Policy Adviser - Green Growth

HM Treasury

Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 18th November 2024

 

Details

Reference number

374165

Salary

£41,630 - £44,500
If the successful candidate is a current Civil Servant joining on level transfer, HM Treasury will honour their current substantive salary if higher.
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Job grade

Senior Executive Officer

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

HMT - Enterprise and Growth

Type of role

Policy

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Part-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

This post will be based in Darlington (Feethams House).

Job summary

If you’re interested in making a difference to people’s lives, the Treasury can offer you an exciting opportunity to influence decision making that affects the whole of the UK. Working at the heart of government, we collaborate across government to promote responsible public spending and drive strong and sustainable economic growth.  

Our work ranges from protecting customers through the regulation of the financial sector, helping to reduce carbon emissions and creating a greener economy, to promoting British trade around the world and supporting people across the country on jobs, growth and more.  

We are part of the Darlington Economic Campus, a pioneering new cross-government hub which brings people together to play an active role in the most important issues of the day whilst working closer to the communities we serve. The campus provides the opportunity for people from all over the UK to help shape the future of the country, and our flexible working practices ensure you can collaborate effectively with our partners. It’s central government, made more accessible to you! 

Job description

 Enterprise and Growth Unit

The Enterprise and Growth Unit (EGU) promotes sustainable economic growth and higher productivity for the UK. We provide analysis and advice on enterprise, innovation, private sector investment and a cost-effective transition to a low-carbon economy. The Enterprise and Growth Unit has a varied and exciting agenda, and we work closely with a wide variety of other teams across the Treasury.  

We also work alongside other departments and government organisations to ensure that we are thinking creatively, spending wisely, and acting boldly to deliver these goals. These organisations are:

·       the Department for Business and Trade,

·       the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero,

·       the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, 

·       the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology,

·       the Department for Transport, 

·       the Department for Culture, Media & Sport, 

·       the Competition and Markets Authority,

·       HM Land Registry, and

·       UK Export Finance

About the Team

The Climate and Environment Team (CET) acts as the focal point for HM Treasury’s work on climate change, net zero and the natural environment. The team leads on embedding domestic climate risk, net zero and environmental policy considerations into the work of the department. We work with teams in tax, spending, economics, trade, fiscal, financial services and financial stability to use the range of levers which Treasury controls to ensure the government has affordable and economically efficient plans to achieve its legal commitments under the Climate Change Act 2008 and Environment Act 2021.

We advance Treasury interests across some of the biggest policy opportunities and challenges facing the UK including climate mitigation and adaptation, decarbonising heat and industry, water company regulation, waste sector reform, implementing England’s agricultural transition plan and reforming our domestic environment policy – including through new statutory targets for the recovery of the natural world.

The team leads engagement with and spending control for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and works closely with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), Cabinet Office and No10 on the government’s overall climate change strategy and plan. We also support international colleagues in their efforts to galvanise global action on climate and nature.

We are a flexible and friendly team, and our members have a range of working patterns.

About the Role

We are recruiting for a role within the Climate Strategy Unit, leading on green growth. This offers an exciting opportunity to be at the heart of government policy making and will give the postholder the opportunity to shape policy in these areas, in a supportive environment that encourages innovation, independent thinking, and a focus on delivering value for the UK taxpayer.

You don’t need to be a policy professional, have any specific qualifications, or prior experience/knowledge of these policy areas to apply for this role. We are looking for people who have the right set of skills for the role, who demonstrate the values of our organisation, and who are motivated to come and work with us on a range of issues that are key to the UK’s economic prosperity and resilience. The postholder will be well supported by line management and the wider team, and training on spending control and reviewing business cases will be provided.

Key responsibilities include:

  1. Developing expertise in the relationship between net zero and growth, including both the growth opportunities and risks of the net zero transition and how to deliver a transition that supports long-term growth. You will be the Treasury’s key point of contact on green growth, identifying and promoting HMT interests in these areas.
  2. Assessing and shaping growth policy in line with net zero objectives, and net zero policy to support growth objectives. One of HM Treasury’s core missions is to deliver economic growth. You will engage widely with colleagues across HM Treasury growth policy areas, including industrial strategy, trade, local, skills, innovation, and economic resilience and identify opportunities to shape growth policy to be aligned with a net zero economy. You will also engage sector teams in HM Treasury, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Department for Transport, to support the shaping of net zero policy in line with the government’s growth objectives. You will need to understand different policy areas, identify opportunities to support alignment, and use relationships and analysis to make clear recommendations.
  3. Using strategic thinking and analytical skills to ensure we have a clear strategy for this policy area, putting clear structures around analytical work, and using the right metrics to communicate complicated policy and its economic context.
  4. Building and maintaining constructive relationships. You will be responsible for developing a network of green growth contacts across HM Treasury, other government departments, and externally. You will engage with colleagues across HM Treasury to build the department’s understanding of green growth, and with colleagues in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to shape net zero policy in line with HM Treasury’s growth objectives. You will build a network of external stakeholder relationships to ensure HM Treasury is abreast of current academic and external thinking on net zero and growth.
  5. Coordinating and managing the HM Treasury Climate & Environment Board and engagement with ministers on net zero. You will be responsible for working with senior colleagues across HM Treasury to set a strategic and forward-thinking agenda for the Board, to support policy development and decision making across the department. You will be responsible for coordinating regular engagement with ministers on net zero.

