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 it's 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 enormously proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We support candidates with adjustments throughout our recruitment process. Information about disability confidence and just some examples of the adjustments that you can request can be found in the reasonable adjustment section below.

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.

Find Out More

You can also follow our LinkedIn Careers Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/desnz-careers/

Job description

We are pleased to offer this rewarding and varied role of Deputy Parliamentary Clerk. This is a rare opportunity to provide expert guidance to both the Department and Ministerial Teams and provide oversight of the Departments Parliamentary obligations.

You will directly support and work with the Head of the Parliamentary Unit, acting as the Department’s expert on Parliament, working directly with the Secretary of State and other Ministers Offices, as well as working closely with Special Advisers, Officials, media officers and legal teams.

The Parliamentary Unit provides a core function for the Department, part of Ministerial and Parliamentary Support Team (MPST) which works directly with and supports Ministers, Special Advisers and their Private Offices. The team primarily does this by:

• Acting as the gateway and first point of contact between the Department and the Houses of Parliament.

• We support Ministers and their Offices by co-ordinating and supervising their parliamentary obligations.

• We provide advice and training on Parliament and its processes to the wider Department to improve Parliamentary capability.

• Acting as a centre of information and expertise on Parliament.

The Unit provides daily and weekly parliamentary business updates, and provides advice to Ministers, Private Office, and Officials regarding their interactions with Parliament.

As Deputy Parliamentary Clerk you will be part of a team of seven, (1 x G7, 1 x SEO, 2 x HEOs, 3x EOs) and you will directly manage two of the team members (EO grade).

Person specification

As Deputy Parliamentary Clerk your responsibilities will include:

1. Building a positive, inclusive culture where staff have clear goals and are stretched and supported to meet them.

2. Direct management responsibility for the Parliamentary Questions Team, who sit within the Unit.

3. Assisting the Parliamentary Clerk in providing strategic leadership - Embedding a culture of continuous improvement, thinking critically and strategically about how we can do things better and differently.

4. Work with the Parliamentary Clerk to oversee all business in the House of Commons. Encourage the team to forge and maintain effective working relationships with Ministers’ offices, Special Advisors, press office, other government department Parliamentary Branches, Leaders Office, clerks and officials in both Houses of Parliament.

5. Provide high quality, timely advice and support for officials and Ministers in both Houses of Parliament.

6. Supporting the Parliamentary Clerk in reviewing and contributing to parliamentary handling plans for policy announcements in the Department.

7. Be responsible for our relationships with Government Whips and other offices across Whitehall who deal with Parliamentary work.

8. Oversee the process in preparing Ministers for Departmental Questions.

9. Coordinate and deliver training to build the Department’s knowledge and capability of working with Parliament, particularly in relation to legislation and building parliamentary capacity.

Skills and Experience 

1. Knowledge or experience of parliamentary process and strong political awareness.

2. Strong leadership, relationship building and social skills.

3. Excellent organisation and prioritisation skills.

4. Ability to work at pace, remaining calm and to brief senior officials and Ministers on what can be technical and complex issues.

5. Excellent judgement to handle issues independently and understand when to seek advice.

6. Excellent oral and written communication skills.

7. Experience of delivering training and written guidance.

8. Experience of implementing efficiency improvements and delivering change.

This is a stretching role and requires some additional hours, which attracts overtime payments. Whilst Parliament is demanding, we do our best to reduce this impact: the Parliamentary Unit are proud to be an encouraging, sociable and welcoming team, acting as a flexible resource to each other in peak periods. There is rarely weekend work – and the Parliamentary Recess periods provide ample time for development opportunities at regular intervals throughout the year.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable adjustments to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,500, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £12,015 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 demonstrate how they fulfil the essential criteria set out in the application.

Please note - the CV incorporated into the application form is for information purposes only and will not be scored.

Applications will be sifted on personal statement.

The interview will consist of behaviour and strength-based questions.

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 05/08/2024

Interview dates: w/c 12/08/2024

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  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. 

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.

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

Feedback

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 counter-terrorist 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.