to make a real difference and support the government and industry to deliver a safe, secure, and resilient transport network. if so, we would love to hear from you!

Job description

The Transport Security Directorate (TSD) works across the Department for Transport, HMG, and with partners to mitigate the threats the transport sector faces domestically and internationally.

We lead on high profile work to implement and improve the transport sector’s cyber security, maritime and aviation security regimes as well as working with international partners to raise global standards and build capability. As the national security threats transport faces evolve, we are working across DfT to ensure that these issues are reflected in the Department’s work to ensure that we balance prosperity with security objectives.

The National Security Science and Research (NSSR) Division of TSD is responsible for providing scientific and technical support in the development of policies and regulation that protects transport systems and the travelling public from terrorist attacks, natural hazards or civil contingencies. Provision of advice and evidence is underpinned by three core research programmes (circa £10-12M per annum), which the Division designs, administers and facilitates the exploitation of.

We are looking for 2 people to join the new Capabilities and Innovation Programme team, ensuring effective capability planning of the Division’s three core research programmes (Research, Analysis and Development; Innovation; Resilience) and delivery of the Division’s new cross-modal Innovation programme.

These exciting and interesting roles will be responsible for delivering the team’s two core functions;

• Identification of vulnerabilities in transport security and development of strategic and technical roadmaps to support prioritisation and workflow for the three delivery programmes.
• Delivery of an innovation programme to drive and support innovators from industry and academia in addressing current and emerging threats in transport security. The programme will aim to deliver through a variety of different mechanisms, spanning the full Technology Readiness Level (TRL) spectrum

These roles will involve working closely with senior policy leads, scientific and technical experts across the Government National Security and Resilience communities, transport Industry, academia, and international partners.

We are a passionate, friendly, dedicated and supportive division that is committed to ensuring the security and resilience of transport, as well as the prosperity of the UK and transport industry.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Establish and deliver the Division’s new Capability Assessment Framework to ensure high level capabilities are in place to deliver the Division’s plans, embedding into future strategic planning processes.
• Develop and deliver capability roadmaps for the Division’s three delivery programmes – Research, Analysis and Development, RAD; Innovation; and Resilience which will drive the future technical projects.
• Develop and deliver a forward-looking innovation strategy, with an emphasis on innovation realisation and exploitation. This plan will cover Aviation, Land and Maritime security, and incorporates the activity of the NSSR teams, ensuring alignment with the Transport Security and Resilience Science & Technology Strategy.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders, including Government departments, Industry, Academia, International partners and Security end users ensuring relevant connections are made between stakeholders’ work and science and technology requirements in DfT.

Closing date: Friday 9th June 2023

Please click apply button to apply.