About the job

Job summary

Help us shape a better and fairer energy sector.   
  
As the regulator for the gas and electricity sectors, the work of Ofgem has never been more important. Currently faced by the most complex challenges, we are focused on delivering better outcomes for both people and businesses. It is essential that we have an ambitious team working on achieving this goal – and as a member of the Enforcement & Emerging Issues directorate, you will be at the heart of this work.   
  
Working within the Wholesale Market Oversight and International team, you will ultimately ensure that Ofgem has the information necessary to make the best decisions for energy consumers. This team are responsible for monitoring all aspects of the wholesale energy market, and delivering data and insight that informs Ofgem’s policy development and wholesale-related enforcement actions.   
  
Taking the lead in conducting quantitative and qualitative analysis of wholesale markets, you will monitor for key trends impacting prices, security of supply, market functioning and market conduct issues. Your work would extend from the analysis of wholesale market fundamentals and transaction data through to developing briefings for senior internal and external stakeholders or advising on market conduct cases. This is an immensely varied and nationally important role.   
  
It is absolutely essential that you are a team-player and you have good verbal and written communication skills. You will work collaboratively both with internal and external stakeholders such as National Grid ESO, DESNZ and HMT. With well-developed analytical capabilities, you will be able to devise evidence-led conclusions based on the analysis of both quantitative and qualitative information. Crucially you will be comfortable identifying potential risks and scrutinising complex policies. If you also have some sector knowledge, economics expertise or coding experience using tools such as Python, R and SQL, that would be beneficial, though this is not strictly essential.   
  
With every day presenting you with a great deal a variety, we will ensure you have the support you need to meet your immediate and long-term goals. We will also provide you with a competitive benefits package and we welcome candidates from all backgrounds, especially those from underrepresented groups. While this is a full-time role, flexible working patterns and job shares are welcome. 

Job description

Purpose 

The Wholesale Market Intelligence and Data team provides insights on wholesale gas and electricity markets developments by effectively managing and analysing a wide range of data sources, from publicly available energy system data to confidential wholesale market transactions. These insights are used to inform a range of policy areas both internally and externally. 

In this role you will carry out analysis that contributes to our core aim. You will use analytical techniques and clearly present findings and recommendations. 

You will engage with colleagues in other parts of Ofgem where our understanding of wholesale markets is needed. You will also need to work with key stakeholders such as National Grid ESO and DESNZ on security of supply and market functioning issues, with the FCA and other National Regulatory Authorities (NRAs) as well as wider gas and electricity stakeholders. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Constructing and delivering regular and ad hoc briefings and updates regarding various aspects of the wholesale market, including price drivers and supply/demand fundamentals. Identifying the key information that matters stakeholders. 
• Carrying out detailed analysis into areas of focus within the wholesale market to inform both internal and external colleagues. 
• Ensuring that the data used for analysis is complete and accurate. 
• Advising and assisting other Ofgem teams with sourcing and working with appropriate wholesale data for analysis. 
• Seeking and implementing improvements in existing processes. 
• Identifying potential market conduct issues to be escalated for case reviews. 

Key Outputs and Deliverables 

• Briefings and updates on key market developments, including for senior level internal and external stakeholders. 
• Analysis of market data including commodity prices, gas and power fundamentals and wholesale trade data to provide market insights and identify issues. 
• Collection and validation of key data sets. 
• Contributing to the team’s processes and response around security of supply emergency preparedness. This involves responding to live events with robust analysis. 

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Excellent analytical and quantitative skills. Experience in analysing quantitative and qualitative information to support conclusions. Ability to scrutinise complex policy and make effective decisions. (Lead criteria) 
• Experience with providing concise in-person and written briefings on complex topics. 
• Experience with managing multiple stakeholders. 
• Demonstrable ability to take initiative, think creatively and work independently.  
• Ability to meet challenging deadlines and managing multiple priorities. 

Desirable Criteria

• Experience with writing Python code to clean and analyse data. 
• Knowledge of the wholesale gas and electricity markets in Great Britain. 

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £30,950, OFGEM contributes £8,356 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.