About the job

Job summary

As the energy regulator, Ofgem is acting to improve lives of customers today and to build a lower carbon, and more secure energy system for the future that protects the interests of all energy consumers. There has never been a more important time to do so. Ofgem is doing everything we can to protect consumers, especially the vulnerable, by ensuring they are treated fairly and benefit from a cleaner, greener environment, as we also move our energy system strategically away from reliance on international gas. 

The UK has some of the most ambitious climate change goals in the world, at the heart of which is our transition to an energy system that is fully decarbonised, by 2050. Ofgem has a key role in ensuring that we make this change and that customers’ interests are looked after along the way. We do this through reforming the energy market, directly regulating companies and taking action against poor behaviour. We deliver Government schemes for renewable energy, energy efficiency and to protect the poorest energy customers. As a ‘Non-Ministerial Department’ we work effectively with, but independently of, Government, the energy industry and other stakeholders. 

The Deputy Director of Retail Market Policy will work as part of a team of Deputy Directors to ensure that the retail sector is fit for purpose following the gas crisis and in the context of the net zero transition. They will be responsible for the design, reform and regulation of GB energy retail markets and lead across Ofgem on aspects of consumer protection. The role will oversee some of the most challenging issues faced by energy sector currently, including cost allocation in the context of rising debt and the future of energy price protection.   

Ofgem has a culture of inclusion that encourages, supports and celebrates the diverse voices and experiences of our colleagues. It fuels our innovation and helps ensure we can best represent the consumers and the communities we serve. Everyone is welcome - as an inclusive workplace, our employees are comfortable bringing their authentic selves to work.  

Ofgem operates a Flexible Resourcing model. You may have the opportunity to work flexibly across Ofgem supporting on a range of projects or may have a longer deployment within a team where you have in-demand specialist skills, knowledge, and expertise.  

Job description

Purpose 

• Lead a group of multi-disciplinary teams in the context of operating in a Professions and Flexible Resourcing operating model.  
• Plan, oversee and deliver a number of significant programmes of work on time, on budget and to a high standard through effective management and support of multiple teams. 
• Demonstrate exceptional inclusive people and enterprise leadership, ongoing professional development and commitment to Ofgem values. 

Key Responsibilities:  

• Delivery of a significant programme of work and managing and co-ordinating successful outcomes across teams, Ofgem and professions  
• Develops, plans and delivers work outcomes, including clear and transparent work objectives, milestones and success metrics.  
• Accountable for agreeing and delivering on budget and resource requirements.  
• Responsible for building and supporting the teams delivering the work including effective scoping of work and setting of clear responsibilities.  
• Encourages and supports development of colleagues within profession and teams and for the individuals they are Professional Development Lead for.
• Jointly responsible with the Personal Development Lead (PDL) on welfare and pastoral care of all colleagues.  
• Effectively undertakes appropriate and necessary D&I focus within their team and the wider organisation.   

Key Outputs and Deliverables  

Delivery 

• Deliver specific market and policy interventions that further Ofgem’s objectives on Retail Market Policy including ensuring fair prices, consumer protection, and an efficient, low-cost energy transition. 
• Work with external stakeholders to deliver targeted interventions in the market where necessary. 
• Effectively advise GEMA, Senior Leadership Team, and the Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) on the regulatory and policy decisions and risks which impact upon consumers, stakeholders, and the organisation.  

Portfolio management 

• Build a high performing, high morale, set of teams. 
• Ensure strong project management tools and practices, including prudent management of the associated budgets. 
• Developing organisational capacity to deliver. 
• Establish robust governance processes ensuring a balance between strong oversight and ability to respond in an agile fashion. 

Relationship management 

• Lead senior engagement with Government, other regulators, and relevant external stakeholders, building strong relationships, and identifying situations in which escalation is necessary. 
• Be a visible and accessible representative of Ofgem, providing effective and intelligent input to relevant stakeholders. 

Person specification

The essential criteria for this role is:

• (Lead criteria) Proven leadership in delivering work across a wide breadth of energy or policy programmes. 
• Extensive experience of managing the regulatory and political aspects of policy making, and effective use of analysis and evidence in policy design to ensure delivery for consumers.
• A strong communicator – highly credible communication skills, both in writing and in person, with experience of building strong 
  stakeholder relationships, high emotional intelligence and engendering trusted relationships that achieve buy-in and commitment. 
• Ability to drive forward complex programmes of work at pace and lead multi-disciplinary teams. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £75,000, OFGEM 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, Experience and Technical skills.

When you press the ‘Apply now’ button, you will be asked to complete personal details (not seen by the sift panel), your career history and qualifications.  

You will then be asked to provide a 1250 word ‘personal statement’ evidencing how you meet the essential and desirable skills and capabilities listed in the role profile. Please ensure you demonstrate clearly, within your supporting statement, how you meet each of the essential and desirable skills and capabilities. 

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.