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Civil Service Pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
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Senior leadership
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About the job
Job summary
This is an exciting time to join the Department for Energy Security and Net Zeros Energy Systems and Networks directorate, which is delivering the key system enablers which will underpin the transition to Net Zero and ensure energy security. We are responsible for energy networks policy on and offshore; energy systems and governance including the Future System Operator; and smart systems and flexibility.
This post is an opportunity to lead a new team bringing together our work on smart systems policy, which will be a crucial enabler of a secure low-carbon system, and could save £10 billion per year by 2050 by reducing the amount of generation and network needed.
The Powering Up Britain Energy Security Plan, published in April 2023, reiterated the Governments commitment to enabling low-carbon flexibility, including delivery of the actions in the Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan 2021. This post will be responsible for driving smart systems and flexibility across energy policy as well as delivery of key specific actions, including a significant delivery project to set the framework for load control and energy smart appliances; and leading on long-duration electricity storage and energy digitalisation.
The successful candidate will be an outstanding leader and manager, who can provide confident and supportive leadership to a diverse, high-performing team, working closely with a wider group of experts. They will have a strong delivery focus, able to manage delivery of a number of complex projects at pace. They will have strong strategic ability and be confident in engaging with industry and experts within and outside Government. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds. We have good examples of flexible working and job shares already within the directorate. Existing direct experience of energy policy is not essential.
Job description
About the role:
As the Deputy Director, Smart Systems, you will lead the policy on developing a smart and flexible electricity system, including electricity storage, demand-side response and digitalisation. This includes championing smart and flexible policy within the department and externally, influencing colleagues across DESNZ to ensure that the principles of a smart and flexible system are embedded in all energy policy, and leading a team to develop key enabling policies.
You will lead delivery of the Secure Smart Electricity Systems project, a multi-year programme to create technical and regulatory frameworks to support mass domestic uptake of Energy Smart Appliances and Demand Side Response services, reducing system costs and benefitting consumers in terms of their energy costs and choices.
You will be responsible for ensuring the frameworks are in place to support the development of new large-scale long-duration electricity storage. You will work closely with the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles to ensure the electricity networks can support growing electric vehicle use, leading a policy team focused on electric vehicle smart charging.
You will be part of the senior leadership team of the Energy Systems and Networks Directorate (ESN). We work to ensure we have a reliable, low cost and clean energy system. We aim to create an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone is able to develop and contribute to their full potential.
You will initially lead a team of around 50 policy and project delivery professionals and collaborate closely with analysts, science, engineering and legal colleagues. You will be an outstanding leader and manager with a track record of developing high performing teams, supporting individuals to develop to their full potential and who can sustain inspiring, confident leadership in a fascinating and important area.
Key Responsibilities:
As Deputy Director Smart Systems you will mainly responsible for:
- Championing Smart Systems and Flexibility policy within and outside Government.
- Leading a team of around 50 across multiple locations.
- Delivering commitments in the Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan and Energy Digitalisation Strategy, in line with last years British Energy Security Strategy. This includes influencing colleagues across DESNZ to ensure that the principles of a smart and flexible system are embedded in all energy policy, and leading your own team to develop key enabling policies.
- Ensuring the frameworks are in place to support the development of new large-scale long-duration electricity storage.
- Leading the Secure Smart Electricity Systems project, a multi-year programme to create technical and regulatory frameworks to support mass domestic uptake of Energy Smart Appliances and Demand Side Response services.
- Leading a policy team focused on electric vehicle smart charging, and working closely with the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles and colleagues in the DESNZ networks team to ensure policy on electric vehicle deployment and electricity system decarbonisation is developed coherently.
Person specification
Skills, experience and qualifications (Essential)
It is essential in your application you provide evidence and proven examples in each of the following selection criteria below.
- An outstanding leader and manager with a track record of developing diverse, inclusive, high-performing teams. You will demonstrate how you support individuals to develop to their full potential and sustain inspiring, confident leadership in a fascinating and important policy area.
- Able to think strategically across a complex and evolving system, and to draw out the opportunities, risks and priorities to meet Government objectives. Able to set out a clear and compelling vision for the future of smart systems, and to work with teams across government and other stakeholders to make the vision a reality.
- Commercially aware and politically astute, with a track record of working with, and developing, evidence and using it to inform strategy. You will be effective at ensuring analytical, policy and project delivery specialists work well together in a multidisciplinary environment drawing on external specialist expertise where appropriate. You will personally be comfortable working with analysis and explaining its implications clearly to senior stakeholders.
