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

These are positions for energy technology experts within the UK Government’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) central energy engineering team. The Energy Engineering team in DESNZ is a small team of about 12 people dedicated to ensuring that the department’s policy is evidenced by the best energy engineering principles. 

The team sits within the Science and Innovation for Climate and Net Zero, Nuclear and International Directorate, but work with all the other policy units in DESNZ, and frequently with other Government departments, to give engineering advice on decarbonisation policy . All members of the team are specialists either with a relevant PhD or working towards completing their PhD in a relevant energy engineering field.

Since the use of energy covers virtually all aspects of society, in areas where the team does not have suitable internal expertise, the team maintains links with key academics and industry experts that we can call on to provide detailed knowledge in topics as required. The team works very closely with policy teams at DESNZ, for example in writing submissions and consultations and giving engineering seminars at DESNZ on all aspects of energy engineering.  As required, we also undertake work for DESNZ Chief Scientific Adviser in the field of energy technology.

These engineering roles will be expected to become a vital part of our centre of technology excellence, focusing on engineering technologies such as renewable generation, nuclear generation, electricity distribution and transmission, disruptive technologies, geothermal energy, hydrogen and the gas grid. You will also be expected to apply your engineering expertise across a wide range of DESNZ’s other activities in the formulation of strategies and policies, for example in developing capabilities of the UK energy industry, and in the setting of levies and tariffs.

In June 2019 UK became a first major economy to pass laws to end its contribution to global warming by 2050 – also known as the 'Net Zero' target. These roles will concentrate on achieving the Net Zero target through supporting decarbonisation of the UK economy.

Specifically:

• You will ensure that DESNZ policy is informed by good engineering practice and the latest technology approaches.

• You will apply your specialist skills for the cost effective decarbonisation of UK energy, industry and the domestic environment.

• You will develop public consultations, reports and ministerial submissions concerning the optimum engineering route to achieving the Net Zero target by 2050, by supporting our three policy aims of decarbonisation of energy, security of energy supply and affordability of energy for consumers.

• You will undertake technical evaluation of applications to the various energy innovation grant funding competitions run by the Department, and work with other grant awarding agencies. 

• You will develop maintain state of the art knowledge on your area of expertise within the team and Directorate.

Person specification

Skills and Experience:

As this is a highly technical role, we would expect the appointed person to have a high degree of training in a relevant energy engineering area:

• You will be a PhD qualified engineer, or studying at PhD level, with an interest in energy engineering. Chartered Engineering status through an approved professional body would be an advantage.

• You will be an engineer with an interest in meeting the UK’s decarbonisation target. The position would also suit candidates who wish to get a wider exposure to different types of engineering as the roles will be very varied and cut across normal engineering disciplines.

• You will have a ‘pick up and run with it’ mentality and be prepared to learn new skills as required in order to keep up with latest technology advances.

• There will be the requirement to visit relevant industry sites and to be involved with various research work undertaken by DESNZ with industry partners & consultancies, so your knowledge of R&D project management techniques will be important.

• As you will be writing submissions and reports explaining technical constraints, you will have excellent writing skills.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,470, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £10,116 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.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement, behavioural statements and any technical skills required.

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 outline the following: applicants need to have specialist technical knowledge in energy decarbonisation for this role. Considering the technical knowledge required to fulfil this position, why are you a suitable candidate for this role?

Applications will be sifted on behavioural statements, CV, personal statement and any technical skills required.

In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the CV. 

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

The interview will consist of behaviours and technical questions. 

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 01/04/2024

Interview dates: w/c 14/04/2024

Interview Location: Online.

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 and 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.