Permanent Secretary of the United Kingdom Department for Transport, Bernadette Kelly has announced that a role for a second Permanent Secretary is to be created.
Ms Kelly (pictured) said driving the Department’s work to decarbonise all modes of transport by 2050 and coordinating its contribution to the Government’s levelling-up agenda needed a second senior official at the helm.
She said the candidate, who is to earn up to £160,000 ($A294,000) a year, would need to be a source of “leadership, coherence and strategic drive”.
The second Permanent Secretary is to help lead work on aviation, maritime, security, international transport, science and analysis and be responsible for around one-third of the Department’s staff, plus a range of arm’s-length bodies including the Civil Aviation Authority and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.
Ms Kelly, who has been in her role since 2017, acknowledged the “profound impact” of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Department’s work.
“The pandemic is an additional layer to the major strategic challenges faced by the sector,” Ms Kelly said.
“Transport is currently the biggest source of domestic UK carbon emissions,” she said.
“The Department will therefore play an essential role in leading the Government’s decarbonisation goals.”
Ms Kelly said transport was also at the heart of the Government’s ambitions for levelling up.
“Transport can play a critical role in transforming economic geography and is also a crucial lifeline for people and communities, connecting them to education, jobs and social services,” the Permanent Secretary said.
“This is also a sector which is being revolutionised by emerging technologies and business models.”
“We will play a key part in shaping that future in a way which benefits society, the economy and the environment,” Ms Kelly said.
According to the Department’s job advertisement, the second Permanent Secretary could be based in London, Leeds or Birmingham.
London, 18 October 2021
