Policy lead – Reform of renewable investment policy

The responsibilities for the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero for 2023 are as follows:

• Delivering security of energy supply
• Ensuring properly functioning energy markets
• Encouraging greater energy efficiency
• Seizing the opportunities of net zero to lead the world in new green industries

For 2023, our priorities are:

• Ensure security of energy supply this winter, next winter and in the longer-term – bringing down energy bills and reducing inflation.
• Ensure the UK is on track to meet its legally binding Net Zero commitments and support economic growth by significantly speeding up delivery of network infrastructure and domestic energy production.
• Improve the energy efficiency of UK homes, businesses and public sector buildings to meet the 15% demand reduction ambition.
• Deliver current schemes to support energy consumers with their bills and develop options for long-term reform to improve how the electricity market works for families and businesses.
• Seize the economic benefits of Net Zero, including the jobs and growth created through investment in new green industries.
• Pass the Energy Bill to support the emerging CCUS and hydrogen sectors; to update the governance of the energy system; and to reduce the time taken to consent offshore wind.

Our Inclusive Environment

We are building an inclusive culture to make the Department a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.

We offer first-class flexible working benefits, excellent employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.

We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion. We will fully support candidates with a disability or long-term condition who require adjustments in our recruitment process.

Find Out More

We regularly run events where you can find out more about the department and tips for the application process. You can sign up for upcoming events here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/departmentforenergysecurityandnetzero?

You can also follow our LinkedIn Careers Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/desnz-careers/

We are hiring two Grade 7s in the Energy Markets and Analysis Directorate. The roles are working in the mass low carbon team, one branch of DESNZ’s flagship electricity market reform programme (REMA).  The Programme aims to future-proof our electricity market arrangements to: help unlock unprecedented levels of investment across the full range of low carbon technologies; maintain security of supply; and ensure the system can be operated safely and cost-effectively as variable renewables will dominate our generation mix of the future.

The focus of the mass low carbon team is future-proofing the Contracts for Difference (CfD) subsidy scheme, which is the government’s flagship mechanism for supporting renewable electricity generation. The scheme has been very successful so far, supporting a rapid increase in renewable investment and saving consumers billions of pounds, but as the market evolves we need to make sure that the scheme adapts to the challenges of a future decarbonised system. You will have the opportunity to work in one, or multiple workstreams across the team, which could include the development of specific policy reform options, coordinating engagement with industry and setting up cross-government advisory boards. 

We pride ourselves on having a friendly, inclusive and supportive work environment. We support team members to develop their careers. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and to offering flexible working opportunities. We are keen to hear from those who work part-time, job-share or have other flexible working arrangements.

You, as a successful applicant, will be working closely with other policy leads in future-proofing the contracts for difference scheme. You will also have the opportunity to lead on specific policy, contributing to developing, communicating and delivering proposals for reform that will be vital for the transition to net zero. 

Not only will you have the chance to shape radical and long-lasting reforms to improve future electricity markets, you will also have the opportunity to develop yourself. We give our people the opportunity to use their skills and talents to build a rewarding career. 

You will quickly get to grips with how the electricity markets work and the investment landscape that we are working in. 

You will have an opportunity to shape the role, but responsibilities are likely to include: 

• Work alongside other G7s to explore possible reforms to the CfD scheme, balancing how we meet our renewable deployment targets with how we reform our electricity market so it is fit for the future.
• Lead on key policy design and implementation questions for accelerating renewable deployment. You will work with the team to conduct a full comparative assessment of these options, working closely with analysts to draw together internal and external expertise and evidence of impacts. There is potential to seek approval for and manage external research projects to support this assessment.
• Work in deep collaboration with relevant policy teams, particularly the renewable electricity directorate, to agree a strategy that allows any changes to be made at the right time and in the right order to avoid any investor hiatus.
• Connect policy development across REMA workstreams by staying abreast of policy development in other workstreams and assessing how wider reform options could impact your policy area.
• Lead analysis of stakeholder responses to the upcoming REMA consultation.
• Represent DESNZ on CfD reform internally and externally – briefing seniors and building strong relationships across the energy sector and beyond.
• Line manage, as well as having broader team management responsibilities.

Skills and experience

We would love to hear from you if you:

• Are an enthusiastic and proactive leader who will drive policy forward in a complex and fast-paced environment,
• Have excellent time and project management skills, being able to juggle and prioritise different deliverables while ensuing the key milestones determining the overall success of the project stay on track.
• Excel at making effective decisions, being on top of the technical detail as well as the ability to make links with wider REMA and departmental priorities.
• Can pick up complex and technical subject matter quickly and explain difficult concepts in a simple and clear way (e.g. for ministerial briefings).
• Enjoy change and can adapt to quickly shifting situations, finding ways to make progress despite uncertainty.
• Can collaborate effectively with internal and external partners to achieve progress even when views differ, demonstrating strong interpersonal skills and respecting difference and external experience.

Prior knowledge of energy policy and investment policy is not essential but is desirable. We will quickly upskill you in the areas where you have less experience. We are proud of our commitment to learning and development and this is reflected in excellent results to our people survey.

We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing

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 average employer contribution of 27%.
• 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.

Job contact :

• Name : Simon Dawes
• Email : simon.dawes@energysecurity.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : desnzresourcing.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk