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/  

Please note DESNZ are currently reviewing our terms and conditions and pay arrangements following Machinery of Government changes and as part of the outstanding August 2023 pay award. Please be aware there may be changes to terms and conditions and pay ranges listed in this advert ahead of you starting in post.  

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. This role sits within the Grants Policy Team, a new function with the objective of providing oversight and support to the department on grant delivery. You will work alongside the Head of Grants Policy (Strategy & Data) to implement a new approach to managing grants in the department. You will directly oversee a team working on governance, advice and capability. This will require significant engagement and stakeholder management skills to communicate the benefits of the new model, secure buy-in and embed a new culture and ways of working across the department. Your team includes the Grant Champion role, engaging teams across the department and providing expert advice and guidance on grants. The team is also responsible for integrating grant expertise into governance processes and performance management to ensure programmes deliver high quality and efficient outcomes. You will support the Senior Functional Lead (Director of Central Grants & Loans) to ensure compliance with the Government standard. This includes coordinating regular Cabinet Office continuous improvement assessments on departmental performance and developing a grant learning and development plan for DESNZ. 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, get in touch and we’ll be really happy to answer your questions.

Person specification

• Cross Departmental engagement and communication on grants. Obtaining buy-in and collaboration with the new approach to grant management.

• Leadership of communications across DESNZ and Whitehall on the CGL Directorate service offering.

• Providing expert advice and guidance to policy teams on the design and development of new grant schemes including tailored advice as well as the online DESNZ grants advice hub.

• Leading development, implementation and management of enhanced Grants Governance in DESNZ, ensuring that grants expertise is embedded in departmental governance processes to ensure high quality and efficient outcomes and that governance remains fit for purpose.

• Building relationships across the department with key functions including Commercial, Legal, Integrated Corporate Services, Governance and policy teams.

• Leadership of Senior Functional Lead’s overview of performance management of grants and ensuring a responsive approach to audit and evidencing departmental grants performance

• Oversight of biannual maturity assessment exercises, working with Cabinet Office and grant teams within the department.

• Reduce grant risk and irregularity to the lowest practicable level

• Oversee the Grants Capability Strategy and departmental learning and development plan so Directorate and wider Department has the right skills to deliver.

Skills and experience:

We would love to hear from you if you have:

- Significant experience of leading teams to deliver major grant schemes or programmes within government.

- Strong written and oral communication skills, including experience with communicating complex messages to a range of audiences

- A track record of building strong relationships at all levels, across the department and the rest of government, and influencing others to deliver challenging results.

- Ability to collaborate with others, working through complex and differing priorities to come to mutually beneficial outcomes.

- Ability to understand and respond to customer needs, producing excellent results and high levels of satisfaction.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £61,580, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £16,626 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 personal statement.

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

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 750 words) to detail how your skills and experience demonstrate that you are the ideal candidate for this role.

Applications will be sifted on CV and personal statement.

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-based questions.

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 29/4/24

Interview dates: w/c 6/5/24

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 /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.