Inward Investment Lead, Birmingham

About the job

Job summary

Would you like to play a pivotal role in supporting the Department for Transport's priority outcome on boosting economic growth?

Do you excel in communicating with clarity and influence, building strong relationships across departments, industry, and international partners?

Are you motivated by tackling complex policy and investment challenges, using evidence and insight to shape high‑impact options?

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

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 DfT.

Job description

Join the Department for Transport's Trade and Investment Division, where you will help shape a compelling narrative around private investment in UK transport. Working with ministers, senior leaders and partners across government and industry, you will promote a clear pipeline of opportunities and position DfT as an informed, influential partner. Collaborating widely, you will help remove barriers to investment, enabling timely, evidence‑based decisions that maximise the UK's transport and infrastructure potential.

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

1. Lead the development of a compelling inward investment policy and narrative for DfT, using evidence, insight and cross‑government engagement to shape clear strategic direction.
2. Manage and prioritise a high‑value pipeline of investment opportunities, ensuring propositions are well‑evidenced, strategically aligned and tailored for private investors across the UK transport and infrastructure sector.
3. Oversee the development of an investor intelligence hub for the Department, creating a single, authoritative source of insight on investor priorities, market trends and engagement history to strengthen decision‑making and investment propositions.
4. Design and deliver impactful ministerial engagement plans at major trade and investment events, developing clear options and recommendations that maximise exposure and opportunity for UK transport investment.
5. Drive high‑quality collaboration with DBT, OfI, FCDO and DfT policy teams, ensuring coherent, joined-up delivery and shared ownership of investment priorities through the Transport Trade Taskforce.
6. Horizon‑scan emerging investment trends and gaps, enhancing departmental awareness of opportunities aligned with UK supply chain needs.
7. Task manage two SEOs, setting clear expectations, fostering team cohesion, and supporting professional growth.

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

Required Experience

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

1. Proven ability to build trusted, influential and productive relationships with senior leaders and cross‑government stakeholders, enabling coherent and timely decision‑making.
2. Experience presenting clear, evidence‑based options and recommendations to senior officials and ministers, drawing on detailed research, analysis and stakeholder insight.
3. Experience engaging with private‑sector partners (or similar commercial environments), with a strong understanding of commercial drivers, investor priorities and market dynamics.

Additional Information

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 least30hours per week.

This roleis suitablefor 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 of60%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.

Occasional travel to other offices will be required, which may involve overnight stays. There may be some scope for wider UK and international travel.

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

DfTc does not offer Visa Sponsorship for this role.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions

Benefits

Alongside your salary of£57,515, Department for Transport 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.

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 here
• 25 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.

How to Apply:

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 (max 750 words). Please provide evidence of your Experience of the following:

1. 1. Proven ability to build trusted, influential and productive relationships with senior leaders and cross‑government stakeholders, enabling coherent and timely decision‑making.
   2. Experience presenting clear, evidence‑based options and recommendations to senior officials and ministers, drawing on detailed research, analysis and stakeholder insight.
   3. Experience engaging with private‑sector partners (or similar commercial environments), with a strong understanding of commercial drivers, investor priorities and market dynamics.

The sift will take place week commencing 15th June 2026.

Stage 2: Interview

At interview stage, you will be assessed against the following Success Profile elements:

• Behaviours - Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together and Making Effective Decisions
• Strengths

You will also be required to create and deliver a presentatio …