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

Are you looking for an opportunity to work on a key portfolio? Are you interested in working with teams across the department to understand and manage the challenges to decarbonise the power sector by 2035?

This is an exciting opportunity to play a role in managing the Power Sector Portfolio, to achieve a key departmental and government objective of decarbonising the power sector by 2035. We are a friendly and diverse team of project delivery professionals, managing one of the most critical portfolios in government.

Working in the Portfolio Management Team, you will oversee a collection of programmes and projects that contribute to delivering a secure, affordable, and decarbonised power system. You will focus primarily on supporting the management of the portfolio through contributing to our portfolio delivery plan, tracking the portfolio’s key milestones and dependencies, identifying and monitoring portfolio risks, and managing the portfolio’s reporting processes.

You will also have an opportunity to contribute to other portfolio management work streams, such as the portfolio’s benefits management strategy and stakeholder engagement activities.

The head of team takes continuing professional development seriously so you will find this a supportive environment in which to help develop your skills so that you have the best opportunity to flourish.

These roles are aligned with the Project Delivery Capability Framework (PDCF) career pathway Portfolio Analyst 1.

Further Information

The successful candidate may be eligible for a £1,500 pay enhancement subject to having a valid qualification from the list of ‘typical qualifications’ as defined in the Project Delivery Capability Framework for Level 1 Portfolio Analyst: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/project-delivery-capability-framework-for-civil-servants

Person specification

This role requires excellent communication and presentation skills as well as the ability and confidence required to manage a range of cross-cutting and complex data.

Successful candidates will be able to tailor their responsibilities to their interests and development needs, and will be supported in continuous development as a project delivery professional.

Key responsibilities include:

• Source, analyse and maintain relevant data from projects and programmes within the portfolio, through online reporting systems and stakeholder engagement.
• Contribute to and maintain key portfolio management products, such as a key milestones plan and a RAID log.
• Support the portfolio reporting cycle ensuring timely and quality data for use at Energy Board
• Manage our portfolio matrix, including ensuring that any new initiatives are added and contain up to date information.
• Look for opportunities to streamline or improve processes, and present information in a visual way using digital technology where appropriate.
• Support the Portfolio Manager(s) to communicate and build commitment to a shared vision and a sense of purpose.
• Develop other key portfolio management processes such as a stakeholder engagement plan and benefits management strategy

Skills and experience

Essential:

• Experience within project delivery, either in a project, programme or portfolio

Desirable:

• Experience managing risks using standard project delivery techniques
• Experience using data management and visualisation tools such as Excel, MS Teams and Power BI.
• Holding one or more of the following qualifications:

• PRINCE2 Foundation
• PRINCE2 Practitioner
• Managing Successful Programmes Foundation
• Managing Successful Programmes Practitioner
• Management of Risk Foundation
• Management of Risk Practitioner
• Managing Portfolios Foundation
• Managing Portfolios Practitioner
• APM Project Fundamentals
• APM Project Management Qualification
• PMI Certificate in Associate Project Management

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, Experience and Technical skills.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, a behavioural statement and a personal statement. 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 describe the most complex project, programme or portfolio you have worked on and your role within it.

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 Working Together. 

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 22nd January 2024

Interview dates w/c 29th January 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.