- Effective at working with stakeholders to set the direction of travel.
- Able to translate strategic insights into practical policy action plans and have proven ability to deliver professionally on these commitments, using appropriate project management tools.
- Committed to your own development and that of your team, and to ensuring personal and team resilience.
Benefits
£7,191 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.
Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Whatever your role, we take your career and development seriously, and want to enable you to build a really successful career with the Department and wider Civil Service. It is crucial that our employees have the right skills to develop their careers and meet the challenges ahead. Youll benefit from a wide range of training and development opportunities, regular performance and development reviews to ensure this development is ongoing. As a Civil Service employee, youll be entitled to a large range of benefits.
This includes:
∙25 days annual leave on entry, increasing on a sliding scale to 30 days after 5 years service. This is in addition to 8 public
holidays and one days leave for the King’s birthday.
∙A competitive contributory pension scheme that you can enter as soon as you join where we will make a significant contribution to the cost of your pension; where your contributions come out of your salary before any tax is taken; and where your pension will continue to provide valuable benefits for you and your family if you are too ill to continue to work or die before you retire;
∙Flexible working patterns including part- time or time-term working and access to Flexible Working Schemes allowing you to vary your working day as long as you work your total hours;
∙Generous paid maternity and paternity leave which is notably more than the statutory minimum offered by many other employers;
∙Interest-free loans allowing you to spread the cost of an annual travel season ticket or a new bicycle;
∙The opportunity to use onsite facilities including fitness centers and staff canteens (where applicable); and.
∙Occupational sick pay.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
How to apply
To apply for this post please follow the instructions on the CS Jobs website by no later than 23:55 Sunday 20th August 2023. As part of the application process you are asked to complete the following:
1.A CV setting out your career history, highlighting specific responsibilities and achievements that are relevant for this role, relevant achievements in recent posts, together with reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
2.A Statement of Suitability (no more than 1000 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification.
3.Assessments.
4.Final Interview to be held virtually.
For further information on the application process and an overview on what to expect, please visit the Civil Service Careers website.
Overview of the Process
Government Recruitment Service will acknowledge your application and advise you of the outcome of the sift meeting. Depending on the number of applications received there may be a second stage sift.
Applications will be sifted to select those demonstrating the best fit with the post against the criteria set out in the person specification. Please ensure you keep this in mind when writing your CV and supporting statement.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.
Assessments
If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to take part in a Staff Engagement Panel. This assessment will not result in a pass or fail decision. Rather, it is designed to support the panels decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview.
Full details of the assessment process will be made available to shortlisted candidates.
Arrangements for interview
The final selection panel interview will be held virtually.
Candidates will be required to prepare a presentation for their interview and will be given at least one weeks notice of the subject.
Expenses incurred by candidates during the recruitment process will not be reimbursed by the Department except in exceptional circumstances and only when agreed in advance.
Reserve lists
If we receive applications from more suitable candidates than we have vacancies for at this time, we may hold suitable applicants on a reserve list for 12 months, and future vacancies in the Civil Service requiring the same skills and experience could be offered to candidates on the reserve list without a new competition.
Civil Service Commission
Selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit, on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commissions Recruitment Principles.
In accordance with the Civil Service Commissioners Recruitment Principles, our recruitment and selection processes are underpinned by the requirement of appointment on the basis of merit by fair and open competition. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance you should contact; scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commission at:
Civil Service Commission, Room G/8, 1 Horse Guards Road SW1A 2HQ. www.civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk
Alternative Formats
If you wish to receive a hard copy of the information, or in an alternative format e.g. Audio, Braille or large font then please contact:
scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are unable to complete your application online, and need assistance, we may be able to put a reasonable adjustment in place to help. If this is the case, please contact us at: scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk and we will look into this situation for you.
Please note we are unable to accept any applications after the closing date, if you require a reasonable adjustment, please let us know prior to the closing date.
Further Information
If you have any questions about applying for this role or want to discuss the role further with the vacancy holder, please contact:
scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Please ensure you quote the job title and reference number in your email.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
is the period of time a Senior Civil Servant is expected to remain in the same post to enable them
to deliver on the agreed key business outcomes. The assignment duration also supports your career through
building your depth of expertise.
As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above.
This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions.
Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and
conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your
personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any
absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you
to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.
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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).
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Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : SCS Recruitment Team
- Email : scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
