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

The Industrial Decarbanisation and Emissions Trading Directorate is looking to recruit an experienced and motivated project delivery professional to support the delivery of multiple workstreams within the Industrial Decarbanisation (ID) team. You will act as a critical friend to help deliver on policy and projects for the team. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of the directorate tackling one of the most important agendas for our country.

This is a great opportunity for an experienced project manager to lead and innovate the development of our project management function. It’s a friendly, fun, collaborative place to work, where we attach importance to how we do things – values, learning and development, and success – as well as what we do. It is demanding but exciting and exhilarating role, getting involved in a wide variety of projects.

You will sit with the a friendly project management team consisting of other project professionals working right across the directorate, however principally covering the ID team; a friendly and supportive team with challenging policy areas that supports key Net Zero initiatives to deliver our 2050 commitment.

We are keen on personal development and will provide you with an opportunity to engage in an array of stretching and developmental activities across the team, providing support where required and to meet individual development needs. We also adopt a flexible working culture.

Person specification

Maintain plans and schedules, applying appropriate project principles to deliver stated objectives within the resources available. Maintaining appropriate project controls and which will include the effective management of individual work stream plans and milestones.

Identifying and monitoring operational delivery risks and issues. Developing mitigating actions and escalating as appropriate. Identifying and working with related projects to manage interdependencies in a programme.

Support ID governance through process improvement and providing guidance and oversight of secretariat activity. 

Identify and monitor project risks and issues. Develop mitigating actions and escalate as appropriate.

Lead effective lessons learned programme, coordinating sessions, distributing findings and monitoring resulting actions. 

Lead Benefits realisation activity, engaging directly with the analysis team, M&E strategies and plans to manage and report of projects.

Monthly project reporting and other reporting commissions from across the directorate.

Provide support, guidance and coaching for the project team. Show commitment to personal development. Promote effective individual and team performance.

Other project delivery activities as required to support both the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund and potential other PMO scope areas within the Industrial Energy programme. 

Skills and experience

Are you a motivated self-starter? You should have strong organisational and interpersonal skills and be able to quickly develop an understanding of complex areas, as well as communicate clearly and persuasively to a variety of audiences.  You need to be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment. You will take pride in your work the contribution it makes towards tackling climate change.

We would love to hear from you if you have:

Experience of working in a large or medium complexity project team or work stream, working knowledge of project delivery methodologies and frameworks.

Working knowledge of planning, scheduling, budget management, resource management, risk and issue management and quality management in a project or programme environment, or appropriate skills that have been gathered in a non-project environment.

Working knowledge of governance, assurance, requirements management and change control in a project or programme environment or appropriate skills that have been gathered in a non-project environment.

A passion for project management and are able to work closely with projects and are confident with data, quantitative and qualitative project information

A recognised project management practitioner qualification, e.g., PRINCE2 Practitioner, APM Practitioner or relevant consolidated project management experience.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,470, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £10,116 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, Experience and Technical skills.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV a personal statement and three behaviour 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.

In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the lead behaviour statement, Delivering at Pace.

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, technical and strength-based questions.

A reserve list of candidates may be kept for up to 12 months.

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline - Subject to change -

Sift Dates: 01/02/2024

Interview Dates: 11/02/2024

Interview location: Microsoft Teams

Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

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.

Further Information

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 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.