About the job

Job summary

The post sits within the Energy Division, which is part of the Climate Change and Rural Affairs Group. Energy is a high profile and strategically important Division in Welsh Government, playing a key part in delivering the commitments in Net Zero Wales, Wales’s low carbon delivery plan, to tackle the climate emergency. The Energy Division is responsible for a suite of actions to reduce emissions from the energy system and ensure there is sufficient low carbon energy, delivered in ways that deliver increased wellbeing for Wales.

The post will lead delivery on the Programme for Government commitment for an additional 100 MW of public and community owned renewable generation by 2026, and a pipeline of projects beyond that time bound ambition. The successful post holder will be responsible for supporting the Division’s work to establish Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru, the public sector energy developer, which was announced in October 2022. S/he will also support the delivery of the commitment to work towards establishing Ynni Cymru, which will focus on community energy.

The role will also explore and drive new business models and approaches to fund new renewable generation at significantly greater scale than we have seen to date.

This new post offers an opportunity to work within Government on a high-profile Ministerial commitment that can deliver major benefits to people in Wales. We are looking for someone with a strong finance and programme delivery background and skills in partnership working between government and an arm’s length body, preferably allied with an understanding of or interest in renewable energy.

Job description

• Manage the active programme to deliver Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru, the publicly owned developer of large scale renewable generation in Wales. Establish partnership arrangements to ensure the body’s work remains aligned with Welsh Government priorities.
• Work with partner organisations in Wales and the UK to develop new models and sources of funding for renewables, particularly where those increase connections between citizens and renewables and retain benefit in Wales.
• Support the Division’s developing work on the separate commitment to establish Ynni Cymru, learning about ways to develop smart local energy systems that benefit Welsh citizens.
• Develop approaches to engaging people and communities with the delivery of a low carbon energy system, particularly in support of the Welsh Government’s programme of energy planning.
• Jointly (with Climate Change Division) help to manage the Welsh Government Energy Service.
• Provide the secretariat for internal engagement to integrate delivery on energy related work across Welsh Government.
• Work closely with policy colleagues to feed emerging evidence and thinking from delivery into the policy process.
• Draft public facing information on the Division’s delivery programmes, including Ministerial statements, speeches and online materials.
• Represent Welsh Government and the Division at meetings and events.
• Contribute to the business of Government to make sure Ministers are effectively advised and the work of the Division is transparent and is informed by a wide range of evidence and lived experience.

Person specification

This is a rapidly expanding area of delivery in a high profile team, focusing on Programme for Government priorities. It will afford the opportunity to develop thinking in new areas, to make sure Wales derives benefit from a once in a century transition and potentially make a real difference for the people of Wales.

The post holder will have extensive contact across Welsh Government and with people across Wales. S/he will develop experience in the topics of decarbonisation and energy. The post will also provide experience of working with major delivery projects. The Division will support the post holder to develop her/his strengths and widen capabilities to progress in his/her career.

Benefits

All Welsh Government staff are members of the Civil Service, and as a result are eligible for:

• Civil Service Pension Scheme
• 31 days annual leave (pro-rated for part time)
• training and development opportunities
• Cycle2Work Scheme
• Smart Working flexible working arrangement
• Green Car Scheme (subject to availability)

If you are an active Civil Service Pension member you can continue your membership throughout your employment with us.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours.

Welsh Government, like all other Government Departments use Success Profiles when we recruit. For each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job. It raises performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.

The selection process and stages are:

Number of Stages:	3 stage process
Stage 1	Application Form
Stage 2	Online Test
Stage 3	Interview

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.