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 it's 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 enormously proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We support candidates with adjustments throughout our recruitment process. Information about disability confidence and just some examples of the adjustments that you can request can be found in the reasonable adjustment section below.  

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy. 

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

Do you have good analytical skills?

Is decarbonising our energy sector important to you?

And, would you like to use and develop your analytical skills on some of the most high profile and crucial issues facing our nation?

We are looking for up to four people to join the DESNZ Energy Infrastructure and Markets Analysis (EIMA) Team.

Analysis is a vital input for Government decisions and our work helps to provide the insights needed to tackle the challenges of meeting our Net Zero ambitions.

You are likely to undertake strategic analysis on how to decarbonise the energy system, build the evidence base in your technology area, commission bespoke research, understand complex data sets, apply cutting-edge modelling, and publish analysis that underpins government decisions.

We work in collaborative, multi-disciplinary teams to provide expert and innovative analysis. Real examples of work that our analysts are considering today include:

+ Redesigning our energy markets for the 21st Century;

+ Analysing key technologies such as wind, solar, nuclear and hydrogen to understand how they can help us to decarbonise our energy supply;

+ Developing and using complex models to gain insights into future energy supply systems;

+ Understanding the value for money of major infrastructure and supply chain investments including in nuclear, electricity networks, carbon capture and renewables.

You will be joining a friendly, supportive and inclusive team. We encourage your personal development and you will be a member of our analytical professions: the Government Economic Service (GES) Government Operational Research Service (GORS), Government Social Research (GSR), or the Government Statistician Group (GSG).

With a culture of supportive management, EIMA will help you to produce insightful analysis for your customers and support your professional development.

The four posts are across different sub-teams within Energy Infrastructure and Markets Analysis (EIMA), therefore your responsibilities will vary depending on which team you work in, alongside your skills and preferences. The teams in our division (where roles could be based) include renewables, electricity strategy, carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS), reforming electricity markets, hydrogen and electricity security, electricity modelling, nuclear and energy transition, and networks and electricity systems.

Person specification

Key Responsibilities

+ Working closely with policy teams to understand the context of your work areas and the interdependencies with other workstreams.

+ Gathering, analysing and interpreting information to inform policy making. This could involve:

 - Developing the economic analysis for a new business case;

 - Modelling to develop insights into the energy system;

 - Designing and commissioning insightful research to provide new insights and grow understanding;

 - Developing statistics and performance metrics;

 - Evaluating the impact of government policies.

+ Communicating your work to share your insights, including with senior officials.

+ Supervising and leading the work of your junior colleagues.

A reserve list will be held for this recruitment.

Skills & Responsibilities

Candidates will have:

+ Strong verbal and written communication skills. Able to present their analysis in a clear and compelling way.

+ Critical and creative thinking skills. Able to identify and apply innovative approaches and techniques for analysing evidence and addressing any gaps.

+ Comfortable developing and working with quantitative and qualitative evidence and analysis to inform decision-making.

+ Problem-solving skills. Able to identify efficient and effective solutions to exploit opportunities and address problems.

+ Strong team working, management and interpersonal skills. Able to build trusting and credible relationships with peers and senior colleagues to collaborate on projects and decision-making.

+ Experience in leading on multiple and sometimes conflicting priorities, delivering at pace and maintaining a high standard.

+ Enthusiasm for our work - being willing to embrace new opportunities and have the drive to learn new skills.

+ Good IT skills and numerate. Willing to learn new software and systems to gain new insights. Excel and coding skills are desirable but training can be provided.

You must be a full member of one of the analytical professions: Government Economic Service (GES), Government Operational Research Service (GORS), Government Social Research Service (GSR), and Government Statistician Group (GSG).

Or:

You must be able to demonstrate that you satisfy the eligibility criteria and have the competence at the required grade for one of the professional bodies. Links are provided to the relevant professions below:

Government Economic Service (GES) - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ges-technical-framework-2022 

Government Operational Research Service (GORS) - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gors-professional-behaviours

Government Social Research Service (GSR) - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-government-social-research-competency-framework

Government Statistician Group (GSG) - https://gss.civilservice.gov.uk/policy-store/competency-framework-for-the-government-statistician-group-gsg/

To join one of these professions, you’ll need as a minimum to meet one of the following qualification standards:

Economist (GES):

Must have a first or 2.1 honours bachelors degree (or international equivalent) with at least 50 per cent of economics in the two final years (or equivalent); or a Post Graduate Diploma (or equivalent) or a Masters degree in economics, including a substantial amount of taught macro and microeconomics. Economic Adviser candidates must demonstrate substantial proven competence in applied economics as a professional economist.  

Operational Researcher (GORS): 

A degree at 2.1 (or equivalent) or an MSc in a highly numerate subject, or equivalent experience, and be able to demonstrate relevant experience in your career in a relevant profession.

Social Researcher (GSR):  

For qualification route, must hold an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:1, or 2:2 with a postgraduate degree, in a social science subject. Qualifying social science subjects are those that contain substantial social research methods training (comprising around one-third of modules taken in the course).

For professional experience route, must hold an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:1, or 2:2 with a postgraduate degree, in any subject, or hold a degree equivalent, and have at least 4 years’ social research practice experience. Social research practice experience consists of experience working in a research agency, market research agency or specialist research team. 

Statistician (GSG): 

- A first or second class honours degree in a numerate subject (2:1 minimum for Assistant Statistician and 2:2 minimum for Statistical Officer) containing at least 25% taught statistical content (e.g. Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Sciences, Business Studies, Psychology, Geography or similar).

- A higher degree, e.g. a MSc or PhD, in a subject containing formal statistical training (e.g. Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Sciences, Business Studies, Psychology, Geography or similar).

- Have achieved or on track to achieve a level 4 apprenticeship including at least 2 years in a statistical/data analysis field in government and are able to demonstrate continuous professional development in statistics/data analysis.

- Have worked in a statistical or data science field for a minimum of two years and are able to demonstrate Continuous Professional Development (via a logbook) in applying statistics or data science at the same level as a foundation degree or Higher National Diploma (level five), which demonstrates the expected skills as outlined in the GSG Competency framework.  

Find out more at https://analysisfunction.civilservice.gov.uk/government-statistical-service-and-statistician-group/gss-careers-and-learning/joining-us/.

If you are selected to proceed to interview, depending on the profession you are applying under, and your existing badging status, you may be asked to undertake an additional online test prior to or during interview.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £52,985, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £14,305 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, behavioural statements and any technical skills required.

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

Applications will be sifted on behavioural statements, CV and any technical skills required.

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

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.

External candidates should be automatically rejected if they do not meet the essential requirement of (GSR, GSG, GES or GORS Badge). We are happy to badge existing Civil Servants

The link to the technical/professional competency framework that candidates will be assessed against, for their reference:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ges-technical-framework-2022  Government Operational Research Service (GORS)

http://www.operational-research.gov.uk/recruitment/competencies/      

Government Social Research Service (GSR): https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-government-social-research-competency-framework       

Government Statistician Group (GSG): https://analysisfunction.civilservice.gov.uk/policy-store/competency-framework-for-the-government-statistician-group-gsg

Interviewees will be asked to deliver a presentation; further details will be provided nearer the time. 

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 17/06/2024

Interview dates: w/c 24/06/2024

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.