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

This is an exciting opportunity to work directly with teams across DESNZ to support the delivery of the department’s main objectives.

The Central Grants and Loans Directorate (CGL) sits at the heart of the department's work to professionalise the delivery of major programmes and projects. This work is vitally important as DESNZ has one of the largest and most complex grant portfolios in government (Close to £70bn during this Spending Review period) which supports the delivery of our critical energy security and net zero priorities. For example, the directorate currently delivers grants supporting offshore wind, hydrogen and carbon capture and storage policies and previously delivered support to households and businesses with high energy bills.

The Grants Policy Team (GPT) is based within the Central Grants & Loans Directorate which provides DESNZ with a departmental function coordinating grants activity. The team supports the Grants Senior Functional Lead (SFL) to achieve oversight across the DESNZ grant portfolio. A key role in for all members of the team is to act as the Grants Champion for DESNZ, a role bridging the requirements on Grants Functional Standards between Cabinet Office and providing advice and guidance across all grants design and delivery in the department. 

The SEO Grants Governance Adviser will work on design, development and implementation of improved grants governance for DESNZ. They will develop proposals and support ongoing continuous improvement. This is a critical role which ensures that grant expertise is integrated into departmental governance to drive high quality and efficient outcomes and embed best practice into grant design and delivery. This role will manage productive internal and external stakeholder relationships to collaboratively establish grants expertise throughout the various DESNZ governance frameworks in the Project Delivery Toolkit. This will include the Integrated Assurance & Approvals Framework, the Governance Framework, the Risk & Issue Management Framework, and the Portfolio Management Framework amongst others. They will also support departmental assessment against the Cabinet Office Grants Continuous Improvement Framework to review the maturity of the departmental grant activity and deliver against the resulting improvement plan. 

We are a friendly, diverse, and inclusive team of energetic and creative individuals based in locations across the UK and welcome those who can bring their talents and fresh perspectives. We place a real emphasis on work-life balance. You will enjoy flexible working, learning and development opportunities and our commitment to equal opportunities.

This role offers an excellent opportunity for you to be involved in a highly visible area of work that is highly rewarding and strategically and politically important.

If you’re not sure if this role is for you, please get in touch and we’ll be really happy to answer your questions.

Person specification

• Assist in designing, updating and implementing the embedding of grants expertise into grants governance in the department.
• Researching and providing grants advice to policy teams on business cases and good grants delivery governance practice such as approvals and performance monitoring boards.
• Establishing and supporting secretariat functions for a grants assurance board that leads on grant governance, grants design and delivery aspects of business case development and performance management.
• Co-ordination of grant expert input into departmental governance.
• Developing and owning a risk register for all grant delivery in DESNZ that feeds into the Group and Departmental assurance process appropriately.
• Providing key coordination of departmental input to and central contribution to the Cabinet Office Grants Continuous Improvement Assessment exercise, co-ordination and implementation of resulting actions and/or recommendations.
• Working with any auditing organisations to coordinate input into any audit work, including Government Internal Audit Agency and National Audit Office.
• Collaborating with data teams to make sure good data is fed into the governance process to help decision making and performance monitoring.
• Build collaborative working relationships with teams such as Commercial, Assurance and Approvals, Governance and Corporate Reporting.
• Manage good working relationships with the Cabinet Office Government Grant Management Function and other government departments to facilitate work on governance.

Skills and experience

• Effective interpersonal skills. Confident communication techniques, with the ability to contribute in stakeholder discussions.
• Ability to collaborate by establishing and maintaining effective and productive working relationships across the department.
• Ability to analyse and review information with confidence. Able to identify problems, define alternatives and develop recommendations.
• Ability to assess and manage competing priorities to contribute to the delivery of initiatives and manage time accordingly.
• Enthusiasm, self-motivation and initiative.
• Knowledge of grants is desirable, but not essential as training and resources can be provided.
• Awareness of Assurance and Approvals, Governance, risk management and performance monitoring from a government department perspective is desirable, but training can be provided.

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 and Experience.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and behaviour statements. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the lead behaviour - 'Seeing the Big Picture'.

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 questions.

Sift and interview dates

Expected timeline, subject to change - 

Sift dates: w/c 15/04/2024

Interview dates: 29/04/2024

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.