Senior Policy Adviser, Road Safety Data

Can you lead complex digital projects, manage stakeholders, and deliver data-led policy to improve road safety outcomes?Do you communicate complex issues clearly, work collaboratively at pace, and adapt to emerging technologies and changing priorities?

If so, we'd love to hear from you!

The Road Safety Division in the Department for Transport is an exciting, fast-paced environment where your work directly contributes to reducing casualties on our roads. In January 2026, we published a new Road Safety Strategy - the first in over a decade - underpinned by the Safe System approach. This recognises that while human error occurs, collisions are not inevitable but preventable, and focuses on delivering evidence-based interventions to improve safety for all road users.

The Road Safety Data team plays a vital enabling role across the division, supporting Safer Road Users and Safer Roads and Speeds through the provision of high-quality, rich, and linked data. This evidence base underpins decision-making and delivery of key commitments within the strategy, including developing a data-led Road Safety Investigation Branch and innovative data applications, while working collaboratively to deliver wider ministerial priorities.

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 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 Df

Tc Policy

Policy opportunities at the Department for Transport - Department for Transport Careers

This role supports the team delivery of the Forensic Collision Investigation Application (FCIA) project and road safety data programme. The successful applicant for this job will support the accompanying consultation and research programme that will underpin the development and setting up of the Road Safety Investigation Branch.

This is an exciting opportunity to be at the forefront of road safety in the UK. You will play a key role in shaping the future of emerging road safety data policies and delivering projects that make a real-world impact. If you are motivated by challenge, enjoy working collaboratively across teams and sectors, and want to contribute to high-profile, high-impact programmes, this role offers the chance to support our vision for a safer future on our roads for all.

You will be the lead for the Data Policy. This means taking forward the multi-million-pound digital project focused on delivering the end-to-end system, leading the relevant work packages to deliver the policy, owning correspondence, and briefing senior officials and Ministers. This is a great opportunity to develop your overall leadership skills.

Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to

• Owning the running and delivery of the different phases of the Road Safety data programme digital projects such as the FCIA, by setting clear policy intent and delivery objectives, overseeing progress against agreed milestones, managing risks and dependencies, and working closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure solutions meet user needs, policy requirements and statutory obligations. This may include a level of contract management in the future.
• Leading the identification and articulation of the expected data and information requirements across the road safety data programme, working cross‑functionally with policy, digital, analytical and operational teams.
• Support the Team Leader in working with analytical colleagues on the business cases, research projects, including those which have already been commissioned and those still in the planning stages. Work with the contractors who are leading each piece of research to ensure robust delivery, including financial reporting. These pieces of research will be the underpinning evidence to support the business cases for further funding under future Spending Reviews.
• Draft and analyse policy options to establish well evidenced, legally sound and reasoned policy positions. Briefing Ministers and senior officials, parliamentary committees, press office etc. Excellent drafting skills will be required to ensure that information provided is appropriate, accurate and timely– explaining complex issues in digestible formats.
• Understanding the emerging trends for road safety casualties and work with the Team Leader to scope out potential road safety data use cases according to the Safe System principles. Working on scoping and preparing for future road safety data work as appropriate.
• Providing secretariat support across all areas of the road safety data programme.

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.

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