Can you lead innovative analysis and modelling to help accelerate the UK’s shift to low carbon fuels and support the transition to greener transport?

Do you enjoy working in a fast‑paced, high‑profile policy area, collaborating with analysts and policymakers to shape strategy and influence senior decisions?

Have you got experience applying operational research or analytical skills to complex technical challenges, particularly in the field of sustainability or decarbonisation?

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.

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), 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.

This role is open to those that are already members of the Government Operational Research (GORS) profession or those who are eligible to become part of the GORS profession: GORS accepted qualifications to apply are a highly numerate degree (minimum 2:1, or a 2:2 with relevant work experience or a postgraduate qualification), at least half of which must be from one or more of these or similar subjects:

• Operational Research
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Econometrics
• Engineering or Management Sciences

Climate change is one of the most urgent challenges facing governments (and a classic Operational Research problem!) - transport plays a key role in the UK’s journey to Net Zero. We’re looking for a Grade 7 Operational Researcher to lead on analysis and modelling related to low carbon fuels (LCFs), from road biofuels to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and other innovative technologies. You will be responsible for modelling their supply, demand, cost and future development to inform government policies. This is a high‑profile and fast‑paced area, where your work will directly influence policy decisions to help decarbonise transport.

Responsibilities

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

Lead complex modelling to assess feedstock availability, costs and benefits of LCF production and feasibility of new technological pathways to produce fuels.

The team owns a series of models in Excel, R and Python and you will be responsible to maintain, improve and deliver analysis using these models with the aim of steering other analytical, policy and strategy teams across DfT. You will be likely responsible the development of consultancy analytical work in this policy area.

Deliver modelling and analysis to inform the policy design of new and existing LCF policies

You will provide complex modelling and analysis to inform policy decisions and advise ministers on LCF policy development, including RTFO, SAF Mandate and new areas like hydrogen and e‑fuels. Your Operational Research analysis can inform better decisions.

Collaborating effectively across a number of different teams and stakeholders:

You will also be required to form strong working relationships and collaborate closely with departments across Government such as Defra, DESNZ, DBT, HMT, No 10 officials, as well as teams across DfT to ensure that the best available evidence underpins decision‑making.

Communicating evidence and analysis:

You will need to communicate complex and technical evidence and analysis to influence policy colleagues and senior decision makers across Whitehall.

Providing wider analytical leadership and support to the wider analytical team:

As a Grade 7 analyst you will be a senior member of the team, and will support the successful delivery of robust, influential and timely analysis and build capability through the sharing of best practice and knowledge. You will likely have management responsibility for a junior analyst (to be recruited).

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.