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

About the Directorate  

The Clean Heat Directorate is responsible for developing policies to support the Government’s legally binding target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions from across the UK economy by 2050.  

These roles sit within the Electrification, Products, Buildings and Delivery (EPBD) division of the Clean Heat Directorate. EPBD’s focus is to accelerate the electrification of heat towards the Government ambition of 600,000 heat pumps per annum from 2028. We are a diverse, fun, and driven team who are passionate about delivering on our exciting agenda. We support flexible working, with team members across the grades with different working patterns, and we offer tailored L&D opportunities for introduction to Clean Heat, as well as supporting take-up of wider opportunities. 

If you're interested in joining us, we'd love to hear from you. 

About the team:  

Two of the roles sit within the Heat in Buildings team, part of the Clean Heat Directorate. The non-domestic decarbonisation and off gas grid team is a small team of dedicated individuals. It is a dynamic, welcoming, and supportive team, in which everyone is encouraged to put forward their ideas. We’re contributing to the UK’s net zero targets by designing policies to decarbonise non-domestic heating, explore alternative technologies for heating and working with others to drive the uptake of innovative clean heating technologies.

One of the roles sits within the Manufacturing and Enablers Team, part of the Clean Heat Directorate. The team works across a range of areas to improve the role out of heat pumps across the UK, including supporting domestic manufacturing capacity, skills and apprenticeships, alternative electric heating options where heat pumps may not be the best solution and removing other barriers to make it easier to install a heat pump.   

Job description: 

As a policy advisor, you’ll be at the forefront of our country’s most high-profile issues, as we lead the way on one of the Prime Minister’s key priorities.  

We are looking to recruit policy advisors who will have responsibility for supporting the design of policies to help the UK deliver its Net Zero commitments. We operate flexibly as a team, working across policy areas – this will provide successful candidates valuable insight into all sides of decision-making. 

We’re looking for people who are adaptable, self-motivated, and comfortable working across policy areas. The work will mean working with several DESNZ teams, as well as engaging with other government departments, government agencies, devolved administrations, and industry.

As a policy advisor in Heat in Buildings you will be responsible for: 

• Supporting the development of policies to support decarbonisation of heat in buildings.

• Carrying out research and drafting policy documents on different areas of heat decarbonisation.

• Engaging across Government and with industry to understand the current landscape and shape these policies. 

• Ensuring the creation of the right enabling environment, such as: 

- Considering consumer protection and mechanisms for ensuring compliance with the policy. 

- The role of the Government in supporting businesses to fund the cost of their decarbonisation.   

As a policy advisor in the Manufacturing and Enablers team you will be responsible for:

• Supporting the delivery of the Heat Pump Investment Accelerator Competition

• Engage with manufacturers and other stakeholders to understand the market and turn this market intelligence into future policy development aimed at successfully rolling out heat pumps at scale.

• Ensuring the right environment exists to provide confidence to the industry to invest in the production of heat pumps.

The posts offer a wide range of learning and development opportunities across a truly broad and exciting policy area.

Person specification

Skills and Experience

Essential:

• Experience of up-skilling quickly and delivering at pace.

• Experience of working with a high degree of autonomy, whilst coordinating effectively with others.

• Excellent written and verbal communications skills, with the ability to break down and present complex information to non-experts.

• Good interpersonal skills and experience of strong collaboration with other teams and professions (legal, analysts, communications, and technical experts) and external stakeholders.

Desirable:

• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to deal with technical evidence, identify evidence gaps, and weigh up different priorities to develop policy options and make recommendations.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £31,120, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £8,409 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 behavioural statements.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

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. 

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 behaviour and strength based questions, as well as a written exercise.

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 15/04/2024

Interview dates: w/c 22/04/2024

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.