About the job

Job summary

HM Treasury

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

About the Group

The Enterprise and Growth Unit (EGU) promotes sustainable economic growth and higher productivity for the UK. We provide analysis and advice on enterprise, innovation, private sector investment and a cost-effective transition to a low-carbon economy. The Enterprise and Growth Unit has a varied and exciting agenda and we work closely with a wide variety of other teams across the Treasury.  

We also work alongside other departments and government organisations to ensure that we are thinking creatively, spending wisely, and acting boldly to deliver these goals. These organisations are:

• the Department for Business and Trade,
• the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero,
• the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs,
• the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology,
• the Department for Transport,
• the Department for Culture, Media & Sport,
• the Competition and Markets Authority,
• HM Land Registry, and
• UK Export Finance

About the Team

The Climate and Environment Team (CET) acts as the focal point for HM Treasury’s work on climate change, net zero and the natural environment. The team leads on embedding domestic climate risk, net zero and environmental policy considerations into the work of the department. We work with teams in tax, spending, economics, trade, fiscal, financial services and financial stability to use the range of levers which Treasury controls to ensure the government has affordable and economically efficient plans to achieve its legal commitments under the Climate Change Act 2008 and Environment Act 2021.

We advance Treasury interests across some of the biggest policy opportunities and challenges facing the UK including climate mitigation and adaptation, decarbonising heat and buildings, water company regulation, waste sector reform, implementing England’s agricultural transition plan and reforming our domestic environment policy – including through new statutory targets for the recovery of the natural world.

The team leads engagement with and spending control for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and works closely with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), Cabinet Office and No10 on the government’s overall climate change strategy and plan. We also support international colleagues in their efforts to galvanise global action on climate and nature.

We are a flexible and friendly team, and our members have a range of working patterns.

About the Job

We are recruiting for two policy adviser roles in the Defra spending team, which has spending control responsibility for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and advises the Chancellor and HMT Ministers on all areas of policy within Defra’s remit, and that of its arm’s-length bodies.

The branch advises HMT ministers on Defra policy - including agriculture, rural affairs, nature, water regulation and environmental regulation - and on ensuring government has economically efficient plans to deliver our statutory environmental targets and resilience to climate risk.

This is an exciting opportunity to be at the heart of government policy making and will give the postholder the opportunity to lead and shape policy in these areas, in a supportive environment that encourages innovation, independent thinking, and a focus on delivering value for the UK taxpayer.

You do not need to be a policy professional, have any specific qualifications, or prior experience/knowledge of these policy areas to apply for this role. We are looking for people who have the right set of skills for the role, who demonstrate the values of our organisation, and who are motivated to come and work with us on a range of issues that are key to the UK’s economic prosperity and resilience. The postholder will be well supported by line management and the wider team, and training on spending control and reviewing business cases will be provided.

These are stretching posts that will require you to develop expertise within the relevant policy areas. Any previous experience in public spending or the relevant policy areas would be beneficial, however our ideal candidate would be someone who can influence a range of stakeholders, develop novel solutions to complex issues, and make evidence-based decisions where significant trade-offs need to be balanced.   

Deputy Spending Principal

 Key responsibilities include:

1. Leading day-to-day work on spending control of Defra’s budgets. You will assess Defra’s financial position on a monthly basis, analysing forecasts and trends, and identifying and responding to emerging spending risks. You will be expected to be the lead in the Treasury on Defra’s in-year spending numbers and lead on the annual budget setting process (the Estimates process), working closely with central HMT teams and Defra’s strategic finance team. You will have the opportunity to develop your spending and finance expertise in post – handling ad-hoc spending issues as and when they arise.
2. Leading for HMT on Defra policy areas. You will identify and promote HMT interests across a range of policy areas. Specific responsibilities can be tailored depending on the individual’s experiences and preferences, but this role is likely to involve leading for HMT on Defra’s Borders programme, air quality, resource and waste policy (e.g. recycling), research and development spending and chemicals regulation. You also have the opportunity to lead on major and other ad-hoc projects e.g. the Science Capability in Animal Health Programme, workforce negotiations. This will involve developing and maintaining relationships with colleagues in Defra, working through spending and/or policy issues and advising HMT ministers where necessary e.g., by providing advice on business case approvals. 
3. Supporting the Defra Spending Principal on spending strategy. You will be expected to play a key part in developing HMT’s approach and strategy on Defra spending e.g. at fiscal events or future spending reviews. You will need to develop a broad understanding of the department’s policy areas – and identify spending risks and opportunities. This will involve co-ordinating with the rest of the Defra spending team and liaising with colleagues in other HMT teams to ensure the team’s input to central processes is accurate and of high quality.

Policy Adviser – Water and Flooding 

Key responsibilities include:

1. Lead for HMT on water and flooding policy. You will identify and promote HMT interests in these areas. This includes oversight of the £5.2 billion capital programme for flood and coastal risk management. As water is a regulated utility sector, the postholder will also cover issues relating to market competition and regulation. This involves promoting objectives on water quality and services, balancing environmental improvements with delivery, affordability, and the ability for water companies to finance investment. As part of this, you will analyse evidence and scrutinise policy proposals to ensure value for money in government spending. This will involve working through spending and policy issues, briefing and supporting senior officials, and advising HMT ministers to enable them to take policy and spending decisions with clarity on trade-offs and awareness of the wider context.
2. Build and maintain constructive relationships, particularly with Defra and the Environment Agency to ensure that their plans are clear, costed, and represent value for money to the taxpayer. You will also engage with Ofwat, water companies and experts in the field, to provide evidence-based advice within these policy areas.
3. Leading day-to-day spending control of Ofwat’s budgets. You will work with Ofwat – the water sector regulator - to assess their in-year financial position and handle requests requiring HMT approval. You will lead the annual budget setting process (the Estimates process) for Ofwat, working closely with central HMT teams and Ofwat’s finance team.

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 the right time. 

Thursday 23rd May 2024 13:00-13:30 Join the meeting

If you would like to speak to the hiring manager informally prior to the closing date for applications to find out more about the job, please contact Gabriella Astrini (Gabriella.Astrini@hmtreasury.gov.uk).

Person specification

We are looking for the below skills, experience and behaviours and we will ask you to demonstrate these in your application form. Please review the Candidate FAQ document that is attached to the advert for guidance on how to complete your application form.  

1. Ability to evaluate different and sometimes competing evidence sources, apply considered judgement to come to a conclusion (Making Effective Decisions)
2. Ability to build strong relationships with a wide network of partners in government, and use these relationships to deliver your objectives (Working together)
3. Ability to juggle multiple competing priorities in a fast-paced environment whilst delivering longer term objectives (Delivering at Pace)

The lead criterion is: Ability to evaluate different and sometimes competing evidence sources, apply considered judgement to come to a conclusion (Making Effective Decisions)

If we receive large volumes of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the lead criterion only.

Candidate Guidance Support Session 
 
We will be running an overview of Success Profiles and the STAR approach; top tips for the 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 the right time. 

5th June at 12:30hrs Join the meeting

At interview stage, you will be assessed on the below criteria:

• Strengths
• Behaviours:
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Working Together
  • Delivering at Pace 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,500, HM Treasury contributes £10,665 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 

Closing date: 2 June 2024

Shortlisting: w/c 3 June 2024

Interviews:  w/c 10 / 17 June 2024

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

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.