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 of 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

The role and our team   The Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning (OPRED) is part of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and is responsible for:

- Developing, administering and enforcing the environmental and decommissioning regulatory regime covering offshore oil and gas, offshore gas unloading and storage and offshore carbon dioxide storage (collectively referred to as offshore energy projects).

- Handling domestic and international policy relating to developing the environmental regulatory framework for offshore energy projects. 

- The Department’s Strategic Environmental Assessment for offshore energy projects, which allows the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA) to licence offshore areas for oil and gas, gas storage and carbon dioxide storage and the Crown Estate to lease offshore areas for offshore renewable energy developments. 

Within OPRED, the Regional Delivery Programmes are responsible for developing, administering and ensuring compliance with the environmental and decommissioning regulatory regime in relation to offshore oil and gas.

Within the Regional Delivery Programmes, the Offshore Environmental Inspectorate works to protect the environment through the implementation of the United Kingdom’s offshore environmental regulations.

The OEI is responsible for regulating activities once offshore operations commence, by inspecting whether the requirements, restrictions or prohibitions imposed by the legislation have been, or are being complied with.  This work includes the assessment of Oil Pollution Emergency Plans – including financial provision for accidents / incidents and emergency response (24/7 on call provision).

Person specification

Reporting to the Head of Environmental Operations, and working closely with the other OEI Technical Lead, the successful candidate will provide strong technical leadership in respect of the full range of regulatory activities undertaken by the team. The OEI Technical Lead will be accountable for a number of discrete operational and policy work areas within the team, while also maintaining a sufficiently detailed awareness of the workstreams being overseen by the other OEI Technical Lead to allow them to provide resilience within the senior OEI management team.

To ensure consistency on technical matters across the Regional Delivery Programme Teams within OPRED, the OEI Technical Lead will also closely liaise with the Environmental Management Technical Leads and colleagues within OPRED's Decommissioning Team.

The post holder will be responsible for:

• Providing technical leadership to OEI on relevant environmental legislation and regulatory functions;
  
• Overseeing the development or review of internal or external regulatory guidance;
  
• Overseeing the production of the annual OPRED regulatory intervention plan;
  
• Providing advice and direction, in liaison with the Senior Investigations Officer, on investigations into contraventions of environmental legislation and deciding on the appropriate enforcement action;
  
• Providing expert advice and briefing on environmental matters relating to offshore energy industries to OPRED Senior Leadership, senior DESNZ officials (including liaison with Special Advisers and Press Office) and Ministers;
  
• Representing and influencing OPRED’s views in various domestic and international environmental fora;
  
• Working closely with the OPRED Policy team to provide technical support in relation to policy development and strategic direction on technical policy, regulation and operational matters;
  
• Managing stakeholder engagement on technical matters, including liaison with other Government Departments, Public Bodies; Devolved Administrations; industry representative bodies and non-governmental organisations;
  
• Providing technical input in relation to the performance management process for OEI technical staff;
  
• Contributing to, producing and updating the annual Regional and Team business plans;
  
• Undertaking or supporting technical and administrative recruitment exercises;
  
• Providing input to the development and implementation of fee charging schemes;
  
• Responding to environmental incidents or regulatory non-compliance events linked to DESNZ’s objective on secure energy supply, including maintaining and participating in an effective 24/7 on call response capability and providing advice and support to the on call Environmental Inspector, or providing briefings to Ministers and senior officials in respect of ongoing pollution incidents; and
  
• Deputising for the Grade 6 Head of Environmental Operations as required.

Skills and experience

The successful candidate must have at least two of the following:

• A proven track record of inspection, regulation or enforcement in the oil & gas or a related industry;
• Demonstration of significant oil and gas experience in a relevant technical role such as combustion plant operations, production operations, drilling operations, well engineering, maintenance management, or
• Previous management or leadership experience, in a relevant technical, regulatory or enforcement environment, including experience on developing and implementing organisational policy and procedures.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £82,935, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £22,392 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, Experience and Technical skills.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement and any technical skills required. 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 explain what you will bring to the role, this will be scored against the skills, experience and essential criteria required for the advertised role.

Applications will be sifted on CV, personal statement, and any technical skills required.

In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on  the lead technical skill.

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, and technical questions.

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 26th February 2024

Interview dates: w/c 18th March 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/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.