Renewables and Strategic Modelling Analysts
Department for Energy Security & Net Zero
Apply before 11:55 pm on Tuesday 1st October 2024
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Business area
Type of role
Social Research
Statistics
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
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
Do you have good analytical skills? Keeping the lights on at reasonable cost for every citizen while reducing emissions is our goal. This role is in the Renewables Electricity Analysis team which sits within EIMA. The post holder will work closely with the Renewable Electricity Directorate, whose mission is to create a policy environment to accelerate renewable deployment whilst delivering value for money for consumers and creating sustainable UK industries. This role is in the Strategy and Cross-Cutting team, a multi-disciplinary team involved in wide-ranging analysis, research and modelling focused helping inform some of the Government’s top priorities such as the 2030 Clean Power Mission. This role also involves working closely in partnership with policy teams and analysts across Government. |
Person specification
Key responsibilities
With posts across two different sub-teams within the Energy Infrastructure and Markets Analysis team on offer, roles and responsibilities will vary depending on which team you work in, your own skills and any stated preferences.
The area is fast paced, and priorities are constantly evolving given very dynamic energy markets. We work closely with the policy officials to help inform decisions about the power sector, which will involve:
Collaborating with policy and analytical teams to understand the systems that are at work in the area you are working on.
Gathering, analysing and interpreting information to inform policy making. This could involve
- Designing and commissioning insightful research to provide new insights and grow understanding,
- Modelling to develop insights into the energy system,
- Coding dashboards to disseminate analysis effectively
- Developing statistics and performance measures,
- Evaluating the impact of government policies and,
- Analysis to support key strategic priorities.
Communicating your work to share your insights with your colleagues, senior officials and stakeholders.
Skills and experience
Candidates will have:
Strong verbal and written communication skills. Able to present their analysis in a clear and compelling way to technical and non-technical audiences.
Critical and creative thinking skills. Able to identify and apply innovative approaches and techniques for analysing evidence and addressing any gaps. Comfortable working with quantitative and qualitative evidence.
Problem-solving skills. Able to identify efficient and effective solutions to exploit opportunities and address problems.
Strong team working, management and interpersonal skills. Able to build trusting and credible relationships with peers, senior colleagues and stakeholders to collaborate on projects and decision-making.
Experience working on or leading multiple priorities simultaneously, delivering at pace and maintaining a high standard of analysis.
Enthusiasm for our work. Being willing to embrace new opportunities and have the drive to learn new skills.
Good IT skills and numerate. Willing to learn new software and systems to gain new insights. Excel skills are needed for both roles, with coding skills desirable - where necessary, training can be provided.
The post holder will have plenty of L&D opportunities to build strong understanding of energy markets and a range of renewables technologies, technical skills and wider skills through in-house and external training.
You must be a full member of one of the analytical professions Government Social Research Service (GSR), Government Statistical Group (GSG) and Government Operational Research Service (GORS) or, you must be able to demonstrate that you satisfy the eligibility criteria and have the competence at the required grade (HEO) for one of the professional bodies. Links are provided to the relevant professions below.
Please provide details within your application as to which analytical professional you are a member of or which one you would like to apply under.
Government Operational Research Service
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gors-professional-behaviours
Government Statistical Group
https://gss.civilservice.gov.uk/policy-store/competency-framework-for-the-government-statistician-group-gsg/
Government Social Research Service
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-government-social-research-competency-framework
To join one of these professions, you’ll need as a minimum to meet one of the following qualification standards:
Operational Researcher:
You must possess a 2:1 or higher numerate degree, or a 2:2 with relevant work experience or postgraduate qualification.
Highly numerate degrees include: Astrophysics, Data Science, Decision Science, Econometrics, Engineering, Mathematics, Operational Research, Physics and Statistics.
Other numerate degrees, such as Accounting, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Economics, Finance, Geography, IT, Management, Management Science, Psychology, Sociology, Social Sciences and Systems Science, may be accepted if 50% or more of the modules are considered highly numerate.
Statistician:
+ A first- or second-class honours degree in a numerate subject (2:1 minimum for Assistant Statistician and 2:2 minimum for Statistical Officer) containing at least 25% taught statistical content (e.g., Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Sciences, Business Studies, Psychology, Geography or similar)
+ A higher degree, e.g., a MSc or PhD, in a subject containing formal statistical training (e.g., Statistics, Mathematics, Economics, Sciences, Business Studies, Psychology, Geography or similar)
+ Have achieved or on track to achieve a level 4 apprenticeship including at least 2 years in a statistical/data analysis field in government and are able to demonstrate continuous professional development in statistics/data analysis.
+ Have worked in a statistical or data science field for a minimum of two years and are able to demonstrate Continuous Professional Development (via a logbook) in applying statistics or data science at the same level as a foundation degree or Higher National Diploma (level five), which demonstrates the expected skills as outlined in the GSG Competency framework.
Social Researcher:
Hold a minimum of 2:2 in a social science related degree (undergraduate or postgraduate), which must contain a minimum of 30% in social research methods, covering all the criteria outlined below (it is not sufficient to hold the majority in one area – coverage across all areas is required):
• Qualitative methods, including research design, data collection (i.e., interviewing, focus groups, ethnographic), data analysis (e.g., thematic analysis)
• Systematic/literature reviews
• Quantitative methods, including research design, data collection (i.e., questionnaire design, sampling, weighting), data analysis (e.g., statistical analysis)
• Interpretation of data (qual & quan), presentation of results, provision of recommendations/ conclusions
• Study design, hypothesis formation, testing and evaluation
• Application of ethics to research
It is the responsibility of the applicant to demonstrate these criteria clearly on application.
Alternatively, you must hold an undergraduate degree at a minimum of 2:2, in any subject, or a degree equivalent (e.g., an advanced Certificate or Diploma from MRS), plus have at least 4 years’ social research practice experience. Social research practice experience consists of experience working in a research agency, market research agency or specialist research team. To enter the GSR through this route you must make explicit the breadth and depth of your research experience and skills, which must include quantitative research methods and three of the following: systematic/literature reviews; qualitative methods; interpretation of data and presentation of results; study design, hypothesis testing and application of ethics to research.
Apprentices:
Level 6 apprentices are not eligible for this role, but we welcome applications from Level 7 apprentices on the Economics Master’s Apprenticeship Programme (EMAP).
Memberships
These professions are: Government Operational Research Service (GORS), Government Statistical Service (GSS), Government Social Research (GSR).
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
Technical skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- GORS: Knowledge and Application of OR Skills and Techniques, GSG: Data Analysis, GSR: GSR Technical Skills
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.
- This role attracts an analyst pay enhancement (in addition to basic pay) of £3,500 standard or £5,000 for those with a Master's Degree with relevant HoP approval.
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, a number of behavioural statements and a technical skills example.
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 and any technical skills required.
In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the lead behavioural statement - Making Effective Decisions.
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 technical questions, as well as a written exercise.
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 07/10/2024
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.
Security
Nationality requirements
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 : Thomas Shute
- Email : Thomas.shute@energysecurity.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : desnzresourcing.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
