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 UK is charting an important pathway to net zero emissions by 2050, boosting jobs and cementing our position as a world leader in low carbon power generation. Delivering this ambition is not possible without renewable energy, and this role is an exciting opportunity to be part of this journey.

We are the Biomass Strategy & Sustainability team, part of the Net Zero Strategy Directorate, a high-profile, friendly and diverse directorate at the centre of delivering Government's net zero ambition. For biomass to play a role in reaching our net zero target, it must be sustainable and used in a way that delivers the greatest potential decarbonisation benefit. Sustainable biomass is a highly versatile material that can be used to support renewable electricity, heat and transport fuels production, as well as the displacement of fossil fuels in materials and chemicals production. Combining bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) will be key for creating negative emissions that are vital for offsetting GHG emissions in the harder to decarbonise sectors, such as heavy industry, agriculture and aviation.

This Senior Policy Advisor role will support the development and implementation of the cross-sectoral biomass sustainability framework, including the delivery of a consultation in 2024. This is a key commitment of the recently published Biomass Strategy.

With the publication of the strategy the team is moving into a new phase to deliver this, so there will be an opportunity to shape the role. The development of the cross-sectoral biomass sustainability framework will be a complex and cross-cutting exercise. It consists of several distinct work packages, including updating aspects of the GHG and Land Criteria of existing sustainability criteria, developing direction for new criteria for new feedstocks and technologies, identifying improved data collection and reporting methods, against the actions set out in the Biomass Strategy to strengthen the sustainability criteria, and stakeholder engagement and governance, both at a domestic and international level to exchange best practices and keep track of international developments in this increasingly high-profile area. The post holder will be part of a small team of SEOs delivering different aspects of the work, therefore the successful applicant will need to work in a collaborative and flexible way to achieve the team's aims and objectives.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated individual, who is keen to deliver and take ownership of parts of this complex area of work. Biomass is a high-profile work area, with strong public and political interest.

The Net Zero Strategy Directorate in DESNZ is committed to being an inclusive employer with a diverse and representative workforce at all levels. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, cultures and experiences.

We particularly welcome applications from ethnic minority candidates and candidates with other protected characteristics as they are currently underrepresented within some teams. Appointments will be made on merit on the basis of fair and open competition.

Many people in the directorate have flexible working arrangements, including regular working from home, flexitime, job share and compressed hours. We particularly welcome and will endeavour to support applicants with any additional flexible working approaches.

Person specification

Lead the development of specific aspects of the cross-sectoral sustainability framework, taking ownership of actions and driving forward activities.

• Contribute to the development of the biomass sustainability consultation.
  
• Developing and maintaining excellent working relationships with teams within DESNZ and in OGDs (Other Government Departments); working collaboratively to build a shared understanding and agreements on details of the updated sustainability criteria.
  
• Undertaking stakeholder engagement with internal and external stakeholders and partners to understand risks, opportunities, and challenges facing the implementation of enhanced biomass sustainability criteria.
  
• Analyse the responses to the consultation and develop advice for ministers on the implementation of the biomass sustainability criteria based on these responses, working closely with legal, analytical, science, and policy colleagues.
  
• Performing secretariat functions, planning for cross-government working-level and senior official boards and working with key partners, writing agendas, minutes and keeping actions logs to ensure the delivery of policy actions.
  
• Drafting and advising on briefings for Ministers and senior officials, communicating complex arguments clearly and concisely to a senior audience, in both written and oral form.
  
• Preparing, checking and advising on correspondence, PQs, Freedom of Information requests, and responses to other ad-hoc requests to help deliver Ministerial communications.

Skills and experience

Essential:

• Excellent interpersonal skills and an ability to build and maintain good relationships across multiple internal and external teams. You are able to influence others and support positive relationships with partners.
  
• Experience of leading policy development and/or policy delivery.
  
• Excellent problem-solving skills, able to understand and analyse information and evidence from a variety of sources (including legal, scientific, economic, commercial, and engineering) to form recommendations, able to assimilate and work with technical detail, and able to make effective decisions about complex issues.
  
• Able to demonstrate strategic thinking, understand and take advantage of the linkages between policy areas in DESNZ and OGDs. Strong attention to detail, and an ability to understand key challenges, gather perspectives and implement long-term solutions.
  
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate sophisticated ideas to senior audiences clearly and concisely through a variety of means.
  
• Able to plan, prioritise and quality assure the work of others.
  
• Able to grasp issues quickly and understand the strategic objectives of the department and wider Government.
  

Desirable:

• Knowledge and understanding of environmental and sustainability considerations and/or energy, land use, and environmental policy is helpful but not essential.

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 and Experience.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, a personal statement and number of behavioural statements.

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

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 750 words) to describe how your skills and experience make you suitable for this role. Please align your answer with the essential skills and experienced outlined in the job advert.

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 personal statement.

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.

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 29/01/2024

Interview dates: w/c 12/02/2024

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 or Disclosure Scotland/Access NI 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.