Dangerous Goods Administrator

Have you got a keen eye for detail, ensuring your work is accurate and of a high standard?

Are you pro-active and organised, with the skills to communicate effectively in-person and in writing?

Would you like play a part in making a real difference to public safety through your work?

If you have the skills and passion to deliver a quality service that has a direct impact on our society, we would like to hear from you.

About Us

We are part of the Department of Transport, managing the UN packaging approval scheme in the UK. Our mission is to ensure the safe transportation of dangerous goods by certifying packages to international standards. This helps to protect people, property, and the environment.

Here is Ziyad Akhlaq, Head of the Dangerous Goods Office, to tell you more about our Dangerous Goods Team. Please also refer to our Candidate Pack and role profile for further information., As a Dangerous Goods (DG) Administrator, you will provide administrative support to our DG Consultant, helping to assess applications for UN packaging certification. With comprehensive training and support from our team, you will be logging applications, drafting certificates, and raising invoices. You will also be involved in the revalidation of existing certificates; reviewing samples against original specifications and making informed judgments on their acceptability.

As somebody who is organised and pro-active, you will manage applications promptly and accurately, ensuring our team meet target deadlines. Excellent customer service and the ability to communicate effectively in-person and in writing is necessary when responding to application queries and redirecting related enquiries to appropriate team members.

We are committed to ensuring you receive continued learning and development opportunities to enable you to perform at your best. If you are passionate about broadening your skills and scope; you will have every chance to by being directly involved in projects that enable us to progress as an Agency, including our Digital Transformation Programme. We are currently going through this transition, from paper-based systems to digital and cloud-based platforms, that will enable us to work more efficiently as a team and organisation.

And finally, if you are seeking a career where you will benefit from flexible working, a fresh and inviting office space and team to work with, a comprehensive Civil Service package and a role where you will be valued and make a real difference to society; please get in touch.

Your main duties will include but will not be limited to:

• Ensure that packaging certification is issued within target times and to the appropriate standards, liaising with applicants and test facilities as required. Ensure that associated records are maintained, and relevant databases updated.

• Handle enquiries relating to applications and either dealing with questions directly or forwarding to an appropriate colleague within agreed times scales.

• Develop knowledge in dangerous goods packaging (e.g. manufacturing processes) and broaden competence.

• Generate invoices to accompany certification.

To see the full role information, please see the attached Role Profile., This role is suitable for hybrid working, and therefore a combination of workplace and home-based working can be accommodated subject to business requirements. Hybrid working is a non-contractual arrangement where employees have the flexibility to work remotely combined with a minimum of 60% of their working time a month at either their principal workplace (one of the locations cited in the advert) or, when required for business reasons, visiting stakeholders and colleagues, or carrying out detached duty in another VCA workplace. There may be occasions where you are required to attend above the minimum expectation.

If you have questions regarding how hybrid working is practiced within the business area, or any reasonable adjustments or flexible working arrangements you may currently have or need in place if successful in your application, please contact the Vacancy Holder (see advert for contact details).

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.

VCA does not offer Visa sponsorship. Candidates should ensure they have the appropriate rights to work in the UK before application.

Merit List

Please note that candidates placed on the merit list will be considered for suitable positions as they arise. Being on the merit list may lead to potential opportunities beyond the role of Dangerous Goods Administrator., We will assess the following Experience indicators from your CV & personal statement so you should tailor both to clearly explain how you meet the following.

• Strong attention to detail when checking documentation and accuracy in data entry.

• Customer focused, with the ability to understand and respond to the needs and expectations of both external and internal stakeholders.

• Good IT skills including use of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, Access, Adobe Acrobat.

• Ability to deal with enquiries by establishing the background to the enquiry thereby ensuring that appropriate advice is given.

Your personal statement should be a maximum of 1,000 words and we recommend a minimum of 250 words for each of the bullet points above.

Some guidance to help you with your application can be found in the candidate pack below.

Stage 2: In-person Interview

The final stage involves an in person interview, where selected candidates will be invited to visit one of our premises.

Click play on the below video for further support for your CV, personal statement and interview.

Sift and Interview Dates

The sift is due to take place 24 – 25 February 2025.

Interviews are likely to be held from 10th March 2025. .

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.

You are encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.

The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

For further information on Success Profiles visit our Careers website.

Please note that VCA are unable to offer VISA sponsorship.

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., 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) (opens in a new window)

• 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 (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).

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 (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) 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.

• Strong attention to detail when checking documentation and accuracy in data entry.

• Good IT skills including use of Microsoft Office applications, Level 2 qualifications in Math and English, i.e. GCSE – grades 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 or grades A*, A, B, C, or equivalent., + Communicating and Influencing

• Delivering at Pace

• Making Effective Decisions

• Managing a Quality Service

Alongside your salary of £29,525, Vehicle Certification Agency contributes £8,553 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

The Vehicle Certification Agency is the designated UK Vehicle Type Approval Authority. We have over 30 years experience supporting industry by providing internationally recognised testing and certification for vehicles, their systems and components.

If you would like to read more about VCA and the benefits of working for us, visit our Careers website!

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 dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk 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 DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance., + Name : Richard Coomber

• Email : richard.coomber@vca.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk