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 of 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

The new Energy Security and Net Zero Strategy Directorate has been created to set and deliver the strategic agenda of the department, utilising energy and delivery expertise to support, challenge and deliver departmental priorities. 

The directorate works closely with senior officials, Ministers and Special Advisers to set the overall departmental strategy and ensure departmental coherence. It does this across the corporate, policy and delivery parts of the department. For example, the directorate works with the DESNZ Finance team to provide effective coordination on fiscal events and processes; runs strategic projects on cross-cutting policy issues, and; brings together and tracks the delivery of the entire energy portfolio.  

This is an exciting and varied role, leading the immediate Business Management Team and working across the directorate and beyond to direct and deliver a full range of business operation services to support the effective working of all staff in the Directorate. This post will report to the Deputy Director and will manage a team of 4-5 people delivering business and corporate support.

You will operate at the heart of Strategy, ensuring our strategic priorities are embedded into business planning and liaising with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) on matters such as change management and communications. You will lead workstreams that include finance, business planning, corporate reporting, workforce management, performance management, In Year Awards, accommodation, business continuity and other appropriate areas to ensure that the resources across the Directorate are used effectively. You will also manage the diary managers and oversee the organisation of Directorate meetings and SLT meetings.

This will involve liaising with the Director General’s office, Finance and HR Business Partners, colleagues across the group and Directorate, and others, as part of these processes. You will also play a pivotal role in making Strategy a great place to work, leading various initiatives such as our response to people/wellbeing surveys, internal comms, away days, as well as ensuring we support an agile approach to resourcing and recruitment.

The post holder may work with colleagues who are based across the country at different sites and/or who work remotely.

Person specification

• Leadership – lead the immediate Business Management Team of 4-5 people, including diary managers, ensuring all team members have clear and stretching objectives and support to deliver them

• SLT - oversee arrangements for a regular programme of meetings of the Senior Leadership Team (Deputy Directors and Director), representing business management interests in these meetings, as well as building relationships on a 1:1 basis

• Forward planning and reporting – act as a strategic function in drawing together the directorate’s asks on issues such as business planning and activities in relation to corporate reporting

• Change management/communications - maintain a role in change management and seek to drive continuous improvement and efficiency in the way we work

• Finance and Resourcing – lead function for team and collaborate with Finance Business Partners and HR Business Partners

• Recruitment and induction – advise, track and oversee recruitment across 3 DD-led teams and work closely with the Ministerial Support Unit on workforce management across the Directorate

• Reward and Recognition - develop and manage the In-Year Award process

• People Support / People Survey Lead – support the Directorate to develop a People Survey Action Plan and co-ordinate various corporate groups to enable the Directorate to flourish

• Public Sector Equality Duty – lead the group’s efforts to increase compliance with PSED

• Directorate Meetings – plan ahead to ensure engaging and informative agenda items at the fortnightly Directorate meetings

• Diary management for the Director, 4 Deputy Directors and general team administration

Skills and Experience 

We would love to hear from you if you have the following:

• Ability to work collaboratively and build strong relationships across the directorate and beyond

• Strong leadership skills, particularly the ability to inspire the team, drive progress to get things done, build resilience in yourself and others and ensure high performance

• Experience in reviewing and improving processes, and in driving performance improvements

• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work positively with and influence senior colleagues

• Strong organisational skills with the ability to monitor and manage deadlines, showing initiative and proactivity

We welcome applications from people who bring transferable skills from other fields or sectors

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £50,305, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £13,582 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 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 750 words) to set out how your skills and experience make you a good fit for this role

Applications will be sifted on CV 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 and strength based questions.

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 29/01/2024

Interview dates: w/c 05/02/2024

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.