Candidate Drop-In Session 
 
We will be running a candidate drop-in session for this role to give you greater insight about the role as well as the chance to learn more about HM Treasury and the recruitment process. If you would like to join us, then use the appropriate link below to join the call at the right time. 

Friday 8th November 12.30 - 1pm

Join the meeting now

If you would like to speak to the hiring manager informally prior to the closing date for applications to find out more about the job, please contact Hannah Franklin (hannah.franklin@hmtreasury.gov.uk)

Person specification

We are looking for the below skills, experience and behaviours and we will ask you to demonstrate these in your application form. Please review the Candidate FAQ document that is attached to the advert for guidance on how to complete your application form.

  1. Ability to evaluate different and sometimes competing evidence sources, apply considered judgement to come to a conclusion (Making Effective Decisions)
  2. Ability to build strong relationships with a wide network of partners in government, and use these relationships to deliver your objectives (Working together)
  3. Ability to adapt your work to emerging issues or trends, and to ensure that it fits with the broader economic, political and social context. (Seeing the Big Picture)

The lead criterion is: Ability to evaluate different and sometimes competing evidence sources, apply considered judgement to come to a conclusion (Making Effective Decisions)

If we receive large volumes of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the lead criterion only.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Working Together
  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Communicating and Influencing

We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:

  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Working Together
  • Seeing the Big Picture
Alongside your salary of £41,630, HM Treasury contributes £12,060 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
  • 25 days’ annual leave (rising to 30 after 5 years), plus 8 public holidays and the King's birthday (unless you have a legacy arrangement as an existing Civil Servant)  
  • Flexible working patterns (part-time, job-share, condensed hours)  
  • Generous parental and adoption leave package. 
  • A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and average employer contributions of 28%  
  • Onsite restaurant and coffee bar. The London office also offers a gym, showers and prayer room  
  • Access to a cycle-to-work salary sacrifice scheme, season ticket advances and payroll giving  
  • Access to a retail discounts and cashback site  
  • A Rental Deposit Advance Scheme to help meet the total costs of deposits for privately rented homes  
  • A range of active staff networks, based around interests and diversity

Flexible Working Arrangements

HM Treasury views flexible working as essential in enabling us to recruit and retain talented people, ensuring that they can enjoy a long-lasting career with us. All employees have the right to apply for flexible working and there are a range of options available including; part-time, compressed hours and job sharing. Additionally, we operate flexitime systems, allowing employees the flexibility to adjust their working patterns throughout the week which is subject to operational needs and line management approval.  

At HM Treasury we have an incredibly broad remit; our work touches every citizen of the country. So, it’s important our employees come from the widest possible range of backgrounds, bringing us the widest possible range of perspectives and ways of thinking. We are committed to ensuring that all staff can realise their potential and achieve a healthy work-life balance. 

HM Treasury operates an office based working approach across all Treasury sites - Darlington, London, and Norwich, and along with the rest of the Civil Service, has an expectation of a minimum of 60% attendance in the office, along with working remotely. This blended working approach allows you to work collaboratively, meet stakeholders face to face, support others and promotes a healthy work life balance (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review. All our offices have been recently modernised and designed to collaborate and connect with colleagues as well as desk and quiet space to allow a range of ways to work.

The office working expectation is linked to the location of the role. If you apply to a post in a single location, then you will not be able to meet this expectation at any of our other sites or move your role to another location. 

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

Recruitment Timeline 

Closing date: 18th November

Shortlisting: w/c 18th November

Interviews: w/c 25th November

This timeline is indicative and may be subject to change. We will inform you if there is a substantial change to the recruitment timeline. 

If your contact details change at any time during the selection process, please ensure you update your Civil Service Jobs Profile. 

Please note that only applications submitted through Civil Service Jobs will be accepted.

Eligibility Statement  

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role in the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government. Checks will be performed as part of pre-employment checks in line with this. Please refer to the Candidate FAQ document attached to the advert for more information. 

Everyone working with government assets must complete Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) checks. Additionally, individuals appointed to the Treasury group will be subject to National Security Vetting. The level of security vetting required for this role is Counter Terrorist Check (CTC)  

To allow for meaningful checks to be carried out, applicants will need to have lived in the UK for at least 3 out of the past 5 years. In exceptional circumstances, a lack of residency would not be a bar to security clearance however the Department will need to consider eligibility on a case by case basis once the advert closing date has passed.   

These short videos address common concerns and preconceptions which applicants may have about national security vetting.  If you have questions relating to security clearances, please contact HMTSecurityVetting@hmtreasury.gov.uk



Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (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.

Diversity and Inclusion

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 (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

  • Name : Hannah Franklin
  • Email : Hannah.Franklin@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Recruitment team

  • Email : hrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk

Further information

Complaints Process: Our recruitment process is underpinned by the principle of appointment based on fair and open competition and appointment on merit, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with these principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should in the first instance contact HMT by email at: hrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, you can contact the Civil Service Commission, which regulates all Civil Service recruitment.

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