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

We are looking for a Programme Manager for the Smart Secure Electricity Systems (SSES) Programme. This multi-year Programme that will endure over the 2020s has been set up to access up to £40-50 billion of benefits available from Demand Side Response, a key part of our net zero strategy. With the increasing deployment of electric vehicle chargers, heat pumps and batteries, there is a huge opportunity to ensure all households and small businesses can access electricity for these devices when it is cheapest, including through automation.

The Programme will be using new powers in the Energy Act 2023 to deliver a legislative, technical and regulatory framework so devices are built and operated in a smart, secure and interoperable way. The friendly Programme team is over twenty strong and growing. Alongside the Programme's Head of Policy (jobshare), you will co-lead the Programme and report to the Senior Responsible Owner. Your role is particularly crucial as the Programme continues to transition from a policy to a delivery phase.

Person specification

As Programme Manager, you will have primary responsibility for successful delivery of Programme outcomes, including through appropriate governance and assurance, monitoring progress, managing risks and issues and stakeholder management.

In particular, your responsibilities will include:

• Management of the Programme Management Office (PMO) and Stakeholder Management teams
  
• Ownership and development of the SSES Programme Delivery Plan – ensuring it is robust, appropriately sequenced and deliverable and using Programme lead updates to track progress against milestones and benefits
  
• Ownership and development (with wider team inputs) of the SSES Business Case - building on the existing, approved Strategic Outline Case to deliver an agreed Outline Business Case
  
• Management of risks, issues and dependencies - ensuring mitigations and dependencies are actively managed, and acting as arbiter to resolve issues across the Programme leads and beyond
  
• Management of the Programme governance model, including a regular cadence of Programme Board meetings as well as reporting into the Directorate-level Smart Energy Projects Board
  
• Supporting the Stakeholder Management team in developing a comprehensive Programme engagement plan, both for external stakeholders and other relevant government projects and programmes
  
• Working with the SRO and Head of Policy to prepare for the coming Spending Review that will determine levels of ongoing Programme resourcing from April 2025

Skills and experience

We would love to hear from you if you:

• Have experience of actively managing projects or programmes as a visible leader, taking direct ownership and responsibility for addressing challenges to arrive at successful outcomes
  
• Can think and act strategically and across a complex and evolving system, and are able to draw out and pro-actively act on opportunities, risks and issues to meet organisational objectives
  
• Have strong people skills, both as a team manager in building capability and also in working with stakeholders to ensure successful delivery, including through collaboration and influencing
  
• Have a track record of making evidence-based, deliverable, strategic decisions, are familiar with business cases and cost-benefit analysis, and are comfortable working with technical, economic or legal colleagues and subject matter
  
• Ideally have a relevant project delivery qualification or accreditation (such as being a Managing Successful Programmes or PRINCE2 Practitioner, or a Project Leadership Programme graduate). However, we also welcome applications from people who bring transferable skills (although only people with a relevant project delivery qualification or accreditation - in line with Programme Manager 3 within the PDCF - would be eligible for the £3,000 project delivery pay enhancement)

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £61,580, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £16,626 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 Experience and Technical skills.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. 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 explain how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the skills and experience requirements set out in the job description.

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  technical questions.

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 18/02/2024

Interview dates: 03/03/2024

Interview Location: MS 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.

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.