About the job

Job summary

Do you want a career where you can make a real difference? Do you want to work in a government department that is at the forefront of current policy making decisions that will impact the UK and beyond? If yes then a career at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) could be for you.  

Here at DESNZ we are securing the UK’s long term energy supply, bringing down energy bills and halving inflation. We are seizing the opportunities of Net Zero to lead the world in new green industries and encouraging greater energy efficiency across the UK. The work of the department has never been more timely or relevant, and by joining us you will be part of making that difference.  
 
Our work is varied, interesting and most importantly it's impactful. Our Values are interwoven into everything we do; we are Bold, we are Collaborative, we are Inclusive and we Learn. As a department we are committed to these values to build a culture where everyone can thrive.   

We offer great work benefits including a world-class pension, flexible working options and a career where your learning and development is taken seriously. We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive. 

Find Out More 

We regularly run events where you can find out more about the department and tips for the application process. You can sign up for upcoming events here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/departmentforenergysecurityandnetzero?  

You can also follow our LinkedIn Careers Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/desnz-careers/ 

Job description

The Smart Metering Implementation Programme (SMIP) is a major delivery programme spanning Government and industry, replacing traditional gas and electricity meters with smart meters in homes and small businesses across Great Britain. Smart meters are future-proofing our energy system by moving it into the digital age, making SMIP amongst the most significant change programmes in the energy industry.

Smart meters underpin the cost-effective delivery of net zero emissions, enabling consumers to save money by using energy when renewable generation is available. They are also modernising the energy system for millions of consumers by providing information that households can use to manage their energy consumption, ending manual meter reads, reducing billing complaints and transforming the pre-payment experience.

SMIP works on an exciting and complex agenda, and we need a diverse skill set to help us deliver it. We are committed to work-life balance and flexible working.

We are looking for two adaptable and collaborative individuals to join friendly, high-performing teams within the programme.   

Role 1 - Senior Consumer Policy Advisor: This role sits in the Consumer Policy team; a team with a clear purpose to engage and communicate the benefits of smart metering to consumers who don’t yet have one, and to ensure a positive experience for those who do. We work to ensure consumers take up the offer and realise the benefits of smart meters, whilst their interests are safeguarded. To do this, we work collaboratively with other teams in the Programme and Department, as well as with a range of cross-Government and external stakeholders. We are a dedicated and friendly team that supports learning and development and wellbeing.

We are looking for a new team member who can familiarise themselves with diverse policy areas and understand how our work fits within the wider energy context. The successful candidate will be hardworking and motivated to support the delivery of key policy workstreams at a critical time in the smart metering rollout.

Role 2- Senior Priority Projects Advisor: This role is based in the Priority Projects team, a high-profile function in SMIP that supports the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and the wider programme. We lead a varied portfolio of important medium and long-term projects, respond to emerging and strategic issues, and support teams facing short-term pressures. It is a highly visible function, centrally placed within the Programme’s Strategy and Business Management team, which reports directly to the Programme Director and Senior Responsible Owner (SRO). In the medium-long term, the candidate will deliver strategic projects across the Programme and support SLT with emerging issues and challenges.

In the short-medium term, the post-holder will focus on the policy and implementation of Smart Meter-Enabled Thermal Efficiency Ratings (SMETER) as part of a small team which will be supported by industry specialists. SMETER is an emerging innovative technology that uses smart meter and other data to understand the thermal performance of homes (for example, the rate of heat loss). There are many exciting applications of this technology, which has the potential to transform consumer engagement, investment in energy efficiency and delivery of net zero in housing. SMETER is already being piloted to support heat pump deployment, unlock green finance and drive good outcomes from investment in retrofit.

Person specification

Role 1 - Senior Consumer Policy Advisor:

• Work with heads of team and other policy colleagues to develop policy on consumer engagement and protections, particularly for vulnerable consumers and people who prepay for their energy. These consumers can experience greater barriers to realising the benefits of smart metering.
• Lead a workstream in a cross-cutting SMIP project team, responsible for overcoming barriers to smart meter installation in London and building relationships with London Local Authorities.
• Build strong relationships with key internal and external stakeholders and support engagement with them, particularly with Smart Energy GB – the independent, industry-funded, not-for-profit body responsible for the national smart metering campaign.
• Line manage one Higher Executive Officer (HEO) in the Consumer Policy team.

Role 2 - Senior Priority Projects Advisor (SMETER):

• Work with heads of team and other policy colleagues to design and deliver a new SMETER implementation project, and support the policy design and implementation of real-world applications of SMETER.
• Build strong relationships with key internal and external stakeholders and support engagement with them, including experts and teams across DESNZ and Whitehall.
• Manage (with Grade 6 oversight) relationships with industry specialists to ensure successful delivery of project goals.
• In the medium-long term, deliver a varied portfolio of strategic projects across the Programme and support SLT with emerging issues and challenges.
• Line manage one Higher Executive Officer (HEO) who will be working across the Programme.

Skills and experience:

• Experience in developing proposals, assessing options, interpreting data and evidence, and demonstrating good judgement and evidence-based decision making.
• A track record of working collaboratively, driving progress in the face of a range of diverse viewpoints.
• Strong communication (oral and written), interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to distil and clearly communicate complex issues.
• Ability to think strategically and understand how external influences can impact the policy direction and delivery of the programme.
• Ability to work at pace, effectively managing competing priorities.
• Highly developed organisational skills and an ability to develop plans and see them through to delivery and completion.
• Flexible and capable of adapting approaches to meet wide-ranging needs in line with business requirements.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,470, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £10,116 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to set out the skills and experience which make you suitable for these roles.

Please note - the CV incorporated into the application form is for information purposes only and will not be scored.

Applications will be sifted on behavioural statements and personal statement.

In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the personal statement. 

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

The interview will consist of behaviour questions 

Interviewees will be asked to deliver a presentation; further details will be provided nearer the time. 

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 8th April 2024

Interview dates: w/c 29th April 2024

Interview Location: MS Teams.

Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

Further Information

Reasonable Adjustment

We are proud to be a disability confident leader and we welcome applications from disabled candidates and candidates with long-term conditions.

We fully support adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we encourage candidates to discuss their adjustment needs by emailing the job contact which can be found under the contact point for applicants section.

We do not have an exhaustive list of adjustments that we support but just some examples include additional time to complete your application form, behaviour questions up to 72 hours prior to interview and having extra time at interview. 

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

A location based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Any move to the Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero  from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

DESNZ does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home). 

DESNZ cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. DESNZ holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service/Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading. 

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk 

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.