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 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 Clean Heat Directorate is responsible for developing policies to support the Government’s legally binding target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions from across the UK economy by 2050. 

These roles sit within the Energy-related products team in the Clean Heat Directorate. The Energy-related products policy team is dynamic and high-performing, working on policies that deliver some of the greatest carbon emission and energy bill savings in the Department through ensuring the UK has ambitious product standards for energy efficiency and broader sustainability.

An energy-related product (ErP) can be any product/appliance which has an impact on energy consumption during use, either directly (e.g. fridges, lighting, boilers) or indirectly (e.g. a hot water tap, shower-head, radiator). ErPs are therefore responsible for a significant amount of the energy consumption and carbon emissions from buildings and ensuring they work as efficiently as possible is critical to reaching our Net Zero targets.

The team are following a published policy framework which set out the UK’s plan for pushing high-consuming products (such as heating appliances, light bulbs and cookers) to use less energy and fewer resources and materials. This work makes a significant contribution to our Carbon Budget and Net Zero targets, the UK’s energy security and the Government’s response to the cost of living crisis.

These exciting roles focus on developing ambitious decarbonisation policies which have some of the greatest carbon saving potential in the department and significant interest from Ministers. The role will offer consistent opportunities to develop your core policy, analytical and communication skills. We support flexible working and we offer tailored L&D opportunities for Clean Heat, as well as supporting take-up of wider opportunities.

Role 1 – European scrutiny

There is a strong European emphasis to this role. This G7-led team monitors new EU regulations for energy-related products and considers the impact of regulatory divergence on GB and Northern Ireland. This is particularly important as EU rules for energy-related products apply in Northern Ireland. The team is developing a strategy to understand and respond to divergence.

Role 2 - Cooking products policy

The job holder will be responsible for supporting energy-related products policy for cooking appliances in domestic and commercial settings. The recent Net Zero Review recommended that we should set a legislative target for "gas free homes and appliances by 2033". This role will support work on understanding the implications of this target and necessary policy levers to meet it, with a specific focus on enabling a transition from gas to electric cooking appliances. It will involve working with teams across the department and Whitehall to develop a governmental position on gas free cooking appliances, as well as supporting policy development across cooking products, to develop new energy efficiency standards and labelling requirements and explore whether other policy levers may be required.

This is an area of significant interest from Ministers. Given the profile of the team, the role offers consistent opportunities to develop core policy, analytical and communication skills. The team and wider Directorate actively support personal learning and development opportunities and we pride ourselves on an inclusive and supportive work environment.

Person specification

Role 1:

• Explain and publish summaries of new EU regulations for energy-related products for Parliamentary and public scrutiny. Lead on any subsequent correspondence from Parliamentary Scrutiny Committees.
• Work with DESNZ lawyers to implement any necessary regulations to ensure new requirements can be enforced.
• Policy lead for Voluntary Agreements (VAs), currently, this is only for Games Consoles. VAs are managed by industry and they develop new measures on how to improve the energy efficiency of consoles, including PlayStation, Xbox and WII.

Role 2:

• Working closely with analysts, senior colleagues, other government departments and lawyers to support the development of a policy position on gas free domestic cooking, and develop levers to achieve this;
• Drafting and presenting briefing materials to senior colleagues and, where required, Ministers;
• Supporting work on a public consultation and developing the associated legislation.

Skills and experience

Essential:

• Experience of up-skilling quickly and delivering at pace;
• Experience of leading a work area and working with a high degree of autonomy, whilst coordinating effectively with others;
• Excellent written and verbal communications skills, with the ability to break down and present complex information to non-experts;
• Good interpersonal skills and willingness to build strong collaboration with other teams and professions (legal, analysts, communications, and technical experts) and external stakeholders.
  

Desirable:

• Experience working with lawyers to deliver secondary legislation;
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to deal with technical evidence, identify evidence gaps, and weigh up different priorities to develop policy options and make recommendations;
• Experience working in a climate change or energy related field, and knowledge of the energy system and policy landscape.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £31,120, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £8,402 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, personal statement and one 250 word behaviour statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to describe why you are appropriate for the role, based on the role description, key responsibilities, and skills and experience. Please also indicate a preference for which role, if you have one.

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 08/04/2024

Interview dates: 22/04/2024

Interview Location: MS Teams.

Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

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.

Further Information

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.