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 its impactful. Our DESNZ 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 working 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

You will work in the Risk & Benefits team in the Implementation and Delivery Directorate, at the heart of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ). You will be responsible for ensuring accurate and timely benefits management processes are in place across the Department and its Partner Organisations (POs). 

You will be vital to DESNZ's success, by supplying regular qualitative and quantitative benefit analysis to the Executive Committee and our Project & Investment and Audit, Risk & Assurance committees, to assess the Department’s and its POs’ success in delivering DESNZ’s objectives.

The post involves leading and driving up the quality of benefit management as part of the introduction of a new portfolio management framework, so stakeholder relationships will be key.  You will collaborate with programme and portfolio leads, Analysts, and Project Delivery Business Partners to improve benefit management capability.  You will also lead on co-ordination of our Benefits Special Interest Group, where anyone across the department can come together to discuss benefit management and to help us review and improve our practices.

Our directorate has an excellent learning offer, which means that we will support you to improve your skills and to develop your career, ensuring you have the best opportunity to prosper.

The role offers the opportunity to work in DESNZ's strategic centre, to develop a wider understanding of the Department, and to influence delivery of some of Government’s most important ambitions.

Person specification

Reporting to the Departmental Benefits Manager, the two Benefit Management Leads will be responsible for:
•          Benefit Management Framework
o          Periodically reviewing the Departmental Benefits Framework and Strategy.
o          Working with stakeholders to ensure that departmental and portfolio activities are aligned to the Framework.
•          Benefit Realisation
o          Ensuring that projects, programmes and portfolios across DESNZ maintain a register of benefits, their ownership and how they will be measured.
o          Identifying and escalating benefit gaps and duplication.
•          Tools and processes
o          Provision of advice to colleagues at all levels in using departmental standards and processes
o          Providing training and support on reporting benefits in departmental systems.
o          Review benefits information in business cases as part of departmental approvals processes and ensure that those benefits flow into departmental reporting systems.
•          Reporting
o          Co-ordinate benefit reporting across the department.
o          Promoting timely, consistent and accurate data collection, analysis and reporting, and gather data and to resolve anomalies or gaps.
o          Preparation of benefit progress reports for senior boards and decision makers.
o          Providing informed insights using appropriate reporting and visualisation methods.
•          Stakeholder engagement
o          Working with colleagues in the Directorate’s Centre of Excellence and the across the Analysis Profession to ensure the standards, capabilities and processes for project and programme management align with portfolio and departmental level benefit management.
o          Co-ordinate the Benefits Management Special Interest Group, allowing benefits specialists across DESNZ to contribute to our improvement planning.

Skills and experience

Essential
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Excellent stakeholder management skills and a track record of building effective and lasting relationships with delivery leads, partners, and senior leaders.
- Ability to work across organisational boundaries, to influence others in the delivery of strategic priorities.
- Ability to analyse and manage large volumes of data and management information, to develop insights for senior, technical, and non-technical audiences at pace.
- Experience and working knowledge of benefits management and the development of business cases.

Desirable
- Experience in using Microsoft Power BI software

- We will help you achieve a relevant qualification in post if you do not have one. However, it would be an advantage if you have a recognised accreditation in professional project management such as: 
• APMG Managing Benefits Practitioner
• APM Project Management Qualification
• PRINCE 2 Practitioner
• Managing Successful Programmes Practitioner
• PMI Project Management Professional

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, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement, a technical skill and behavioural 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 describe why you are suitable for this post.

Applications will be sifted on CV, behavioural statement, technical skill and personal statement. 

In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the lead technical skill (Benefit Management). 

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, technical and strength-based questions. 

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 26/02/24

Interview dates: w/c 04/03/24

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.