About the Department for Transport
We work with our agencies and partners to support the transport network that helps the UK’s businesses and gets people and goods travelling around the country. We plan and invest in transport infrastructure to keep the UK on the move and work to improve the passenger experience for the country. DfT’s business covers all modes of transport – roads, rail, air, and sea.
With our partners and agencies, our work affects everyone in the country. Our purpose is to ensure that the UK has a safe, secure, efficient and reliable transport system that works for the people who depend on it; supporting a strong, productive economy and the jobs and homes people need.
- providing policy, guidance, and funding to English local authorities to help them run and maintain their road networks, improve passenger, and freight travel, and develop new major transport schemes.
- investing in, maintaining, and operating around 4,300 miles of the motorway and trunk road network in England through Highways England
- setting the strategic direction for the rail industry in England and Wales – funding investment in infrastructure through Network Rail, awarding and managing rail franchises, and regulating rail fares
- improving English bus services through funding and regulation
- working to make our roads less congested and polluted by promoting lower carbon transport, including cycling and walking.
- encouraging the use of new technology such as smart ticketing and low carbon vehicles.
- maintaining high standards of safety and security in transport.
- supporting the maritime sector by producing the overall strategy and planning policy for ports in England and Wales
- setting national aviation policy, working with airlines, airports, the Civil Aviation Authority and NATS (the UK’s air traffic service).
- grow the economy by enhancing the transport network, on time and on budget.
- improve transport users’ experience, ensuring that the network is safe, reliable, and inclusive.
- reduce environmental impacts by tackling climate change and improving air quality by decarbonising transport.
Welcome Note from Mark Harper, Secretary of State for Transport
Thank you for your interest in the Non-Executive Board Member (NEBM) roles for the Department for Transport (DfT).
This is an important time for the DfT. We are investing heavily in infrastructure and public transport to improve journeys, boost connections, level up the country and support economic growth. Central to our mission is delivering transport that works for everyone in our society.
Last year, we announced Network North, a new £36 billion plan to improve our country’s transport which will see the funding used to change our approach to transport infrastructure. In line with the three priorities set out in the announcement, you will play a part in driving better connectivity within our towns, suburbs, and cities, drive better connectivity between our towns and cities and improve everyday local journeys for people.
We are now recruiting for two NEBMs to join our team on the Board of the department. These two roles demonstrate the breadth of the Board’s oversight of the department’s work. One role focuses on innovation and science to help the department meet its climate commitments, and the other role focuses on ensuring the department meets its corporate governance requirements.
We strongly welcome applications from all backgrounds. As part of the Department’s commitment to diversity, we believe our public appointments should reflect our customers - the travelling public – who come from all walks of life and have different experiences.
We very much welcome fresh talent, expertise, and perspectives, to help us better understand the needs of the communities we serve and support better decision making for all. This includes people who may have never applied for a public appointment – but could bring new ideas, insights, and energy.
If you are interested in the role and work of DfT, I would like to encourage you to apply.
Our dedicated DfT Public Appointments Team would be happy to talk through the process and answer your questions.
Secretary of State for Transport
Non-Executive Board Member (NEBM)
The Department is seeking two NEBMs to join its Board. One role will be audit and financed based, as the successful candidate will also chair the department’s Group Audit and Risk Assurance Committee as part of their role, with the other role being focused on science and innovation. The successful candidates, through their membership of the Board, will also provide challenge ad support to a wide variety of management and operational issues and contribute to the effective strategic and operational leadership.
As a NEBM your key responsibilities will be to:
Along with the responsibilities above, each role will have specific requirements set out in the essential criteria, and you will need to specify which role you are applying for in the application.
This post is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. For more information, please refer to the
Commissioner’s website