About the job

Job summary

We are looking for a bold, collaborative, and inclusive leader to provide strategic direction to both the Department’s governance framework, as well as the engagement model for its Partner Organisations. 

The postholder will lead a newly established, high-profile division which sits at the centre of the Department, within the Implementation and Delivery Directorate. The division has brought together two high-performing Grade 6 led teams covering: 

Governance and Honours: 

• Responsible for implementing the Department’s governance framework and operating its top tier governance structure and assurance processes.  
• The team provides expert governance and secretariat services to several of the Department’s most high-profile Committees and Boards. This includes: the Departmental Board (Chaired by the Secretary of State); the Executive Committee (Chaired by the Permanent Secretary) and the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (Chaired by the ARAC Non-Executive Board Member.  
• It also hosts a Private Office for the Department’s Non-Executive Directors, as well as managing the Department’s Honours system and pipeline.  

Partnerships: 

• Responsible for the overarching model of effective partnership working between the Department and the 14 Partner Organisations (POs) it sponsors. Working closely with policy directorates, the team sets the conditions for building strong relationships at all levels between the Department and its POs, which is critical for successful delivery of outcomes. 
• As well as leading on cross-cutting initiatives relating to POs, the team works closely with Ministers, No10 and Cabinet Office to manage the process for making high-quality appointments to PO Boards and Committees. 
• It also acts as a centre of expertise on the governance, sponsorship and carrying out of reviews of POs, as well as on the creation of new public bodies and alternative delivery models. 

Both teams strive to be a centre of excellence and expertise, both within the Department and more widely across government. 

This is an exciting and dynamic role which will require the postholder to work closely with Ministers, the Permanent Secretaries and wider executive team to translate their ambitions into clear, outcome-focused plans and objectives. 

As the Department evolves and sharpens its delivery focus, this provides an unparalleled opportunity to shape structures and approaches that are integral to the effective delivery of Departmental priorities and objectives.   

Job description

As the Deputy Director for Partnerships, Governance & Honours your main responsibilities will include:  

• Leading a team of 20 FTE and working to embed it - both as a high functioning new division - as well as establishing it within its new Directorate. Empowering all staff within the division to see the commonalities and synergies in the work they deliver, encouraging greater join-up.   
• Embedding a robust yet agile governance framework and diverse honours pipeline and system within the Department - providing the Permanent Secretaries with assurance that the right decisions are being taken, at the right time, and through the most effective structure. 
• Creating a meaningful programme of work for the Department’s Non-Executive Members, based on informed judgement and understanding of the Department’s priorities and plan of work. 
• Ensuring that the division is equipped with the necessary skills and expertise to fulfil its role as a centre of expertise on governance, honours, sponsorship and public appointments.
• Understanding both the governance and partner organisation landscape for which your division is responsible and ensuring that expert and timely advice is provided to Ministers and the Permanent Secretaries.
• Implementing and embedding a new and bespoke model for how the Department approaches oversight and engagement with its Partner Organisations.
• Driving continuous improvement and building cross-Departmental capability in the governance and sponsorship of Partner Organisations.
• Delivering actions flowing from the joint Cabinet Office and HMT Public Bodies Reform Programme, including priority reviews of DESNZ Partner Organisations. 

Person specification

We are looking for a strong performing individual(s) to play a key role in the Department’s strategic agenda with the following skills and experience: 

• Proven experience of working within a corporate governance, company secretary and/or sponsorship environment - providing expert advice around these parameters. 
• An empowering leader who sets a clear strategic direction to deliver key priorities through teams and with a track record of motivating and developing successfully leading diverse, high performing teams. 
• Ability to work at pace where there are competing priorities, problem solving and resolving complex issues when they arise. 
• Be able to hold a clear sense of the political context and strategic direction of the Department and its Partner Organisations to appropriately frame and provide advice. 
• Evidenced ability to build and maintain relationships with, and secure the confidence and trust of stakeholders, senior leaders, and peers, through the provision of expert advice on governance, sponsorship and appointments.  
• Excellent communication and written skills, with a proven track record of influencing effectively at Ministerial and Permanent Secretary level or equivalent.

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.

How to apply

To apply for this post please follow the instructions on the CS Jobs website by no later than 23:55, 17th 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, candidates will be required to prepare a presentation which will form part of the final interview. Full details of the assessment process will be provided to shortlisted candidates.

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. 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.