Head of Carbon and Energy Tax
HM Treasury
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 6th October 2024
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About the job
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
About the Group
Business and International Tax
The aim of the Business and International Tax (BIT) Group is to provide strategic oversight of business, environmental, transport, property, VAT, excise taxes and customs duties that together raise revenue of over £400 billion a year. The Group works closely with other government departments and is outwards facing towards key stakeholders, including business, industry, interest groups and international counterparts, and there are opportunities to be part of this engagement at all levels.
The work of the Group is vital to fund essential public services, while working with other Treasury Groups to support the government’s wider agenda – including supporting business investment and economic growth, in all parts of the UK, and delivering “Net Zero” carbon emissions by 2050. The Group’s high-profile portfolio make it a highly dynamic, flexible and interesting place to work.
About the Team
The Energy and Transport Tax (ETT) team is a supportive and friendly team whose work is at the heart of balancing HMT’s fiscal, economic and environmental objectives. The team is responsible for taxes collectively raising around £50bn through transport, oil & gas, energy & carbon and environmental taxes, including developing novel and complex policies such as the new Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). As a result, the team’s work covers a broad range of high-profile policy areas that get significant amounts of ministerial and public attention, particularly in light of the Government’s Net Zero agenda.
ETT is an outward-facing team whose work involves significant and varied stakeholder engagement, both directly with businesses and with trade associations, business representative groups and environmental and tax policy stakeholders. The team also works very closely with other Government departments, especially DESNZ, DfT, HMRC, Defra, and DBT, as well as with colleagues across HM Treasury, particularly those working on energy & transport spending, infrastructure policy and international policy.
About the Job
The team is recruiting for a new Head of Carbon and Energy tax. This role will sit alongside three other E2 roles in the team (Head of Technical in the same branch, Head of Transport and Head of Environment and Resource taxes), helping to lead a team of over 20 and ensuring that the Energy and Transport Tax team is a great place to work. The successful candidate would also have responsibility for providing leadership across the joint tax and trade CBAM team.
This is an exciting, varied and high-profile role, which will involve leadership, strategy and policy development across a broad portfolio, working closely with key partners such as HMRC. It will involve significant engagement with Ministers, senior officials within HMT, other government departments and senior stakeholders from businesses and international organisation. The role would suit an individual with a passion for leading inclusive teams and who can grasp complex policy issues, think strategically and creatively about how to resolve them, deliver effectively through others and skilfully manage relationships with a broad range of different stakeholders.
Please note that if you are based in Darlington, the role is likely to require regular travel to London to support Ministers in person in Parliament.
Key responsibilities are set out below.
- Providing joint inclusive and supportive leadership to the CET Branch of 3 Range Es, 2 SEOs and 3 HEOs.
- Advising and supporting the Chancellor and Exchequer Secretary on all issues related to carbon and energy taxes.
- Working closely with DESNZ, DEFRA, DfT and the Devolved Governments to lead the development and implementation of the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), the government’s key lever to drive cost-effective industrial decarbonisation.
- Overseeing the development and delivery of the new Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, working closely with HMRC and trade colleagues in the CBAM Virtual Team to finalise the design of the tax and implement it in a way that balances international and domestic priorities and works cohesively with the government’s wider strategy on carbon leakage.
- Developing and advising ministers on the case and options for strategic reform of energy taxation and ensuring current existing reliefs provide value for money.
- Representing the UK’s interests at the OECD’s Inclusive Forum for Carbon Mitigation Approaches, the OECD’s flagship initiative on global decarbonisation.
- Building collaborative relationships with counterparts and seniors in HMT, DESNZ, DBT, the OECD, the EU and in businesses, experts beyond Whitehall and other interested parties to ensure HM Treasury’s decision-making is informed by robust evidence and that the government’s objectives and policies are communicated clearly.
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.
19th September 2024 15:30-1630 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 Juliet Palfrey (Juliet.Palfrey@hmtreasury.gov.uk)
Person specification
Your application will consist of a CV and a 1000-word personal statement.
Your CV should consist of your career history, including any key achievements in each role. Your CV will not be scored, but instead will be used to provide further context on your personal statement, and support conversations at interview.
Please provide a personal statement of no more than 1000 words setting out how you meet the following criteria:
- Ability to provide effective, inclusive and supportive leadership to a group of staff to deliver high quality work at pace and under pressure, building capability and motivating staff, while contributing to making the wider team a great place to work.
- Comfortable operating at a strategic level – balancing fiscal, economic and political objectives – and being able to grapple with highly technical policy issues without losing sight of why they really matter within the broader context and drawing links with other priorities beyond those within your remit.
- Ability to lead work on complex policy issues that develop creative solutions and balance competing objectives, and make evidenced-based, impactful recommendations, even with imperfect information.
- Ability to communicate effectively with senior decision-makers and influencers internally and externally, breaking down complex information into clear policy choices, flexing communication style, and advocating and influencing against challenge.
These criteria have been identified as the essential skills or experience for the role, so it is important that you include evidence to demonstrate you have the skills or experience we are looking for. You should not include any personal identifying information within your CV or personal statement.
Please review the Candidate FAQ document that is attached to the advert for more guidance on how to complete your application form.
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 19th September at 12:30: Join the meeting now
Thursday 3rd October at 12:30: Join the meeting now
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
- Seeing the Big Picture
Benefits
- 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.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
Recruitment Timeline
- Closing date: 6th October 2024
- Shortlisting: From 7th October 2024
- Interviews: W/C 11th 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.
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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 : Juliet Palfrey
- Email : juliet.palfrey@hmtreasury.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : hrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk
Further information
