Britain’s lights don’t stay on by accident. At Ofgem, we’re the driving force behind keeping our electricity system secure, resilient and ready for anything. We’re now looking for a Principal Expert for Electricity Security of Supply to tackle the risks, shape robust policies and protect reliable power for millions both now and for the future.
Ofgem is Great Britain’s independent energy regulator. We’re at the forefront of change across the energy sector, driving towards Net Zero whilst protecting energy consumers, especially vulnerable people.
This is a high-profile, permanent opportunity for an electricity systems specialist to take ownership of this critical workstream at the centre of national energy resilience. You will be the expert voice within our multi-disciplinary Electricity Security & Market Management team, which covers wholesale electricity markets, capacity market policy and electricity security of supply.
In this influential role, you’ll shape national policy in an area that affects every household and business. Working closely with government and industry, you’ll guide how the country prepares for winter, plans for capacity needs and manages long-term risks to keep electricity secure and affordable. This is your chance to use your expertise to build resilience, protect consumers and contribute directly to Britain’s energy transition at a time of extraordinary change.
We’re looking for someone with deep knowledge of the GB electricity system and markets, who can bring credible, robust advice to complex issues. You’ll have strong analytical skills and the confidence to communicate clearly with non-expert audiences. Organised and collaborative, you’ll be able to manage multiple priorities, work at pace and build trusted relationships with colleagues, government and industry partners.
At Ofgem, you’ll be part of an open and inclusive workplace that values flexible working and supports professional development. Our flexible resourcing model gives you the chance to broaden your experience across different projectsa or apply your specialist expertise where it has the greatest impact.
We have a critical mission to protect consumers and ensure the electricity system remains secure and resilient as the UK moves towards Net Zero. This is your opportunity to help shape that future and deliver real impact for Britain’s energy consumers.
Ofgem is Great Britain’s independent energy regulator. We’re at the forefront of change across the energy sector, driving towards Net Zero whilst protecting energy consumers, especially vulnerable people.
This is a high-profile, permanent opportunity for an electricity systems specialist to take ownership of this critical workstream at the centre of national energy resilience. You will be the expert voice within our multi-disciplinary Electricity Security & Market Management team, which covers wholesale electricity markets, capacity market policy and electricity security of supply.
In this influential role, you’ll shape national policy in an area that affects every household and business. Working closely with government and industry, you’ll guide how the country prepares for winter, plans for capacity needs and manages long-term risks to keep electricity secure and affordable. This is your chance to use your expertise to build resilience, protect consumers and contribute directly to Britain’s energy transition at a time of extraordinary change.
We’re looking for someone with deep knowledge of the GB electricity system and markets, who can bring credible, robust advice to complex issues. You’ll have strong analytical skills and the confidence to communicate clearly with non-expert audiences. Organised and collaborative, you’ll be able to manage multiple priorities, work at pace and build trusted relationships with colleagues, government and industry partners.
At Ofgem, you’ll be part of an open and inclusive workplace that values flexible working and supports professional development. Our flexible resourcing model gives you the chance to broaden your experience across different projectsa or apply your specialist expertise where it has the greatest impact.
We have a critical mission to protect consumers and ensure the electricity system remains secure and resilient as the UK moves towards Net Zero. This is your opportunity to help shape that future and deliver real impact for Britain’s energy consumers.
Job description
Key Responsibilities and Outputs
Policy Development
- Leading our electricity security of supply workstream within the Electricity Security & Market Management team, keeping senior managers appropriately briefed on risks and major milestones.
- Identifying, undertaking, and supervising quantitative and qualitative analysis of security of supply risks across time horizons.
- Analysing complex concepts and working with colleagues to solve problems and present high quality, timely, and robust analysis of policy options leading to evidence-based policy recommendations to decision makers.
- Leading the drafting of clear and concise documents, including briefings, policy documents, consultations, decision letters, and impact assessments.
- Providing electricity security of supply expertise and input into policy work streams across Ofgem.
Stakeholder Management
- Effectively communicating the benefits, challenges, and trade-offs from policy proposals to senior colleagues.
- Working collaboratively across team boundaries and engaging with key Ofgem functions to inform policy analysis and recommendations.
- Representing Ofgem externally with a wide range of external stakeholders including other government departments, National Grid and energy companies. Building constructive stakeholder relationships to ensure challenges and issues are identified and resolved in consumers’ interests.
Role Specific Key Responsibilities
- Leading the security of supply workstream
- Working with government and industry on winter preparedness, resilience and security of supply e.g. assessing NESO’s security of supply related publications and informing DESNZ’s Electricity Capacity Report.
- Ownership of short-term and longer-term security of supply risks. Development of a clear plan to deal with with these risks, with support and buy-in from others.
- Continuing to work closely with Government on electricity supply scenarios, providing expert advice and advocating for consumers’ interests. Collaborating on a comprehensive programme to assess and reduce risks through the late 2020s and beyond.
Key Stakeholders
Internal
- Colleagues within Ofgem, including senior management, legal and other teams and professions.
External
- Other Government Departments (particularly DESNZ) and their advisors
- National Energy System Operator (NESO)
- Prospective and active generation licensees
- Regulator counterparts, industry experts, , consultants, academia, and think tanks, energy sector specialists (as appropriate)
Person specification
ESSENTIAL:
- Electricity system & markets expertise: Knowledge of GB electricity system, market operation and Security of Supply. Ability to make robust recommendations and/or effective decisions based on specific expertise in the area of Electricity Security of Supply. (LEAD)
- Analysis skills: undertake and present appropriate analysis to support decision-making.
- Communication skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills that effectively communicate complex issues to non-expert audiences in written documents and orally. Ability to frame and communicate strategic and policy options
- Organisational skills: the ability to identify and scope appropriate project/research work, plan ahead, prioritise activities (or resources), manage multiple priorities to successfully deliver at pace.
- Collaboration skills: Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Energy sector knowledge and understanding of Ofgem’s role and the consumer needs it serves. Knowledge or experience working on electricity regulation
DESIRABLE:
- Experience of working on consultancy, government, policy, regulatory or energy sector projects that deliver benefits for consumers, communities, or society.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- 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.
Apply before 1:55 pm on Monday 21st July 2025
