Job summary
Shape the policy that delivers a greener, fairer energy system for the UK. Ofgem is Great Britain’s independent energy regulator. Our primary responsibility is to protect energy consumers, especially the most vulnerable, while at the same time working with government, industry and consumer groups to deliver a clean, more affordable and secure net-zero energy system at the lowest cost to consumers, and drive economic growth.
In these roles, you will take on a varied and challenging workload, including problem analysis, stakeholder engagement, build valuable relationships and understanding of the expertise and evidence to draft policy proposals, briefings, consultations, and other key documents to support effective decision making to ensure the maximum benefit for consumers. There will be a range of quantitative analytical tasks, such as basic data analysis and spreadsheet manipulation.
You will work on the development of the consumer protection framework on issues that may include vulnerability, billing and transparency. You’ll work closely with a small team developing these frameworks, and with teams working on other areas of the consumer protection regime.
We operate a Flexible Resourcing model where you’ll have the opportunity to work across Ofgem supporting on a range of projects or may have a longer deployment within a team where you have and build specialist skills, knowledge, and expertise. We’ll support you to learn and develop the Policy & Strategy skills and knowledge you need to build your career.
To join us, you’ll need experience of working on policy development and supporting the assessment of options to inform regulatory or consumer protection proposals. You’ll also need excellent written and verbal communication skills along with strong analytical and problem-solving skills. You’ll also have demonstrable interest or experience in public policy/energy/net zero and bring experience collaborating and engaging with multiple stakeholders and project management skills.
The ongoing professional development, training and support of all our dedicated colleagues is at the core of our way of working. You can also expect an excellent benefits package, a great working environment sounded by professional expertise to learn from and with, hybrid working, and a shared sense of purpose.
We welcome candidates from all backgrounds, and especially welcome individuals from underrepresented groups.
Job Description
The Heat Networks team is responsible for shaping and implementing the future regulatory regime for heat networks. Ofgem will be responsible for regulating the heat networks market when the necessary legislation is in place. We provide advice and expertise to government on the detailed design of the new regulatory arrangements. The Heat Networks team is also making preparations for Ofgem’s future oversight role, including how we will monitor the market, work with stakeholders and deliver our new functions.
The scale of change needed as the market transitions to statutory regulation means that team members have exposure to unique regulatory challenges and must engage with a broad range of stakeholders to find solutions. The heat network industry has many players - large corporate entities, small privately run heat suppliers, local authorities, housing associations, billing and customer service providers. The team will have to engage with all of them in order to develop a regulatory regime that meets the needs of customers, industry and the regulator.
This particular role will work on the development of the consumer protection framework on issues that may include vulnerability, as well as, billing and transparency. You will work closely with a small team developing these frameworks, and with teams working on other areas of the consumer protection regime (ie on step-in, compliance, enforcement, digital, and pricing).
Our policy practice is founded on three pillars: Strategy - ensuring that sound evidence and analysis informs our approach; Democracy - giving confidence that robust governance and accountability supports effective decision-making; and Delivery – effective implementation and delivery systems that see policy impact on practice.
The purpose of this specific role is to produce robust analysis to make evidence-based recommendations on heat networks policy to decision makers.
Person specification
Key Responsibilities
Policy Development
- Responsible for high quality, timely, and robust analysis of core issue/s and policy options resulting in evidence based recommendations.
- Drafting of clear and concise documents, including briefings, policy documents, consultations, impact assessments, guidance and decision letters.
- Supporting and directing key workstreams and projects, including responsibility for internal and external stakeholder engagement by prioritising, scoping and delivering work.
Stakeholder Management
- Effectively communicating the benefits, challenges and trade-offs of policy proposals to senior colleagues and partners
- Ensuring delivery by effective collaboration across teams, supporting professions and other sources of evidence and expertise to understand and manage risks and issues
- Responsible for representing Ofgem externally, building constructive and supportive relationships to ensure challenges and issues are identified and resolved in consumers interests.
Essential Criteria
- Experience of working on policy development and supporting the assessment of options to inform regulatory or consumer protection proposals. Ability to support the development of recommendations that highlight the risks, and trade-offs to decision makers (LEAD).
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong analytical and problem solving skills
- Demonstrable interest and/ or experience in public policy/energy/net zero
- Demonstrative experience in engaging with/managing multiple stakeholders.
- Ability to manage different work activities or workstreams to keep projects on trac
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Changing and Improving
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
Technical Skills
We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
- Please refer to the Candidate Pack and Role Profile attached for full details.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £32,498, OFGEM contributes £9,414 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Ofgem can offer you a comprehensive and competitive benefits package which includes; 30 days annual leave after 2 years; Excellent training and development opportunities; The opportunity to join the generous Civil Service pension which also includes a valuable range of benefits; Hybrid working (currently 1 day a week in the office but is in review), flexible working hours and family friendly policies. Plus lots of other benefits including clean and bright offices based centrally, engaged networks and teams and an opportunity to contribute to our ambitious and important targets of establishing a Net Zero energy system by 2050. This exciting blend of professional challenge and personal reward identifies career opportunities at Ofgem as something to get excited about.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.
When you press the ‘Apply now’ button, you will be asked to complete personal details (not seen by the sift panel), your career history and qualifications.
You will then be asked to provide a 1250 word ‘personal statement’ evidencing how you meet the essential and desirable skills and capabilities listed in the role profile. Please ensure you demonstrate clearly, within your supporting statement, how you meet each of the essential and desirable skills and capabilities.
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expect all candidates to abide by these principles. Ofgem take any incidences of cheating very seriously. Please ensure all examples provided are of your own experience. Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant applications will be withdrawn from the process.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 28th October 2024
