Head of Renewables
HM Treasury
About the job
Job summary
If you’re interested in making a difference to people’s lives, the Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK. Working at the heart of government, we collaborate across government to promote responsible public spending and drive strong and sustainable economic growth.
Our work ranges from protecting customers through the regulation of the financial sector, helping to reduce carbon emissions and creating a greener economy, to promoting British trade around the world and supporting people across the country on jobs, growth and more.
HM Treasury is proud of a diverse and inclusive work environment, committed to fairness and the promotion of equality of opportunity for all. We know that having a range of experiences, ways of working and thinking makes us stronger and better at developing policy that reflects the needs of every community. We embrace different views and experiences and value the new perspective that people from a variety of circumstances bring to the work we do. We welcome applications from candidates who have not previously worked for the Civil Service, mid- and late-career changers with transferrable skills, people from all backgrounds and circumstances regardless of disability, gender, age ethnicity, LGBT+ identity and socio-economic status.
We are part of the Darlington Economic Campus, a pioneering new cross-government hub which brings people together to play an active role in the most important issues of the day whilst working closer to the communities we serve. The campus provides the opportunity for people from all over the UK to help shape the future of the country, and our flexible working practices ensure you can collaborate effectively with our partners. It’s central government, made more accessible to you!
Job description
The Energy Team deals with some of the biggest economic opportunities and challenges facing the UK. This includes creating a 21st century net zero energy system, ensuring long term energy security for the nation and keeping energy affordable and competitive.
This role sits within the Delivery and Infrastructure branch. Our work covers developing major new infrastructure sectors of hydrogen and CCS (carbon capture and storage) and rapidly expanding our world-leading offshore wind sector and other renewables. We are at the heart of maintaining the UK’s energy security and decarbonising our energy supply. Our work centres round working with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and across Whitehall and industry to develop policy and remove barriers to deployment in ways that are both affordable and value for money.
There has been a huge growth in renewables and significant cost reductions have been achieved. Electricity demand is due to increase as sectors electrify to decarbonise. As HMT’s Head of Renewables your role will be to help steward that growth, not only happening but happening in a way that is value for money for the Exchequer and consumers. Renewables always feature high on Ministerial priorities on energy and capture the public interest. You will cover the breadth of renewables – from established £bns investments in offshore wind and solar to less established technologies like tidal or newer ones like floating offshore wind.
You will need to build strong relationships within the Treasury, across Whitehall and with industry not just developers but institutional investors and supply chain manufacturers too. This is an excellent opportunity to work in a supportive team with a high degree of independence to advance the Chancellor’s agenda and make a real world difference.
Key accountabilities for this role include:.
- Lead HMT’s input into cross-Whitehall renewable support mechanisms: You will lead for HMT on setting the budget, parameters, support costs and design of future Contract for Difference auction rounds. You will lead for HMT on any commercial negotiations for bespoke projects and policy development.
- Leading on renewables strategy and interface into broader energy and net zero policy: You will lead for HMT on renewables strategy, what role they at a macro level and as individual technologies can play in the electricity, security and wider decarbonisation strategies and how this can be achieved in value for money ways.
- Leading cross-team work to capture the growth potential of our sectors: developing the policy and taking the £960M Green Industry Growth Accelerator announced at Autumn Statement 2023 through approvals and letting contracts, working with other Government Departments on supply chain strategies and inward investment for renewables, overseeing the £160m Floating Offshore Manufacturing Scheme
- Supporting and developing one range D (Renewables Policy Advisor): as well as managing the workloads of range D policy advisor you will prioritise their professional development, seeking opportunities to stretch and mentor your direct reports as well as supporting colleagues in the wider team.
We are a friendly team at the heart of some key economic and finance issues in the Treasury. While working in a fast-paced policy environment, we support a diverse range of working patterns.
Candidate Drop-In Session
We will be running a candidate drop-in session for this role to give you greater insight about the role as well as the chance to learn more about HM Treasury and the recruitment process. If you would like to join us, then use the appropriate link below to join the call at 1pm on 27th February.
HMT's Head of Renewables Candidate Information Session
Person specification
The post holder will need to be comfortable working in fast-paced dynamic environment and have or be prepared to build rapidly an understanding of the energy market and project financing, have strong numerical, written and verbal communication skills and be comfortable working with Senior Officials and Ministers. Your application will consist of a CV and 1000-word personal statement. Your CV should consist of your career history, including any key achievements in each role. Your CV will not be scored, but instead will be used to provide further context on your personal statement, and support conversations at interview. Key skills we are looking for are:
These criteria have been identified as the essential skills or experience for the role, so it is important that you include evidence to demonstrate you have the skills or experience we are looking for. You should not include any personal identifying information within your CV or personal statement. Please review the Candidate FAQ document that is attached to the advert for more guidance on how to complete your application form. |
Candidate Guidance Support Session
We will be running an overview of Success Profiles; top tips for the application and interview process and an opportunity to ask general questions around our recruitment practices. If you would like to join us, then use the link below to join the call at 5:30 on 26th January.
Support Session
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £52,960, HM Treasury contributes £14,299 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, Strengths and Experience.Recruitment Timeline
Optional Candidate Information Session: 27 February 13.00 -13.30
Closing date: 7 March
Shortlisting: w/c 11 March
Interviews: w/c 18 March
This timeline is indicative and may be subject to change. We will inform you if there is a substantial change to the recruitment timeline.
If your contact details change at any time during the selection process, please ensure you update your Civil Service Jobs Profile.
Please note that only applications submitted through Civil Service Jobs will be accepted.
Location-Based Reserve Lists
You will be placed on a reserve list if your application is successful, but we cannot offer you a post immediately. Where more than one location has been advertised, candidates will be approached for roles in merit order according to the first preferred location stated on your application form.
Please note that a place on the reserve list does not guarantee an offer. We would still encourage you to apply for other HM Treasury opportunities that you are interested in. If you are offered a role in your first preferred location and you decline the offer or you are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe, you will be removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances.
Eligibility Statement
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role in the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government. Checks will be performed as part of pre-employment checks in line with this. Please refer to the Candidate FAQ document attached to the advert for more information.
Individuals appointed to the Treasury Group will be subject to National Security Vetting. To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out applicants will normally need to have lived in the UK for at least 3 out of the past 5 years. A lack of UK residency in itself is not always a bar to security clearance but the Department will need to consider eligibility on a case by case basis using all information that can be obtained following a successful application.
Everyone working with government assets must complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks.
For many roles, security clearance is also required. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements of the role before they can be appointed. The level of security clearance required for this role is Counter Terrorist Check (CTC)
Please read the Vetting Charter for information on what to expect during the vetting process and what will be expected from you.
Many areas of your life may be explored during your vetting journey, and it is important that every individual, regardless of their background and experiences, should feel comfortable going through this personal process, whilst having confidence that it is fair, proportionate, and inclusive.
These short videos address common concerns and preconceptions which applicants may have about national security vetting.
If you have questions relating to security clearances, please contact HMTSecurityVetting@hmtreasury.gov.uk
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).
See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). 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
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.