About the job

Job summary

Energy policy is something that touches on every aspect of our lives – at home, at work and at play. Energy fuels our society and our economy. That’s why our policy work is so important, and so rewarding. It protects consumers. It enables businesses. It influences the entire energy industry. And it helps to bring about the seismic societal and infrastructure changes that will be the foundations for a Net Zero future.

Joining our policy team and be part of the forefront of change, influencing the energy industry, and contributing to a Net Zero future. We are on the lookout for individuals who have a proven track record of delivering tangible benefits for consumers, communities, or society at large. Your diverse background, whether in strategy development, policy analysis, financial management, or operational delivery, will be valued as we work together to tackle the multifaceted challenges of the energy sector.

At the heart of our policy practice are three pillars: Strategy, ensuring evidence and analysis inform our approach; Democracy, ensuring robust governance supports effective decision-making; and Delivery, implementing policies that make a real impact. If you champion a culture of inclusion, celebrate diversity, and are passionate about representing the interests of consumers and communities, you could be the change-maker we are looking for.

As a Senior Policy Lead in our Low Carbon Regulated Asset Base (LC RAB) team, you will play a crucial role in shaping policies for Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), New Nuclear, and Hydrogen (H2) Transport. This exciting opportunity involves providing expert advice on financial matters related to LC RAB projects, influencing regulatory decisions, and advocating for policies that align with consumer interests.

Your responsibilities will include leading policy development and delivery, collaborating with cross-disciplinary teams, and building strong stakeholder relationships. As part of our flexible resourcing model, you will have the opportunity to work on diverse projects, supporting your career and personal development goals.

If you are passionate about the energy sector, share our commitment to sustainability, and are ready to take on the challenges of a fast-paced environment, we invite you to be a part of our team. Together, we will shape the future of energy policy and contribute to a more sustainable and inclusive society.

Join us in making a meaningful impact on the energy landscape and be a driving force behind the transition to a low-carbon future.

Ofgem can offer you a comprehensive and competitive benefits package which includes a 20% hybrid working policy, up to 30 days annual leave after two years, and flexible working arrangements. 

Job description

The Low Carbon Regulated Asset Base (LC RAB) team is a collection of high performing, collaborative, and flexible staff, working across a number of new and exciting policy areas. Our work is excitingly varied, from advising the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), and Her Majesty's Treasury (HMT) on regulatory and strategic issues, developing new approaches to financing large scale energy investment, regulating new energy technologies and services, to developing policy crucial for meeting our decarbonisation goals.   

The team’s remit currently includes Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), New Nuclear, and Hydrogen (H2) Transport.   

  

As part of a cooperative and interdependent team of policy, finance, engineering, legal and regulatory experts, new joiners to the team will have the opportunity to take responsibility for managing aspects of the programme and to undertake detailed development of core components of the regulatory regime for Ofgem’s Low Carbon RAB work.   

Senior Policy Lead – Low carbon infrastructure (finance focus) (G7/2b): We are currently recruiting for a Senior Policy Lead for policy delivery with a finance focus across the Low Carbon RAB team’s areas. Candidate may have opportunities to work on the three current LC RAB programmes but the initial focus is expected to be the H2 Transport programme.   

The role will include:  

• Being an a reliable source of information and advice in a multi-disciplinary team with respect to the financial matters of the Low Carbon RAB programmes.  
• Planning, overseeing and delivering work on time and to a high standard through effective organisation and prioritisation of requests for support from multidisciplinary team members. 
• Using your expertise to provide comprehensive knowledge sharing, support and development that demonstrate commitment to Ofgem values. 

Key Responsibilities 

Use your expertise to: 

• advise Ofgem and DESNZ on financial matters in relation to the LC RAB projects and the implications for regulatory decisions, particularly around finance ability. 
• offer expert advise on regulatory and/or corporate finance policy, and its implications for consumers, finance ability, and our organisation, to the low carbon RAB programme teams and senior executives 
• work on the design specific regulatory finance policy to accommodate the regulation of nominal debt and equity costs for non-cohort and first-of-a-kind licensees. 
• liaise with internal teams such as regulatory/corporate finance, legal and engineering; and externally with other government departments, HMG, HMT, etc to advocate for policies and financial designs which support the interests of the consumer and Ofgem. 
• carefully monitor the ‘contagion risks’ flowing from new regulatory models to existing Ofgem programmes.
• Provide expertise in the following areas:
• Regulatory finance.
• Investment in regulatory vehicles.
• Economic Regulatory Regime (ERR) as it impacts on areas related to financial policy.
• Assist in the development of other colleagues and strong record keeping to enhance Ofgem’s long-term organisational capacity to regulated these sectors.
• Support the relevant Lead Technical Advisor within the team as well as the development of a high-performing team based on effective resource management, ongoing support and professional development
• Build strong relationships with stakeholders across Ofgem and HMG to provide guidance to help team members make evidence based decisions.
• Build supportive, inclusive team environment based on trust-based relationships, transparency and inclusivity 

Person specification

Essential Criteria 

• (LEAD) Technical experience in the relevant fields:
  • a solid knowledge of the Nuclear, H2 Transport, CCUS industry or equivalent industry; 
  • a professional understanding of regulatory finance, accounting models and techniques, private sector treasury processes, and capital raise processes.
• Policy Skills: identifying, analysing, and articulating complex problems; working with other professionals (for example analytical, technical, and legal) to develop solutions and options, and presenting policy recommendations that consider the trade-offs, risks, and dependencies to aid effective decision making
• Managing delivery: set clear goals and priorities, supports others to solve problems, overcome challenges, seeking feedback and means of continuous improvement.
• Clearly identifies and communicates the relevance, interdependencies and strategic fit of their work to organisational priorities both internally and externally
• Demonstrably identifies and understands the value/contribution of internal and external partners and effectively creates open, creative, constructive, timely and inclusive engagement   

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £43,650, OFGEM contributes £11,785 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.