About the job

Job summary

DESNZ

The responsibilities for the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero for 2023 are as follows: 

• Delivering security of energy supply 
• Ensuring properly functioning energy markets 
• Encouraging greater energy efficiency 
• Seizing the opportunities of net zero to lead the world in new green industries 

For 2023, our priorities are: 

• Ensure security of energy supply this winter, next winter and in the longer-term – bringing down energy bills and reducing inflation. 
• Ensure the UK is on track to meet its legally binding Net Zero commitments and support economic growth by significantly speeding up delivery of network infrastructure and domestic energy production. 
• Improve the energy efficiency of UK homes, businesses and public sector buildings to meet the 15% demand reduction ambition. 
• Deliver current schemes to support energy consumers with their bills and develop options for long-term reform to improve how the electricity market works for families and businesses. 
• Seize the economic benefits of Net Zero, including the jobs and growth created through investment in new green industries. 
• Pass the Energy Bill to support the emerging CCUS and hydrogen sectors; to update the governance of the energy system; and to reduce the time taken to consent offshore wind. 

Our Inclusive Environment

We are building an inclusive culture to make the Department a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves.

We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.

We offer first-class flexible working benefits, excellent employee well-being support and a great pension. 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.

We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion. We will fully support candidates with a disability or long-term condition who require adjustments in our recruitment process.

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

You will be working within the Energy Markets and Analysis directorate. EMA's purpose is to ensure Great Britain’s energy markets and networks deliver secure, low carbon and affordable energy, whilst protecting the interests of consumers and helping them make their contribution to net zero.

Our team is the Markets and Consumers team.  We are responsible for the design and function of the retail energy market, which is the interface between consumers and the energy system. We work to ensure the market functions in the interests of all consumers and that they remain protected, via a proportionate and robust regulatory framework and we act as the sponsors for Ofgem, the energy regulator. We also work to ensure that the market is fit for the future, and is able to support the achievement of the Government's Net Zero ambitions.

The work of the team is extremely high profile at the moment, as energy bills, energy consumer issues, and net zero are all high profile issues. They will continue to be important as the market transitions as part of the delivery of Net Zero. The team has recently published a document, Delivering A Better Energy Retail Market, that sets out a vision for the future of the market, identifying the areas where targeted reforms are needed to deliver a market that works for consumers, is resilient and investible, and delivers net zero.

In this role, you will have a key role in shaping the future of the energy retail market, and making it fit for the future. This could include reforming the mechanisms by which energy consumers are protected from unfair pricing, adapting the regulatory framework to allow more innovation to support consumers and net zero, and ensuring that the development of the energy retail market supports, and is supported by, wider energy system reforms, particularly the Review of Electricity Market Arrangement (REMA) programme.

Key Responsibilities

We are advertising for a number of roles in the team, each with a focus on a different aspect of retail market reform. These include, but may not be limited to:

- Developing policy on the energy price cap and the future of default tariffs (the tariffs energy consumers pay if they have not opted into another deal). These have been key mechanisms for protecting energy consumers in recent years. However, the current regime was designed for yesterday's market, and may need reform in order for it to continue protecting consumers, whilst lowering the cost of decarbonising the electricity system.

-  Designing options for targeted reforms to the regulatory framework that governs the retail market. The current model of energy supplier regulation is considered by some as being too burdensome, and could be hampering the development of new business models and products that could benefit consumers and help decarbonise the energy system. As part of retail market reform we are considering whether targeted changes to the current regulatory framework can unlock new, beneficial innovations.

- Leading policy on energy consumer protections. As the energy retail market evolves, consumer protection may need to adapt to work for new innovative products in the market. This will involve close working with the regulator, Ofgem,  as well as developing Governments position on the steps needed to make the energy retail market work better for consumers.

Person specification

Prior knowledge of energy policy is desirable but not required – we will quickly upskill you in the areas where you have less experience.

Skills and experience

The ideal candidate will:

- Be able to demonstrate the ability to make, and deliver, policy from early stage through to implementation.

- Have an eye for detail, with the ability to solve difficult problems and work through with complex issues.

- Be comfortable working at pace, both collaboratively and autonomously, to lead the delivery of projects or workstreams.

- Have excellent interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, and be able to deliver high quality writing.

We pride ourselves on having a friendly and supportive work environment. We support team members to develop their careers, and we encourage those who work part-time, job-share or have other flexible working arrangements to apply. We will provide people with disabilities reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application process and working environment.

Benefits

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero offers a competitive mix of benefits including: A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours. Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension Scheme, with an average employer contribution of 27%. A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30. An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue. Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts. A hybrid office/home based working model where staff will spend a norm of 40-60% of their time in the office (minimum of 40%) over a month with flex dependent on balancing business and individual need.

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.

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 500 words) to reference the skills and experience listed in the job advert, please outline what attracts you to this role and why you believe you would be a suitable candidate.

Applications will be sifted on CV and Personal Statement.

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

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 18/12/2023

Interview dates: w/c 08/01/2024

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 or 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.