About the job

Job summary

Play a key role in the economic and analysis strategy within Ofgem to facilitates markets working  in the best interests of consumers across GB.

Ofgem works on behalf of energy consumers to ensure that every household and business in GB can rely on a safe and energy supply. We are playing a vital part in accelerating the transition to Net Zero and a carbon neutral energy system. You can make a difference by helping with the economic analysis needed for our work to be the best for energy customers.   

Ofgem are currently recruiting for a Principal Economist with a speciality in Competition,. Within this role you will apply and oversee the principles of economics to the fast-moving, dynamic environment of Ofgem. Responsible for high quality analysis and knowledge sharing you’ll develop links with economists within your profession alongside working with a diverse set of senior stakeholders. Your knowledge sharing will extend to representing Ofgem at industry events, across the energy sector and other Civil Service organisations. A key part of the role will be the delivery of both written and verbal briefings to Ofgem boards and committees on key issues relating to your expert knowledge to help drive strategy. You will also steer complex projects, developing frameworks and economic models. 

With demonstrable professional experience, you’ll be a strategic thinker with an expertise within competition economics. You’ll have excellent, well-rounded communication skills with experience tailoring your approach to different audiences. With proven qualitative, quantitative analytical experience you’ll effectively build relationships and collaborate with a range of internal and external stakeholders, share knowledge across the wider profession and see linkages between various areas of the organisation. You will be supported across Ofgem throughout your career journey by senior leadership, learning and development and the wider economic network. 

We want to make our workforce more diverse so that it  reflects the society we serve, so we welcome candidates from all backgrounds, and especially those from underrepresented groups. While this is a full-time role, flexible working patterns are welcome. We will also support you with excellent training and development opportunities, plus a fantastic benefits package. 

As part of this campaign we are holding an open event on 21st February at 12.30pm which is a perfect chance to hear from the team on the roles and what life at Ofgem means to them. Sign up for free here: https://buytickets.at/ofgem/1150911 

Job description

You will be joining Ofgem’s Analysis community working collaboratively with others  to lead as well as contribute to high profile projects using your competition economics expertise for example, developing market frameworks  and market assessments.

• Presenting your work succinctly to technical and non technical audience.

• Build capability across Ofgem in economics and analysis – driving awareness and fostering buy-in at all levels. Increase Ofgem’s impact as a leader in the field of competition economics
• Provide PDL support to other members of the profession as required

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide clear and transparent work objectives, milestones and success metrics in your area of expertise to oversee and co-ordinate successful team outcomes.

• Collaborates closely with other teams to manage interdependencies, risks and resourcing to support portfolio delivery.

• Where required, be jointly responsible with the PDL on welfare and pastoral care of all colleagues.

• Demonstrates effective diversity and inclusive team management within their team and the wider organisation.

Key Outputs and Deliverables

Application of advanced technical expertise in competition economics to develop robust recommendations, carry out market studies and develop competition assessment framework and analytical models. Ensure that the economic analysis is delivered to a high standard. Critically assess and interpret the evidence available and the weight that can be attached to it; identify economic risks and propose mitigations for them. 

• Draft clear and concise documents, including briefing, reports, and management papers. Ensure robust project management and quality assurance processes are in place to deliver high-quality and timely behavioural science and research outputs

• Embed competition economics consideration  in Ofgem’s policy and decision making processes, working effectively with the PMO and other analytical  and policy functions

• Provision of expertise to individuals and projects to ensure that competition economics considerations are applied strategically, appropriately and effectively, providing guidance on constructive challenges and support staff to consider new and innovative methods
• Contribute to building economics capability in Ofgem, fostering buy-in at all levels. Build strong, effective relationships, collaborating with senior leaders  across Ofgem to identify opportunities and ensure production of high quality outputs.

• Work in close partnership with the other technical experts to ensure a coherent work programme that supports delivery of stronger analytical best practice, standards and building of expertise. Build an academic/stakeholder engagement strategy working with peers in other departments to develop collaboration opportunities

• Represent Ofgem at external events, conferences etc to showcase Ofgem’s work in this area and help shape the debate on regulatory economics to help increase our reputation as a leader in the field

Person specification

• Experience: A Masters or PhD in Competition policy or economics and interest in microeconomics or significant professional experience and knowledge of substantive issues that arise in competition economics ( Lead)
• Project Management: Experience of leading and delivering complex competition economics projects including developing competition frameworks, market assessments and analytical models
• Communication: Excellent ability to distil complex subject matter into relevant messages for different audiences – both orally and in writing, combined with excellent drafting skills.
• Stakeholder engagement: Skilled at developing strategic relationships and working collaboratively across a range of internal and external stakeholders at all levels.

• Organisational skills: an excellent understanding of project management and the ability to proactively prioritise, plan and schedule complex and diverse tasks.
• Coaching/Mentoring: Experience of developing people’s skills and capabilities, through knowledge sharing, providing peer review of others’ work and/or input to the policies and procedures

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £56,000, OFGEM contributes £15,120 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.

When you press the ‘Apply now’ button, you will be asked to complete personal details (not seen by the sift panel), your career history and qualifications.

You will then be asked to provide a 1250 word ‘personal statement’ evidencing how you meet the essential and desirable skills and capabilities listed in the role profile. Please ensure you demonstrate clearly, within your supporting statement, how you meet each of the essential and desirable skills and capabilities.

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.