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 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 work 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

Do you want to work on redesigning electricity markets to help the UK reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050?

If yes, then join our high profile, friendly and diverse team.

We are recruiting for a Senior Project Manager in the Energy Markets and Analysis Directorate, supporting DESNZ's flagship electricity market reform programme (REMA: the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements) - a top priority across Government including No.10 and HMT. The programme aims to future-proof our electricity market arrangements to help unlock unprecedented levels of investment across the full range of low carbon technologies; maintain security of supply; and ensure the system can be operated safely and cost-effectively.

We pride ourselves on having a friendly, inclusive and supportive work environment. We support team members to develop their careers. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and to offering flexible working opportunities. We are keen to hear from those who work part-time, job-share or have other arrangements.

• Lead the REMA project to deliver the agreed outcomes within time, cost and quality constraints.

• Day to day management and leadership of the project and project team. Provide effective leadership and management controls.

• Develop and draft the business case, with input from specialists as necessary.

• Identify and monitor project risks and issues. Develop mitigating actions and escalate as appropriate. Identify and work with related projects to manage interdependencies.

• Support effective governance and decision making. Provide reporting and engage in mechanisms that hold you, as project manager, to account for delivery.

• Engage with assurance reviews and support action on recommendations. Organise assurance processes such as gateway reviews, as required.

• Ensure effective change management processes are in place to agree and document changes to deliverables as agreed with stakeholders.

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

Person specification

Skills and Experience

• Proven experience of working in a Programme or PMO environment.

• Demonstrate a developed knowledge of portfolio, programme or project management methodologies, tools, and practices.

• Have excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to deliver information in an accurate, clear, and concise format to a variety of stakeholders at all levels.

• Possess strong analytical and reasoning skills with the ability to interpret data and model multiple options and recommendations.

• Be a confident leader with the ability to see the big picture, motivate staff and deliver under pressure.

• Be able to handle/prioritise a large and varied workload, adopt a flexible approach to dealing with challenge. Manage conflicting priorities within tight deadlines.

• Have strong organisational skills, being a self-starter, working effectively and remaining professional in a highly pressurised environment.

• Hold one of the following qualifications OR provide evidence of extensive experience in:

- PRINCE2 Practitioner.

- Agile Project Management Practitioner.

- APM Project Management Qualification.

- APM Chartered Project Professional.

- Project Leadership Programme.

- PMI Project Management Professional.

- Leading and Managing Project Workstreams.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £50,305, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £13,582 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, personal statement, behavioural statements and any technical skills required.

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

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to outline how you meet the skills and experience required for this role.

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

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 behaviours and technical questions.

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 15/04/2024

Interview dates: w/c 29/04/2024

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.