Driving Examiner

Job summary

Do you drive safely and know the Highway Code?

Do you enjoy working with others and helping customers?

Can you do more than one task at a time and stay calm?

Can you notice key details and record them accurately?

Can you give feedback clearly and sensitively?

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 Working for the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency , Civil Service Careers

Job description

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is looking for people to join our team as Driving Examiners. This vital public service role plays an important part in keeping Britain’s roads safe, as well as connecting people and their communities.

As a Driving Examiner, you will be part of a team at a DVSA driving test centre, working with colleagues to provide a professional service to customers. You will spend your day conducting driving tests; each test is approximately 57 minutes long and Examiners working full-time are expected to complete 7 tests a day. During the tests you will need to observe carefully, recall key details accurately and report your findings clearly. You will need to be able to:

• Communicate clearly with customers, giving clear instructions.
• Put nervous customers at ease.
• Keep yourself, the customer, and other members of the public safe.
• Have a strong awareness of your surroundings both within and outside of the car.
• Observe driving behaviours, recall key details and record outcomes accurately using a digital tablet.
• Assess whether customers meet the standard to drive safely and responsibly.
• Hold difficult conversations with the customer and deliver driving test outcomes sensitively, clearly, and professionally.

As well as carrying out driving tests, you will work with colleagues to plan the day, discuss local traffic conditions and agree alternative routes when needed. You will also help improve the service for customers by sharing ideas, responding to queries and completing light administrative tasks, such as recording candidate feedback and checking your schedule.

At all times, our Driving Examiners uphold impartiality, professionalism, and integrity, and act as a role model for the DVSA and Civil Service.

For further information on the role, please read the attached 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.

Want to know more? Check out our careers site: DVSA – Driving Examiner , Civil Service Careers

Person specification

We are looking for individuals who:

• Are aged 23 or over (a requirement of the 3rd EU Driving Licence Directive - Directive 006/126)
• Have held a full manual UK or EU driving licence continuously for the last 3 years
• Have no more than 3 penalty points on their licence at time of application
• Understand and can demonstrate what safe driving looks like (you don't need a background in driver training or a driving-related profession)
• Are resilient and remain calm and composed in stressful situations
• Can efficiently manage multiple tasks simultaneously
• Have strong observation, recall and reporting skills, with excellent attention to detail
• Have excellent communication skills, with the ability to give clear instructions, hold difficult conversations, and deliver messages sensitively
• Can adapt their style to a diverse range of customers to ensure that every driver feels respected
• Make fair, impartial, evidence-based decisions
• Uphold high standards of professionalism and integrity
• Are willing to travel to various test centres as required

Training

After the recruitment process is complete successful candidates will start a 6-week Driving Examiner training programme. This will equip you with everything that you need to know for the role.

All Driving Examiners must pass this training programme. It is comprehensive and fast-paced so before you apply, please ensure that you are ready and willing to undertake the 6-week full-time training programme. Driving Examiners can work a range of work patterns but the training is delivered on a full-time basis to allow you the necessary time to learn the skills for the role.

Week 1: At your designated test centre.

Weeks 2 - 6: Driving test control & assessment training at a regional training facility. This may be residential, with expenses covered by DVSA.

For external candidates please note If you do not successfully complete the training programme, your employment with DVSA will be terminated.

Existing Civil Servants can be appointed on inward loan subject to the terms of a short-term loan agreement for which your home department will be liable for salary costs for the duration of the training course. If you successfully complete the training, you will be transferred permanently to DVSA, but if you are unsuccessful, you will not be able to take up employment with DVSA and will return to your previous department. Please ensure that you discuss and agree this with your current department before accepting a post.

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements

Full-time Driving Examiners work 37 hours a week over seven days. One weekend day is required to be worked each month, but you’ll get a weekday off each time one is scheduled.

This role is not suitable for hybrid working and will require the successful candidate to work solely from a DVSA driving test centre.

If you have a question about working patterns, part time hours, flexible working, travelling for work, or require a reasonable adjustment, please contact the Vacancy Holder (DVSA email address at the bottom of the advert) 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

Please note that we do not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker Licence sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. Candidates must ensure they have the appropriate rights to work in the UK before application.

Licences

You must have held a full manual UK or EU driving licence continuously for the last 3 years.
You’ll also need to have no more than 3 penalty points on your licence at time of application.

Behaviours

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

• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Making Effective Decisions

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