About the job

Job summary

Deputy Director - Energy Security

This position has responsibility for the overall system-wide view of energy security of supply - considering the risks to supply both now and in the future and co-ordinating the appropriate response both within government and with the key industry players.

Energy security of supply is one of the Department's top objectives and has significant attention from Ministers and other departments, including No10, Cabinet Office and HM Treasury.  You will work with other officials and industry partners to monitor and assess energy security of supply both in the near term and in the long term and advise the Secretary of State on the risks and appropriate action to maintain security of supply at all times.  This can include risks due to geopolitical events, infrastructure failures, extreme weather, or market dynamics.

This role also includes direct responsibility for short term gas supply - which remains critical for the energy security needs of the country today - working closely with the Deputy Director for Gas Systems, Networks and Markets.

This post is one of five Deputy Director positions in the Energy Security and Resilience (ESR) directorate, working alongside those responsible for the gas system, energy security analysis, resilience and crisis response, and national security issues.

Deputy Director Gas Systems, Networks and Markets

This position has overall responsibility for onshore natural gas in the UK - including the transmission and distribution networks, gas storage, regulation and markets.  Natural gas remains one of the largest components of the current energy mix ensuring energy security by providing heat, a large proportion of electricity generation, and industrial uses within and across the UK.  Natural gas will remain a key part of the energy system for decades to come as we work towards net zero.

As well as day-to-day policy ownership of the onshore natural gas system, this role is responsible for leading a major programme of work to map the future of gas in the UK.  This involves understanding the changing level and patterns of supply and demand for gas over the coming decades; working through what this means for key components of gas infrastructure networks including storage, interconnectors, liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports, and the transmission and distribution networks; and mapping out necessary changes required to policy, regulatory or legislative frameworks.

Job description

As Deputy Director Energy Security, your responsibilities will include:

• Leadership of a team of c.30 staff with a mix of policy, analytical and project management skills, deploying situational leadership to get the best out of the team, ensuring they focus their skills and effort where they will have the most impact.
• Monitoring near term energy security of supply for the weeks and season ahead, working closely with the gas and electricity system operators, Ofgem, and the Met Office to ensure we have the best in class information and data on supply to support decision making across Government.
• Assessing the risks to security of supply for the forthcoming year, considering wider market dynamics and trends, imports, the level of gas storage, and infrastructure availability, to provide an evaluation of energy security of supply for the next winter season.
• Considering short-term policy interventions across supply and demand as required to manage any risks to security of supply, and advising the Secretary of State as required.
• Building a strong strategic view of, and framework to guide, energy security of supply over the medium and long term as the energy system goes through an extraordinary transition to net zero - understanding the energy mix and interactions between different sources of supply, and advising on managing any risks during the transition, and that the future energy system provides energy security.
• Working as part of a senior leadership team to oversee the entire directorate of over 100 staff, bringing together the five divisions to ensure they all work together well and as part of a single mission to ensure the security and resilience of the energy system now and in the future.

 As Deputy Director Gas Systems, Networks and Markets, your responsibilities will include: 

• Leadership of a team of c.30 staff with a mix of policy, analytical and project management skills, deploying situational leadership to get the best out of the team, ensuring they focus their skills and effort where they will have the most impact.
• Day to day policy responsibility for the onshore gas system, responding to all related policy matters and advising the Secretary of State as required on all onshore natural gas issues.
• Leadership and delivery of the future of gas programme, including:
• Developing a clear gas pathway from today to 2050 and beyond, ensuring we have the best possible understanding of the changing pattern and level of supply and demand and assumptions underlying those pathways.
• Developing a clear government position on the future onshore gas infrastructure needs of the UK, including the transmission system, distribution networks, gas storage, LNG import infrastructure, and gas interconnectors - including maintenance, investment, repurposing to new gases etc.
• Developing and then delivering a clear set of recommendations on necessary changes to policy, regulation or legislative frameworks that may be required to support the future gas network.
• Engaging with industry and external stakeholders on this issue, gathering the widest set of views and evidence to inform the debate and ensure a shared view of the future wherever possible.
• Working as part of a senior leadership team to oversee the entire directorate of over 100 staff, bringing together the five divisions to ensure they all work together well and as part of a single mission to ensure the security and resilience of the energy system now and in the future.

Person specification

It is essential in your application you provide evidence and proven examples in each of the following selection criteria below:

Essential criteria:

• Strategic thinking - the ability to think big, grasp a very large agenda that is national in scale and set a strategic direction of travel that is bold and ambitious but alive to the risks.
• Delivering results - the ability to follow-through on strategic intent and use the resources available to deliver tangible results to a high standard and at pace.
• Communicating effectively - the ability to build trusting and collaborative relationships with others, underpinned by clear and effective communication that can distil complexity into key points.
• Inspiring leadership - the ability to lead others and not only set direction but inspire people to want to work together as a high performing and happy team to deliver results.

 Desirable criteria:

•  A background in energy policy or markets would be helpful but not essential.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £75,000, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £20,250 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.

To apply for this post please follow the instructions on the CS Jobs website by no later than 23:55 on 27th March 2024. As part of the application process you are asked to complete the following:

1. A CV setting out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role, relevant achievements in recent posts, together with reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
2. A Statement of Suitability (no more than 1250 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification.
3. Shortlisted candidates may be invited to undertake a series of psychometric assessments including a Staff Engagement Exercise (SEE) as part of the recruitment process prior to the final interview. This assessment will not result in a ‘pass’ or ‘fail’ decision. Rather it is designed to support the panels decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview. 
4. Final Interview which may include a presentation exercise.

Shortlisted candidates may also have the opportunity to speak to a senior leader within the hiring department prior to final interview to learn more about the role and organisation. Please note, this is not part of the formal assessment process. 

For further information on the application process and an overview on what to expect, please visit the Civil Service Careers website.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). 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.