Nuclear Energy Policy Adviser

HM Treasury

Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 28th October 2024

 

Details

Reference number

372866

Salary

£41,630 - £47,500
London: £44,630 - £47,500 / National: £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 can be based in London (1 Horse Guards Road) or Darlington (Feethams House).

Job summary

HM Treasury

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

About the Group

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 Energy Team deals with some of the biggest economic opportunities and challenges facing the UK. This includes creating a 21st century net zero energy system, ensuring long term energy security for the nation, and keeping energy affordable and competitive.

We are at the heart of maintaining the UK’s energy security and decarbonising our energy supply.  Our work centres around working with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and across Whitehall and industry to develop policy and remove barriers to deployment in ways that are both affordable and value for money.

About the Job

HM Treasury is playing a key role in delivering the Government’s ambition to deliver nuclear power projects, in order to meet the UK’s aims on energy security, decarbonising our energy supply and reaching Net Zero. Working with the Head of Civil Nuclear, the role of nuclear energy policy advisor (SEO) will play a crucial part in delivering these ambitions and ensuring that projects represent value for money. The team covers all Government nuclear projects, including large-scale projects, like Sizewell C, Small and Advanced Modular Reactors, nuclear decommissioning and research & development spending on nuclear fusion. The postholder will also support on civil nuclear policy at fiscal events and spending reviews. The exact responsibilities of the role may change over time depending on ministerial priorities and the postholder may also be expected to contribute to the team’s work on the wider energy system, beyond the immediate nuclear energy portfolio.

The key accountabilities of the post are:

  1. Working closely with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on multiple nuclear policy issues, including Sizewell C and other projects, considering wide ranges of options to meet Government nuclear ambitions.
  2. Advising Treasury ministers and seniors on the technical and delivery consideration for nuclear technologies; funding and financing of nuclear projects; and industry and international engagement.
  3. Working closely with Treasury teams to ensure spending, fiscal and other key considerations are reflected in discussions with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and other departments on nuclear policy.
  4. Maintaining effective relationships with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, the Infrastructure and Projects Authority, industry and other stakeholders to understand and advise ministers on key decisions and solutions to policy problems that arise in nuclear policy. This would include representing Treasury at external meetings and events.
  5. Supporting other parts of the Energy team on specific projects outside of the nuclear portfolio, to deliver the Government’s energy and Net Zero policies.

Candidate Drop-In Session 
 
The hiring manager 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 ask any questions you may have. If you would like to join us, then use the appropriate link below to join the call at the right time. 

18th October at 13:00-13:45 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 Nick Glanvile (Nicholas.Glanvile@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. Making Effective Decisions: the ability to develop and present reasoned arguments based on analysis of evidence.
  2. Seeing the Big Picture: the ability to see your work in the context of wider HM Treasury and government priorities and adapt accordingly.
  3. Delivering at Pace: providing high quality and timely advice to ministers on complex policy, often with tight deadlines.
  4. Experience – experience of either energy/nuclear policy or industry, economic regulation or wider project financing experience would be desirable.

The lead criteria is: Making Effective Decisions

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

Candidate Guidance Support Session 
 
We will be running an overview of Success Profiles and the STAR approach; top tips for the application and interview process and an opportunity to ask general questions around our recruitment practices. If you would like to join us, then use the link below to join the call at the right time. 

Thursday 17th October at 12:30: Join the meeting now

Behaviours

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

  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Delivering at Pace
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: 28th October 2024

Shortlisting: From 29th October 2024

Interviews:  Week of 18th November 2024

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.

Location-Based Reserve Lists 

You will be placed on a reserve list if your application is successful, but we cannot offer you a post immediately. Where more than one location has been advertised, candidates will be approached for roles in merit order according to the first preferred location stated on your application form. 

Please note that a place on the reserve list does not guarantee an offer. We would still encourage you to apply for other HM Treasury opportunities that you are interested in. If you are offered a role in your first preferred location and you decline the offer or you are unable to take up the post within a reasonable timeframe, you will be removed from the reserve list, other than in exceptional circumstances. 

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. 

Please read the Vetting Charter for information on what to expect during the vetting process and what will be expected from you.  Many areas of your life may be explored during your vetting journey, and it is important that every individual, regardless of their background and experiences, should feel comfortable going through this personal process, whilst having confidence that it is fair, proportionate, and inclusive.  

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).
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
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 : Nicholas Glanvile
  • Email : Nicholas.Glanvile@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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