Senior Policy Advisor - SAF Mandate

Are you passionate about decarbonisation and would you like to be part of the journey to net zero?

Do you have an interest or background in STEM?

Can you interpret technical content and effectively communicate complex issues in clear and concise manner?

If so, wed love to hear from you!

DfT is a high-profile department at the heart of UK government. We work with agencies and partners to support the transport network that helps businesses and gets people and goods travelling around the country. We plan and invest to make journeys better.

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 and a privilege day for the Kings 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 DfTc Policy

Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is a drop-in fuel that can significantly reduce emissions and is considered a key technology for reaching net zero aviation by 2050. The UK is focused on supporting the production, development and use of SAF to secure emissions reductions and capitalise on economic benefits by developing a UK SAF industry. The SAF Mandate entered into force in January 2025 and is the UKs key policy for decarbonising jet fuel. It does this by setting regulated demand for SAF in the UK and reducing the emissions of UK jet fuel.

This post creates additional capacity in our SAF Mandate policy team. As SAF plant designs become increasingly complex, it is important that regulation maintains robust sustainability credentials, provides clear accounting rules and encourages the supply of SAF to the UK market. The post will focus on technical policy elements of the SAF Mandate including sustainability criteria, greenhouse gas methodology and interactions with other decarbonisation policies such as low carbon hydrogen production.

Your responsibilities will include, but not limited to:

• Providing evidence-based advice on range of technical topics related to the SAF Mandate such as feedstock eligibility and assessment process, accounting of carbon capture and storage, and the reward level of fuels.
• Working closely with the administrative unit by to address complex queries from SAF stakeholders in a timely manner.
• Commissioning and overseeing expert internal and external advice including legal and analytical as necessary.
• Build strong relationships with a range of stakeholders including representing the team in engagement and seminars across industry and environmental interests.

Flexible resourcing

Colleagues are expected to work with a degree of flexibility, meaning responsibilities may change to support priority delivery.

For further information on the role, please read the role profile which 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.

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

• Developing low carbon fuel or other energy/carbon policies or strategies
• Developing, understanding and applying technical concepts and proposals
• Working with numbers and interpreting outputs from economic analysis

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 least 22 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.

Regular travel to other offices will be required, which may involve overnight stays.

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

Sponsorship is not offered for this role. Successful applicants must ensure they have and maintain the legal right to live and work in the United Kingdom.