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 want to work on live, fast paced energy policy as part of the team responsible for protecting the sector from hazards and malicious threats?

The State Threats, Energy Resilience and Cyber Security team ensures the risks of significant disruption to energy supplies and CNI are understood and effectively handled. We work across Whitehall and industry on the mitigation, prevention and reduction of risks, including severe weather (floods, storms, space weather), technical failure, cyber-attacks, terrorism, state actors, industrial action, and economic shocks.

We are recruiting for a policy advisor in our State Threats team.

You will work on some of the Government’s top national security priorities, liaising with industry and across government to ensure that robust security and resilience measures are in place to respond to the risks posed by state actors. This is a high priority area, commanding Ministerial interest from across Government.

Person specification

State Threats Policy Advisor

You will be a central part of our friendly and supportive team, which coordinates DESNZ interest in state threats and national security policy issues.

The role is varied and in it you will respond to acute national security threats like Russia-Ukraine and supporting the delivery of our higher classification emergency response exercising and planning. You will work on some of the Government’s top national security priorities, liaising with industry and across government to ensure that robust security and resilience measures are in place to respond to the risks posed by state actors. This is a high priority area, commanding Ministerial interest from across Government.

You will assess energy investment cases under the National Security and Investment Act (NSI), build DESNZ classified response capabilities, and work on other areas such as Supply Chains and AI.  This will give you the opportunity to use your influencing skills with a range of external and internal stakeholders across Whitehall and lead on policy work to build capabilities so DESNZ can effectively fulfil its role during emergencies.

DV clearance is required and can be obtained in post

Skills and Experience 

We would love to hear from you if you are an enthusiastic self-starter, ideally with experience of working in national security or energy related policy areas.

• You should have an eye for detail and the ability to solve problems and grapple with sophisticated issues.

• You will have excellent writing skills and be able to interpret and consolidate text from multiple sources into clear briefings and reports.

• Delivering at pace will be a strength and you will be comfortable drafting documents and policy against tight deadlines.

You will be part of the Department's core emergency response capability. The role therefore requires the post holder to take part in the out-of-hours on call rota.

Emergencies can occur at any time and as a result post holders will be asked to join the department's Out of Hours Emergency Rota (roughly 1 week in 7), providing a 24hr/7days a week capability. An additional allowance is provided for this function.

DV security clearance, or a willingness to undergo DV security clearance is essential. DV requires 10 years residency in the UK and UK National Status. Applicants must meet these requirements and be willing to undergo the DV process, which can be completed in post. (Please contact the vacancy manager if you are unsure whether you meet these requirements of have any questions about the vetting process).

We pride ourselves on having a friendly and encouraging work environment. We are constantly looking to diversify our workforce to give us the broadest range of perspectives possible. We want people who will help us promote the value of diversity within our department and really encourage applicants from underrepresented groups to apply. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities and different neurodiversity’s are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £37,000, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £9,990 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 and Experience.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement and a 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 500 words) to demonstrate your skills and experience aligning to the job description, in addition to your motivations for applying for the role.

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 lead behavioural statement (Delivering at pace).

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 questions

Sift and interview dates

Expected Timeline subject to change

Sift dates: w/c 10/06/2024

Interview dates: w/c 17/06/2024

Interview Location: MS Teams.

Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.

Further Information

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

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 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. 

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. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). 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.