About the job

Job summary

Energy policy is something that touches on every aspect of our lives – at home, at work and at play. Energy fuels our society and our economy. That’s why our policy work is so important, and so rewarding. It protects consumers. It enables businesses. It influences the entire energy industry. And it helps to bring about the seismic societal and infrastructure changes that will be the foundations for a Net Zero future.

Such challenging times require bold action. We are looking for dynamic leaders to meet the challenges we face head-on, and help us deliver a greener, fairer energy system: a market where consumers get the quality and standards they expect, delivers fair prices, is resilient to external shocks, and attracts investment to enable innovative customer propositions that enable the net-zero transition.

Ofgem has a culture of inclusion that encourages, supports, and celebrates the diverse voices of our colleagues. It fuels our innovation and connects us closer to the consumers and the communities we serve. Everyone is welcome - as an inclusive workplace, our employees are comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work – and our leaders model exceptional leadership and inclusion behaviours, and create a high-performing, inclusive culture. 

Job description

Key Responsibilities Outputs and Deliverables

 As an advisor to the Authority, you will support and advise the Board and the Chair in order to lead a complex strategy, hold executives to account, successfully dealing with current and future challenges relating to:

• The rise in global gas prices and subsequent impact on consumers;
• Restoring resilience in the retail gas and electricity markets;
• Supporting continued security of supply;
• Maintaining progress to net zero;
• Responding to rapid change in the electricity market, allowing the emergence of smart, decentralised technologies;
• Implementing plans for a future system operator; and
• New responsibilities for Ofgem, including the regulation of heat networks and CO2 transport and storage, subject to Parliamentary approval.

Key Stakeholder Relationships

• Chair, non-executive directors, and Chief Executive
• Director Generals, regulatory Directors and their teams
• General Counsel, Governance and Secretariat team

 

Person specification

Essential Criteria  

• Knowledge and practical experience of capital projects and technology development and deployment across systems and networks in the regulated gas or electricity sector.
• Experience with developing system and network strategies in practice, enabling secure and cost-effective energy systems that meet net zero targets.
• Experience of operating private gas or electricity companies within UK regulation and policy.
• A senior advisor – significant experience of working at Board level and with senior officials, making a positive impact with a range of senior stakeholders both internally and externally, adopting an open approach and unafraid to make decisions when necessary.  
• Commercially minded - professional and expert knowledge and experience that evidence an understanding of regulation and customer priorities within a commercial organisation.    

Desirable Criteria       

• Relevant professional background, experience, and qualifications in engineering or capital project development, construction, and operation

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £20,000, OFGEM contributes £5,400 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

Weekly sift of candidates.

Interview with panel if an application received is reviewed and meets the required criteria.

This role is a temporary/fixed term position. We will be reviewing applications on a weekly basis, and providing updates to successful candidates on an on going basis. 

This advert may be removed early, on appointment of a successful candidate. 

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.