Dangerous Goods Consultant
Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA)
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Job Title: Dangerous Goods Consultant
Reference Number: 349264
Salary: £35,663 - £38,844
Contract Type: Permanent
Location: Leatherhead
Working Pattern: Flexible working, Full-time
Closing Date: 11:55pm Monday 17 June 2024

Job Summary

We welcome applications from every part of the community, and we don’t discriminate against any gender identity. We’re especially interested to hear from underrepresented groups in the DfT such as gender diverse, ethnic minority, LGBT+ and disabled candidates.

Do you have a keen eye for detail and take pride in your level of accuracy?

Would you embrace the opportunity to enhance public safety through effective regulation of transporting dangerous goods?

If so, we have an opportunity available within the Dangerous Goods Office and would love to hear from you!

Job Description

The primary responsibility of the Dangerous Goods (DG) Consultant is to assess applications for UN packaging approval and come to a decision. This involves liaising with customers and test stations and reviewing test reports to verify compliance with the regulations.

The DG consultant is responsible for responding to applications in a timely manner and meeting key performance indicators. To aid in this, the role includes line management responsibility over one EO (Executive Officer), who will provide administrative support.

A typical week will involve responding to customer enquiries, ensuring that all questions and concerns are addressed promptly and accurately. Another important task is to provide the Department for Transport (DfT) with expertise in relation to the dangerous goods regulations - for example the potential impact of a change to the packaging requirements.

This role also includes routine visits to drum reconditioner sites to assess operations and provide necessary guidance. In this role a keen attention to detail is essential. Excellent organisation skills are also necessary, as multiple tasks and projects will need to be managed simultaneously. The role demands a strong customer focus to ensure all customer requirements are addressed promptly and accurately.

The dangerous goods office is currently undergoing a digitalisation process as part of a VCA-wide digital transformation programme. The VCA has invested heavily to improve work processes and increase efficiency. The postholder will be expected to engage with this programme and will have the chance to influence the way in which the Dangerous Goods Office operates going forwards.

Where the job sits within the Agency

Dangerous goods are vital to many sectors, such as construction, energy supply, food production, defence, information technology, and the healthcare. Through effective regulation, the Department for Transport (DfT) seeks to minimise the risks in transporting dangerous goods by ensuring they are transported in a way that protects the population and the environment.

The VCA Dangerous Goods Office (DGO), an executive agency of DfT, is responsible for approving containment systems, ensuring they conform to regulations and are suitable for the safe carriage of dangerous goods. These can range in size from small packaging (boxes, jerrycans, drums etc.), aerosols and gas cylinders through to road tankers and globally used tank containers all come under this remit. Some of the approval streams are issued in-house and others by bodies deemed suitable to undertake test and inspection, for example, of larger tanks and pressure receptacles. Our work includes the assessment, appointment and supervision of suitable inspection and test bodies and providing a central database for the certification of packaging and tanks respectively.

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

Person specification

About You

Please find below a list of experience relevant to the role, Candidates will be expected to demonstrate their suitability against these in their application and during the assessment:

• Experience of either dangerous goods regulations or packaging, and/or familiarity with legislation.
• The ability to absorb and retain significant amounts of regulatory and technical detail if not already familiar with dangerous goods regulations and/or packaging.
• Experience of target driven front-line management and working to deadlines, in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong attention to detail when checking documentation and accuracy in data entry.
• Ability to deal with enquiries by establishing the background to the enquiry thereby ensuring that appropriate advice is given.
• Customer focused, with the ability to understand and respond to the needs and expectations of both external and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to network showing good communication skills with a good telephone and email manner.
• Good IT skills – Microsoft Word, Adobe, Excel, Outlook, Teams, Access, Adobe

Additional Information

A minimum of 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace.

Qualifications

Qualified Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor, or willingness to undertake training and examination

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

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!

Closing date: Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 17 June 2024.

Contact point for applicants

Ziyad Akhlaq, ziyad.akhlaq@vca.gov.uk

Recruitment team, DFTrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

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