Head of OTC - Licencing and Compliance

Can you lead high-performing teams across multiple locations while delivering excellent operational services and regulatory outcomes?
Have you successfully engaged senior stakeholders, driven performance against challenging targets and implemented change in complex environments?
Are you an inspiring leader with strong strategic thinking, excellent communication skills and a passion for delivering public service?
If so, we'd love to hear from you!
The Office of the Traffic Commissioner (OTC) supports the Traffic Commissioners and the Northern Ireland Transport Regulator Unit in regulating and licensing commercial vehicle operators across Great Britain. This is a high-profile leadership opportunity to lead compliance and licensing operations, shape strategic direction and work closely with senior stakeholders across the Department for Transport, DVSA and industry partners to deliver effective regulation and outstanding customer service.
Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here25 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 birthdayFlexible 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 DVSA., This is a senior leadership role responsible for leading compliance and operator licensing services across the Office of the Traffic Commissioner. You will provide strategic leadership to geographically dispersed teams, ensuring high-quality regulatory and licensing services are delivered efficiently and in accordance with legislation, policy and service standards. Working closely with Traffic Commissioners, DVSA and DfT stakeholders, you will influence strategic direction and drive operational excellence.
Your responsibilities will include, but aren't limited to: Leading the delivery of all compliance and licensing operations, achieving measured Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Execute management responsibilities effectively, working with, leading, and acting as a role model for team members and colleagues, ensuring capabilities to achieve successful delivery of business performance whilst maximising the efficiency and effectiveness of the financial resources delegated in line with the Civil Service values. Monitoring and interpreting management information in order to direct resource and effort towards the achievement of goals and customer requirements. Support the COO on the implementation of changes across the offices arising from various initiatives from DfT and DVSA. Attend TC board, TC business meetings, liaison groups and legal forums, with DfT and Senior Traffic Commissioner (STC) as required Building and maintaining effective internal and
external relationships with stakeholders within DVSA, the industry and central / local government, public bodies to achieve DVSA and the traffic commissioners' strategic objectives and business plan deliverables. Be visible, carrying out regular attendance across the whole OTC estate.Great line management is important to us as an organisation, and we will equip and support line managers to develop the skills set out in the Civil Service Line Management Standards.
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
To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:Experience of working as part of, and leading, geographically dispersed teams and an understanding of the effect this has on management of such teamsExperience of delivering against key targets and customer service standards, increasing efficiency, and driving value for moneyExperience of policy development and implementationExperience of communicating and working with a range of senior stakeholders, using effective methods to keep stakeholders engaged throughoutExperience and understanding of the function of courts and tribunals, and the application of legal principles and processAdditional Information
Operational Delivery Profession (ODP) is the largest and most diverse professional community across the Civil Service. Many of us will have an association with several professional communities or specialisms, ODP applies to all public facing roles / or a role that is primarily aligned to supporting the work of those with public facing roles. All critical to the delivery of UK public services.
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.
Significant travel and overnight stays across the rest of the UK expected.
Work outside core hours when required.
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).
Visa Sponsorship
Please note that we do not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker Licence sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. Candidates must ensure they have the appropriate rights to work in the UK before application.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:LeadershipChanging and ImprovingCommunicating and InfluencingBenefits
Alongside your salary of £57,515, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency contributes£16,662 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).
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 here25 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 (opens in a
new window).
Things you need to know
Artificial intelligence
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 candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
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
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: Experience of working as part of, and leading, geographically dispersed teams and an understanding of the effect this has on management of such teams.Experience of delivering against key targets and customer service standards, increasing efficiency and driving value for money.Experience of communicating and working with a range of senior stakeholders, using effective methods to keep stakeholders engaged throughout.The sift will take place week commencing 17th August 2026.
Stage 2: Interview
At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:Behaviours - Leadership, Changing and Improving and Communicating and Influencing.ExperienceStrengthsThe interviews will take place week commencing 31st August 2026.
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 (opens in a new window).
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
We will also hold a 12-month reserve list for this role, which may lead to potential opportunities beyond the role you applied for.
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
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 are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert or the information on our website, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
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.
Current Civil Servants (all contract types) will need to ensure that they are still employed as a civil servant at the point of starting in the relevant new post. If their contract ends (e.g. end of FTA contract or resignation) at any point during the recruitment/onboarding process for the advertised role, they will no longer be eligible and may be withdrawn.
If your application is successful but you have been dismissed from the Civil Service, your application could be removed at the pre-employment checking stage depending on the nature of the dismissal.
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.
All external applicants and current employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) will be required to undergo a Social Media Check. A Social Media Check is a review of your publicly available online activity, typically across platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and others. The purpose is to identify any public posts or content that could raise concerns for employers, such as:Hate speech or discriminatory behaviourThreats or acts of violenceIllegal activity or substance misuseSexually explicit materialExtremist views or affiliationsImportantly, this check does not involve hacking into your accounts or accessing private messages. It only considers content you have chosen to make public. Employers use this kind of screening to help ensure their workplace remains safe, inclusive, and aligned with company values. It's not about judging your personality or lifestyle - it's about checking for potential red flags that
might affect the role or company culture. If you have questions or concerns about the social media check, we would be happy to explain in more detail what's being looked at and how your data is handled securely and fairly.
Feedback
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 nationalsnationals of the Republic of Irelandnationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UKnationals 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 2020Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil ServiceFurther 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 theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window)and theCivil 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.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :Name : Peter HearnEmail : #####Recruitment teamEmail : #####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