Policy Adviser – Heat
HM Treasury
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 17th November 2024
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About the job
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 Climate and Environment Team acts as the focal point for HM Treasury’s (HMT) 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 Job
We are looking for someone to join us in the Heat and Industry branch, in a role that will be leading on heat. As the second largest source of carbon emissions in the UK, and responsible for half of the average household energy bill, how we heat homes and buildings in an affordable and sustainable way will be a significant part of the Government’s Clean Energy Superpower Mission. This offers you an exciting opportunity to be at the heart of government policy making and will give you opportunity to shape policy 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. You will be well supported by line management and the wider team, and training on spending control and reviewing business cases will be provided.
Key Accountabilities for this role include:
- Developing expertise in buildings decarbonisation: You will be HMT’s key point of contact, identifying and promoting HMT interests in this policy area and helping design the strategy for the Government’s Warm Homes Plan.
- Building and maintaining constructive relationships: Engaging with colleagues across DESNZ to ensure their plans are clear, costed and represent value for money, across HMT to ensure HMT’s economic strategies are aligned with ambitions to decarbonise UK heat demand, and across industry and investors to understand the impact of your decisions.
- Scrutinising spending proposals and monitoring the delivery of existing schemes: Ensuring policies are delivering as expected and responding proactively when required. This will involve making decisions using robust evidence, understanding the role of Government in the sector and advising seniors and ministers.
- Using strategic thinking and analytical skills: Ensuring 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.
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.
08 November 2024 – 12:30 to 13:20
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 James Thorniley-Walker james.thornileywalker@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.
- Ability to evaluate different and sometimes competing evidence sources, apply considered judgement to come to a conclusion (Making Effective Decisions).
- Ability to build strong relationships with a wide network of partners, and use these relationships to deliver your objectives (Working together).
- 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: Making Effective Decisions
If we receive large volumes of applications, we will conduct an initial sift on the lead criterion only.
Candidate Guidance Support Session
We will be running an overview of Success Profiles and the STAR approach including top tips for the application and interview process and an opportunity to ask general questions around our recruitment practices. Please note that this session is not role specific, so we will be unable to answer specific questions about roles we are advertising. If you would like to join us, please use the link below to join the call at the right time.
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
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: 17 November 2024
Shortlisting: Week commencing 18 November 2024
Interviews: Week commencing 02 December 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
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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 : James Thorniley-Walker
- Email : James.thornileywalker@hmtreasury.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : hrrecruitment@hmtreasury.gov.uk
Further information
