About the job

Job summary

The responsibilities for the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero for 2023 are as follows:

Delivering security of energy supply

Ensuring properly functioning energy markets

Encouraging greater energy efficiency

Seizing the opportunities of net zero to lead the world in new green industries

For 2023, our priorities are:

Ensure security of energy supply this winter, next winter and in the longer-term – bringing down energy bills and reducing inflation.

Ensure the UK is on track to meet its legally binding Net Zero commitments and support economic growth by significantly speeding up delivery of network infrastructure and domestic energy production.

Improve the energy efficiency of UK homes, businesses and public sector buildings to meet the 15% demand reduction ambition.

Deliver current schemes to support energy consumers with their bills and develop options for long-term reform to improve how the electricity market works for families and businesses.

Seize the economic benefits of Net Zero, including the jobs and growth created through investment in new green industries.

Pass the Energy Bill to support the emerging CCUS and hydrogen sectors; to update the governance of the energy system; and to reduce the time taken to consent offshore wind.

Our Inclusive Environment

We are building an inclusive culture to make the Department a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.

We offer first-class flexible working benefits, excellent employee well-being support and a great pension. 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.

We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion. We will fully support candidates with a disability or long-term condition who require adjustments in our recruitment process.

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

Summary

Would you like to deliver critical policies for addressing climate change? In 2019, the UK became the first major economy in the world to legislate to have net zero carbon emissions by 2050, meaning we will no longer be a net emitter of greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change. We are looking for someone to develop and implement policy to help the UK meet this target. If successful, you will join our friendly, collaborative team working at the heart of UK decarbonisation policy.

In order to fully decarbonise we need to rapidly integrate high volumes of low carbon power into our energy system. This will require new infrastructure, an example of which is increased interconnection with neighbouring countries. As part of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the EU we have agreed new efficient trading arrangements across these interconnectors so that we can facilitate a transition to net zero in both the EU and in the UK as efficiently as possible while meeting the needs of consumers.

Job description

As a Policy Advisor in Cross-Border Electricity Trading, you will support the development and delivery of efficient UK-EU electricity trading arrangements to deliver net zero and shape our future energy relationship with the EU. The role is both technical and strategic: you will work closely with regulators, Devolved Administrations and industry partners to develop detailed policies to optimise UK-EU electricity trade; you will also have significant engagement with EU institutions and foreign governments in collaboration with UK Embassies and UKMis to advance our diplomatic agenda within the context of the UK-EU Trade & Cooperation Agreement. The topic is highly political and current, and attracts significant interest from Ministers.

Person specification

We are looking for a Policy Advisor to:

•  Support the development of detailed policy proposals for the UK’s energy and climate interests within the context of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the EU
•  Help provide technical input to support the ongoing negotiations with the EU on electricity trade – including by building team capability, and playing a role in the immediate or broader negotiating team
•  Contribute to policy development on the broader climate and energy negotiations, ensuring consistency and coherence between electricity trading policy and relevant topics
•  Manage and support engagement with external stakeholders, Devolved Administrations, and other departments in Whitehall
•  Keep abreast of emerging developments and reacting to events with wider impacts on EU-UK energy cooperation and trade

We are looking for an enthusiastic self-starter who is comfortable operating flexibly and responding to events, as well as anticipating requirements. Prior knowledge of energy policy and/or electricity markets is desirable, though we will quickly upskill you in areas where you have less experience. We are proud of our commitment to learning and development and this is reflected in outstanding results to recent people surveys.

We are constantly looking to diversify our workforce to give us the broadest range of perspectives possible. We believe diversity and inclusion are the right thing to do, and that they make us a more innovative, welcoming Department which is a better employer, that makes better decisions. We therefore particularly welcome applications from underrepresented backgrounds and from disabled people.

Skills and experience

The ideal candidate will:

• Have knowledge of or interest in energy policy and/or electricity markets.
• Have a real passion for the work they do and the impact it has.
• Have an eye for detail, with strong problem-solving skills and the ability to grapple with complex issues.
• Have strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, and strong written and oral communication skills.
• Be self-motivated and highly organised, with the ability to prioritise and manage workload effectively.
• Have the ability to work with experts on technically complex issues and communicate technical policy issues to non-specialists.

We pride ourselves on having a friendly and supportive work environment. We support team members to develop their careers, and we encourage those who work part-time, job-share or have other flexible working arrangements to apply. We will provide people with disabilities reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application process and working environment

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £31,120, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £8,402 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, personal statement and behavioural statements. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to tell us what attracted you to this role, and what relevant skills and experience could you bring to it?

Applications will be sifted on behavioural statements and personal statement.

Please note - the CV incorporated into the application form is for information purposes only and will not be scored.

In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the lead behaviour statement Communicating and Influencing.

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 questions.

Interviewees will be asked to deliver a presentation; further details will be provided nearer the time.

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 08/01/2024

Interview dates: w/c 15/01/2024

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.