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

The Energy Security and Resilience Directorate is a friendly environment with a clear purpose and collaborative way of working. We ensure the UK has a reliable and resilient supply of energy.

This is a good time to be joining us: we are increasingly moving from an urgent focus on short term domestic energy security in the wake of the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine, to ensuring the UK’s energy security for the long term as we chart a course to net zero.

The Energy Security team sits at the heart of ensuring security of energy supply now and in the future and works across the department and with key external stakeholders to provide a whole system strategic perspective. A role in this team enables you to be at the forefront of shaping the nation’s energy security strategy while monitoring and communicating the current picture to senior audiences. 

We are recruiting for two positions in the Energy Security Team: a G7 Energy Security Strategy team leader and the G7 Head of Gas Security of Supply Policy.

As Energy Security Strategy Team Leader, you will be responsible for developing and overseeing the Department’s strategic approach to energy security – thinking widely over much of the Department’s work to consider the energy security implications and forward path to ensure we can reach Net Zero in an energy secure way.

As Head of Gas Security Supply Policy you will lead a team responsible for considering and responding to challenges to the UK’s gas security of supply. You will work across different issues such as the future of gas, electricity policy and geopolitical issues, build links with teams across the department to understand and respond to policy challenges, and provide advice to seniors and ministers.

Both roles will provide exposure to work carried out in other energy groups within the Department and provide an excellent opportunity to develop your big picture understanding of the energy security landscape, strategic thinking, and leadership, as well as skills in building consensus, resolving challenges, and delivering through others.

These are exciting roles working on a critical policy area with opportunities to brief senior stakeholders, including senior civil servants and ministers. They will involve close working with a variety of teams across the Department and external stakeholders such as the operators of our gas and electricity systems and Ofgem.

We pride ourselves on our dynamic work environment, offering roles that challenge and enrich our team members’ professional lives. Joining our team means being part of a supportive environment where your contributions are valued, and your professional development is taken seriously. We work flexibly around the UK, and we are a multidisciplinary team that brings together many Civil Service professions.

Person specification

As a Energy Security Strategy Team Leader, you would be responsible for:

•  Identifying and leading initiatives to identify, develop, and prioritise strategies and measures aimed at bolstering the security of our energy supply in the medium, and long term.
•  Providing a central security of supply function, coordinating workstreams and measures to ensure security of supply, scanning the horizon, making connections between different policy teams, identifying risks, and influencing the department’s overall agenda.
•  Bringing together work from across the directorate and wider to lead on papers and briefings for ministers and senior officials boards, including ExCo.
•  Overseeing the coordination priority strategy projects, e.g. legislative reporting requirements.
•  Developing and maintaining a network across the Department to develop an overview, and leverage to support policy coordination and coherence
•  Line management of 2 SEOs, working with the other G7s and G6 in the Strategy Team to create a well-supported and motivated team culture.

The Head of Gas Security of Supply Policy will be responsible for:
•  Working with analysts, operational leads, and external stakeholders to assess and advise on the security of the UK’s gas supply now and in the future, including through delivery of a regular yearly assessment of our winter gas security, and a new external independent assessment of our long term gas security.
•  Building a reliable network of leads across the department to help you track, consider risks, and develop policy solutions to the UK’s security of gas supply now and in the future.
•  Line management of 2 or more SEOs, working flexibly within the wider Energy Security Team and Energy Security and Resilience Directorate to respond to emerging energy security priorities.

Skills and experience

We are looking for candidates who enjoy thinking broadly and critically across a complex and ambiguous policy landscape.

We would like to hear from you if you have:
•  The ability to make connections between a wide range of policies and teams, consider issues at the strategic level and translate these insights into practical actions to drive forward an agenda.
•  Demonstrable experience of delivering through other teams by building mutually supportive relationships where challenge is encouraged. Evidence of working effectively with and confidently engaging senior leaders.
•  Excellent drafting and verbal communication, with the ability to conceptualise and distil a wide range of information into succinct, robust advice.
•  The skills to lead your team to deliver under time pressure and ambiguity, while supporting members’ development and wellbeing.

Knowledge of the energy system is valued, but not essential. We welcome applications from outside the Civil Service, especially from those working in the energy sector or with an intellectual curiosity about energy security and net zero.

The successful applicants will be supported through an active learning and development culture, including through a directorate committee dedicated to L&D; access to training fitted to individuals’ experiences and interests; access to the DESNZ academy Energy Security and Net Zero Curriculum and roles which offer stretch and development on the job.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £52,985, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £14,305 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, behavioural statements and a personal statement. 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 set out your interest in this role and how you meet the essential criteria experience listed under the person specification. Please include whether you have a preference for either of the two roles.

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.  

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 20/05/24

Interview dates: w/c 10/06/24

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

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.