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 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 work 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

To meet net zero, decarbonise our power system by 2035 and address the UK’s contribution to climate change, we need to change how we use energy for travel, heating and in our daily lives. By using electricity at times of lower demand or higher renewable generation, we can help consumers save money, make best use of renewables, and reduce the need for costly new infrastructure – delivering benefits of up to £10bn a year in system costs by 2050.

The Smart Secure Electricity Systems (SSES) Programme team is responsible for ensuring smart technologies, such as electric vehicles and heat pumps, integrate into the energy system in a way which protects consumers, unlocks the benefits of flexibility, and mitigates cyber security risks. Our ambition is to have put in place the major reforms to deliver this change by 2026 – meaning now is a critical time as we transition from policy proposals to delivery.

We are looking to recruit a Grade 7 team leader to join us in developing and delivering the industry governance and charging arrangements to underpin the successful and sustained delivery of our Demand Side Response (DSR) objectives of technical interoperability, cyber security, grid stability and data protection.

You will be responsible for developing the policy and working with industry stakeholders to implement enduring arrangements to enable SSES Programme objectives to be met and funded during and following the later stages of the Programme. This is a significant piece of work which will have substantive outputs over the next years and a substantive contribution to government’s DSR benefits case of up to £10 billion per year by 2050.

The team has recently produced an initial consultation on the policy design of enduring industry governance and cost recovery mechanisms. A core responsibility will include responding to this consultation, further developing policy in response to stakeholder feedback, and working closely with Ofgem on pragmatic delivery frameworks that work for our ambitious implementation timetables. This is likely to involve making changes to (and potentially creating new) energy industry licences and codes. Given the evolving policy landscape, you will have the opportunity to shape how we work to deliver on this ambitious agenda.

The role will include:

• Directly managing 1 SEO initially, setting direction, empowering your team members and building their confidence and capability;
• Working closely with Ofgem, in order to understand existing licence and code frameworks which can be used to implement enduring arrangements;
• Working with other SSES workstreams and policy teams (e.g. cyber security) to identify features of enduring arrangements to be delivered centrally (such as standing up device assurance systems);
• Working with other SSES workstreams and analysts to quantify the expected costs of central industry arrangements, including critical infrastructure and enduring governance arrangements;
• Designing and developing a pragmatic and implementable industry cost recovery mechanism for the operation of enduring arrangements;
• Developing a further industry consultation to validate our enduring industry governance and charging design;
• Working in a multi-disciplinary environment, with a range of policy teams and technical experts (including engineers, cyber specialists, and external contractors) across DESNZ and wider government;
• Building effective and positive partnerships with colleagues and industry to deliver proportionate and effective regulation of a rapidly evolving market.

Person specification

Skills and Experience:

We are looking for a confident, collegiate, and committed team leader who:

• Is curious and excited by the prospect of taking high level policy proposals and translating them into meaningful action at pace with considerable autonomy;
• Enjoys leading teams that are developing and growing – and is keen to enable and empower your team members to learn and develop through their roles;
• Is confident working in a regulatory environment and getting the detail right on licence conditions and energy code rules that will have significant impacts on industry for years to come;
• Enjoys building positive partnerships with diverse stakeholders within government and industry – including regulators and lawyers - working collaboratively to make change happen;
• Can work with others to put in place realistic plans for delivery and implementation;
• Can quickly absorb often complex and technical energy issues and communicate these clearly to a range of different audiences;
• Understanding of the licence and code landscape in the UK energy market beneficial.

Does this sound like an exciting but challenging opportunity? We agree!

You’ll be joining a friendly, collaborative and supportive team and we’d love to hear from you.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £50,305, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £13,582 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 behavioural statements.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Applications will be sifted on behavioural statements and CV. 

In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the lead behaviour statement (Leadership). 

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 11/04/2024

Interview dates: w/c 21/04/2024

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.