Senior Strategy Adviser
Department for Energy Security & Net Zero
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 13th October 2024
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About the job
Job summary
Do you want a career where you can make a real difference? Do you want to work at the forefront of current policy making decisions? Do you want to have an impact on 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 delivering our mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower, with clean electricity by 2030 and accelerating the UK’s journey to net zero. Our work is helping ensure clean energy for all, keep bills down and seize the opportunities to lead the world in new green industries, taking back control of our energy with Great British Energy 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 and interview process. You can sign up for upcoming events here: https://forms.office.com/e/pqUhdr3L72
You can also follow our LinkedIn Careers Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/desnz-careers/
Job description
The Net Zero Buildings Strategy Team is looking to recruit two G7 Senior Strategy Adviser roles. The role sits within the Net Zero Buildings Directorates, responsible for the exciting and politically significant policy areas of decarbonising the UK’s 30 million homes, businesses and public sector buildings.
This area is a major contributor to meeting the UK’s climate change commitments by reducing carbon emissions, as well as supporting some of the most vulnerable people in society by tackling fuel poverty.
The Net Zero Buildings Strategy Team leads on the cross-cutting strategic policy decisions and enablers to support decarbonising buildings through installation of clean heat sources and measures to improve energy efficiency. The team sits at sat at the heart of the Net Zero Buildings Portfolio, responsible for one of the most exciting policy and delivery areas in DESNZ.
We are a friendly team and welcome flexible working patterns. We have a strong learning culture and value diversity.
Person specification
The two roles will evolve over time, but central to your role will be a strategic overview of several policy areas within buildings decarbonisation, and close collaboration with colleagues across the directorates. Your work will play a strong role in advice Ministers and senior officials which will shape the strategic direction of our future approach to decarbonisation of buildings.
Role 1 will lead the work on Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) Reform, representing the interests of DESNZ’s Net Zero Buildings Portfolio in the cross-Government work and supporting DESNZ policy teams to implement new EPCs.
Work is likely to include:
- Leading this priority workstream to ensure EPCs, one of our key tools used for policy targets, monitoring progress and identify buildings eligible for support, will support the transition to Net Zero and low carbon heating
- Working closely with policy, analytical and energy modelling colleagues to develop recommendations for reforms and design policy implementation of them,
- Leading engagement with Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to agree EPC Reform to support the transition of buildings to Net Zero,
- Engaging with external stakeholders throughout the reform process, to support the preparedness of the sector for new EPCs,
Role 2 will lead work to develop approaches to upgrade homes that are complex to decarbonise to ensure these are not left behind in the transition to Net Zero.
Work is likely to include:
- Leading the development of a strategic approach for complex to decarbonise homes, building on the recent research published in January 2024, Defining and identifying complex to decarbonise homes, and a second phase of research due to complete in September 2025,
- Manage contactors and collaboration with colleagues from across the department to ensure the project objectives are met and to develop possible interventions that can be applied to our understanding of the UK housing stock.
- Lead work across Government, and with Government agencies, to remove barriers for homeowners of Historic Homes to appropriately retrofit their homes and deliver change. This will include working with MHCLG on changes to national planning policy to remove barriers to decarbonisation, and
- Engage with DESNZ Energy Research team to ensure the Energy and Net Zero Survey (ENZ) research will inform strategy and policy development to support the UK Government’s commitment to reach Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Skills and experience:
Essential criteria
- You will be a critical thinker, able to analyse information, weigh risks and benefits, and navigate complex problems to propose solutions.
- You will be politically astute and able to place detailed concepts in the context of the bigger picture as part of your decision-making.
- You will have excellent communication skills, both verbally and in writing.
- You will be adept at building relationships with senior stakeholders and working as part of a team.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of energy, heat, or net zero policy.
- We welcome applications from people who bring transferrable skills from other fields or sectors.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, especially those from under-represented groups.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
- Delivering at Pace
- Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
- Working Together
Benefits
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero offers a competitive mix of benefits including:
- A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
- Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension Scheme, with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
- A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
- An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.
- Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.
- A hybrid office/home based working model where staff will spend a norm of 40-60% of their time in the office (minimum of 40%) over a month with flex dependent on balancing business and individual need.
Office attendance
The Department operates a discretionary hybrid working policy, which provides for a combination of working hours from your place of work and from your home in the UK. The current expectation for staff is to attend the office or non-home-based location for 40-60% of the time over the accounting period.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, and a number of behavioural statements. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
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.
In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the lead behavioural statement - Seeing the Big Picture.
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.
Sift and interview dates
Expected Timeline subject to change
Sift dates: w/c 14/10/2024
Interview dates: w/c 21/10/2024
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.
Information about the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) and some examples of adjustments that we offer to disabled candidates and candidates with long-term health conditions during our recruitment process can be found in our DESNZ Candidate Guidance. A DESNZ Plain Text Version of the guidance is also available.
We encourage candidates to discuss their adjustment needs by emailing the job contact which can be found under the contact point for applicants' section.
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 Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk
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.
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Working for the Civil Service
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).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Kate Duffy
- Email : kate.duffy@energysecurity.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : desnzresourcing.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
