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 for 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

Would you like to deliver critical policies for addressing climate change? This is an exciting time to join the Hydrogen and Industrial Carbon Capture directorate, which was formed to ensure successful delivery of the government’s Net Zero programme and decarbonise the economy. It is a fast-paced and exciting directorate that is at the heart of energy and climate change policy.

We are looking for two HEOs within the Hydrogen and Industrial Carbon Capture directorate to help us deliver policy across two of our business models.

Role 1: Industrial Carbon Capture Business Model

In the Net Zero Strategy we set out our ambition to capture and store at least 6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year from industrial sources by 2030. To help deliver these ambitions, our team is working to ensure the commercial frameworks and support mechanisms are in place to enable the deployment of Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage (CCUS) projects across the UK affiliated with a £20bn funding envelope.

The Industrial Carbon Capture (ICC) business model is a new incentive mechanism to provide funding support towards decarbonising vital industries such as chemicals, refining, cement and waste management. We are looking to ensure we establish the correct incentives for deployment whilst delivering value for money for the taxpayer.

You will have the opportunity to work on high-profile, complex and challenging policy development, alongside engaging with our key internal and external partners, as well as the chance to make lasting change!

You will also contribute to building a collaborative and happy environment where people bring their best to work, establishing excellent working relationships. We are a friendly and inclusive team, which places a strong emphasis on personal development. We welcome and encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, accommodating flexible working arrangements where needed.

This is a stretching HEO role with a chance  to shape policy development and delivery of the industrial carbon capture (ICC) business models and support the Net Zero programme. We are looking for an ambitious candidate to lead and/or support on some key policy elements of the business model design and evolution.

The role could include:

• Collaborating with analysts, commercial advisers and technical experts to establish key policy decisions relating to the support vital to deploy CCUS. This will involve drawing on a range of evidence and viewpoints to establish coherent policy positions which can be presented clearly to senior management and to industry.

• Developing strong relationships with other policy teams within DESNZ and across government to develop positions to ensure coherent policy across the wider policy landscape.

• Supporting/ leading on elements of the business model design and delivery, such as understanding the technologies being deployed (including emerging technologies) and sectors of implementation, and the impact this has for the commercial design of the model and contractual terms.

• Drafting papers and presenting to senior internal and external stakeholders, including ministers, HM Treasury, and industry, and supporting with correspondence and stakeholder engagement.

As work on the business model progresses, opportunities to work on other elements of policy delivery may be available.

If you have a background and interest in policy development and implementation, we would love to hear from you.

Role 2: Hydrogen Production Business Model

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. Incentivising production and use of low carbon hydrogen is fundamental to delivering this ambition.

This is an exciting time to join the Hydrogen Production Business Model (HPBM) team. The HPBM will provide a subsidy to hydrogen producers to close the operating cost gap between low carbon hydrogen and higher carbon alternatives, helping to deliver the Government's ambition to develop up to 10GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030. In 2024, we will be awarding business model contracts to the first successful projects and developing policy and the next iteration of the business model contract for future projects.

Our team sits within the Hydrogen and Industrial Carbon Capture Directorate, a fast-paced and exciting directorate that is at the heart of energy and climate policy. This is an exciting opportunity to work on the design and delivery of support for hydrogen in a politically high-profile area. You will join a highly motivated and fun team with wide variety of skills and experience, which places a strong emphasis on personal development.

This Policy Advisor role offers the opportunity to contribute to this exciting part of the net zero transition. The successful candidate will contribute to the design and delivery of the business model, and have the opportunity for significant engagement with our internal and external partners, to work on complex and challenging policy development, as well as the chance to make lasting change.

We are recruiting for one Policy Advisor role outlined below, to contribute to the design and development of the Hydrogen Production Business Model.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and proactive new team member with the capability for organisation, clear communication, critical thinking, policy design and delivery.

This role will be a policy focused role and will involve working with officials, external advisors, and industry stakeholders to develop new policy and support the delivery of business model contracts.

This may include:

• Policy development for the next business model contract: scoping out policy issues and design solutions for the business model design and underpinning contract, with the support of technical, legal and commercial advisers.

• Policy briefing: Supporting the management and drafting of Ministerial briefing materials; supporting coordination of the team's contributions to publications and updating core briefing documents.

• Policy integration: engaging across government to manage interfaces between the Hydrogen Production Business Model and other key government policies, ensuring business model design is aligned with overarching priorities.

• Supporting the delivery of initial business model contracts: working with the Department’s negotiation teams to support the agreement of business model contracts with shortlisted projects.

• Working with the Government’s commercial counter-party, the Low Carbon Contracts Company, to ensure projects can successfully deliver the low carbon hydrogen that a net zero economy requires.

If you have an interest in policy development and implementation, we would love to hear from you!

Person specification

Skills and Experience 

Role 1: Industrial Carbon Capture Business Model

We would love to hear from you if you have the following skills and experiences:

• Proactive approach to workload, with an ability to take the initiative, spot opportunities and threats, and deliver quality to short and long timelines in a fast-paced working environment.

• Strong analytical skills, with an ability to understand and apply commercial, legal and technical advice and evidence to policy development and delivery.

• Ability to manage and work across a team, providing inputs to others and collaborating on interface areas.

• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to establish, build and maintain collaborative and positive relationships with stakeholders.

• The ability to communicate complex and sometimes technical issues clearly and concisely both verbally and in written form to colleagues and stakeholders.

• Previous background in CCUS, industrial decarbonisation or energy is desirable (but not essential). A willingness to develop and build your knowledge of the policy is important and you will be supported to do this by the team. 

Role 2: Hydrogen Production Business Model

Essential Criteria

• Good project management skills and the ability to organise a complex workload, prioritising effectively to meet ambitious and/or competing timelines in a fast-paced environment.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to establish, build and maintain collaborative and positive relationships with a range of colleagues and stakeholders.

• Ability to manage and work across a team, providing inputs to others and collaborating on interface areas.

•Analytical skills with ability to think critically, understand, analyse and apply complex information to policy development and delivery.

Desirable Criteria

• Knowledge/experience in hydrogen or wider energy policy would be helpful but not essential; this can be learned on the job.

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, Strengths 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 250 words) to outline why you are interested in this role and what you will bring to the team. Make reference to your relevant experience and skills where possible.

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

Applications will be sifted on behavioural statements and personal statement.

In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the lead behaviour statement (Making Effective Decisions).

Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

The interview will consist of behaviours and strength based questions.

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 18/03/2024

Interview dates: w/c 25/03/2024

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 and 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.