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’ll proactively lead a policy area to provide end-to-end knowledge and strategic oversight to support effective decision making and continuous improvement. You’ll lead continuous development on your domain knowledge and work flexibly across Ofgem to ensure the delivery of organisational priorities. You’ll communicate benefits, challenges, and trade-offs from policy proposals to Ofgem colleagues and sectoral stakeholders. Some (but not all) posts at this level act as Professional Development Leads, coaching and developing colleagues.
We operate a Flexible Resourcing model where you will 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 will support you to learn and develop the Policy & Strategy skills and knowledge you need to build your career.
To join us, you’ll need policy skills, able to identify, analyse and articulate complex problems. You’ll be able to work with others to develop solutions and present policy recommendations that consider trade-offs. You will also be able to manage delivery, setting clear priorities, supporting others to solve problems and to seek continuous improvement. You’ll be able to clearly demonstrate the relevance of your work internally and externally. Aditionally, being able to create open and inclusive engagement.
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, hybrid working, and a shared sense of purpose.
We welcome candidates from all backgrounds, especially individuals from underrepresented groups.
Job Description
Energy policy is something that touches on every aspect of our lives – at home, at work and at play. Energy fuels our society and our economy. That’s why our policy work is so important, and so rewarding. It protects consumers. It enables businesses. It influences the entire energy industry. And it helps to bring about the seismic societal and infrastructure changes that will be the foundations for a Net Zero future.
Rising prices and security of supply are challenging all parts of the energy sector to consider how we can collectively ensure that this crucial foundation for our society remains accessible to all. And as well as the complexity of the here and now, we continue to look to the future – ensuring that energy policies support a shift away from fossil fuels and that new, renewable energy sources are identified and developed into viable alternatives. And we are challenging the wholesale energy market to do more to ensure more efficient pricing and a better deal for consumers.
Such challenging times require bold action. We are looking for people to meet the challenges we face head-on, and help us deliver a greener, fairer energy system.
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.
You will be someone who:
- Thrives in an agile fast-paced environment with a proven background of delivering benefits for consumers, communities, or society. We value diversity of experience and you may bring this from a range of places including (but not limited to): strategy development, policy development and regulation analysis, commercial analysis, compliance, financial management, operational delivery and/or risk management
- Is interested in the energy sector, including Ofgem’s role in protecting consumers, controlling prices and stabilizing the energy market
- Champions our culture of inclusion and encourages, supports, and celebrates the diverse voices and experiences of our colleagues, fuelling our innovation and ensuring we best represent the consumers and the communities we serve
Person specification
Key Responsibilities
Policy Development & Delivery
- Proactively leads a policy area and provides the end-to-end knowledge and strategic oversight to support effective decision making and continuous improvement
- Proactively leads continuous development of their domain knowledge, policy proposals, research, technology, consumer needs and stakeholder perspectives in their policy/strategy area
- Works flexibly across Ofgem to ensure delivery of organisation priorities in line with business planning, guiding, supporting, and collaborating with colleagues to respond effectively to change
- Leads on the delivery of high quality, timely, and robust analysis of core issue/s and policy options resulting in evidence-based and deliverable recommendations.
- Leads key projects, including responsibility for internal and external stakeholder engagement, prioritising, planning and delivering work.
- Ensures decision makers consider relevant legislation and regulation and any specific case issues and escalates critical issues as needed to ensue delivery for consumers.
Stakeholder Management
- Effectively communicating the benefits, challenges, and trade-offs from policy proposals to Ofgem colleagues and sectoral stakeholders, effectively using evidence to build understanding and commitment to action.
- Ensures effective delivery by working collaboratively across team boundaries and engaging with key Ofgem functions and relevant government departments - developing close links to manage and mitigate risks
- Representing Ofgem externally and building constructive stakeholder relationships to ensure challenges and issues are identified and resolved in consumers’ interests
- Is demonstrably accessible and identifiable to all who operate in their policy/strategy area as and Ofgem lead/expert and in turn knows who to engage to improve policy design and delivery
People Management
- Ability and willingness to take on task management responsibilities e.g. setting and reviewing work, providing constructive feedback and liaising with Professional Development Leads (see below) to help assess performance. (This is common to all posts at this level).
- Some (but not all) posts at this level act as Professional Development Lead – coach and develop colleagues – including annual performance reviews and supporting their flexible deployment and career development. This includes helping develop the Policy & Strategy Profession across Ofgem.
Essential Criteria
- Policy Skills: identifying, analysing, and articulating complex problems; working with other professionals (for example analytical, technical, and legal) to develop solutions and options, and presenting policy recommendations that consider the trade-offs, risks, and dependencies to aid effective decision making (LEAD)
- Managing delivery: set clear goals and priorities, supports others to solve problems, overcome challenges, seeking feedback and means of continuous improvement. (LEAD)
- Clearly identifies and communicates the relevance, interdependencies and strategic fit of their work to organisational priorities both internally and externally
- Demonstrably identifies and understands the value/contribution of internal and external partners and effectively creates open, creative, constructive, timely and inclusive engagement
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.
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £45,614, OFGEM contributes £13,214 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, 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.
Apply before 11:55 pm on Monday 28th October 2024
