Senior Strategy Manager (Electrification of Heat and Transport Strategy)

Job description

Purpose

The energy sector is going through an unprecedented period of change and transformation. In the near-term, with high and volatile gas prices, Ofgem must ensure that energy consumers are protected, and our energy system is reliable and resilient. Simultaneously, Ofgem must support the transformation to a net zero and data-enabled future.

Ofgem's Strategy and Economics Research and Net Zero (SERN) Directorate sits at the heart of Ofgem's change and transformation, delivering decarbonisation while protecting the interests of energy consumers, and transforming Ofgem into an even more strategic, dynamic and impactful organisation. The Strategy and Decarbonisation team delivers advice that will change the UK's decarbonisation trajectory. We work collaboratively with Ofgem's leadership and regulatory and functional teams, with government departments and a wide range of external stakeholders, to ensure Ofgem's work is informed by the best ideas and evidence, and to maximise the impact of that work.

We are seeking for a high-calibre colleague to join the Directorate as Senior Strategy Manager , with responsibility for developing and running priority strategic projects, informing Ofgem's direction on decarbonisation issues with insightful analysis, and contributing to the briefing of senior colleagues on net zero matters.

Attitude and aptitude are just as important to us as a relevant technical background. Are you creative, persuasive, proactive and focused? Would you like to play a crucial part in shaping and delivering the UK's journey to net zero?

The successful candidate will be a key part of the small Electrification of Heat and Transport Strategy Team, within the Strategy, Economic, Research and Net Zero (SERN) directorate in the centre of Ofgem. They will work closely across Ofgem including the senior leadership team, as well as with government and industry, to identify and take forward key strategic priorities and ensure coherence of approach across Ofgem. The team does not take forward established regulatory work, which falls to dedicated policy teams, but is responsible for shaping and coordinating Ofgem's strategic approach and establishing new priority projects.The successful applicant will have the opportunity to take responsibility for managing key deliverables and develop their expertise in this exciting area of work.

We operate a Flexible Resourcing model. Longer term you will have the opportunity to work flexibly across Ofgem supporting on a range of projects or may have a longer deployment within a team where you have in-demand specialist skills, knowledge, and expertise.

Key Responsibilities (Generic)

• Structure, run and deliver strategy projects or key workstreams as part of more complex projects that support delivering Ofgem's Strategic Change Programmes.
• Proactively and constructively challenge thinking within the Directorate and beyond, encouraging the organisation (and industry) to be more efficient, more effective and more ambitious.
• Engage with colleagues in SERN and policy teams, as well as external stakeholders, to develop a shared understanding of the problem and solutions.
• Conduct high-quality, well-structured analysis and insights, as required, to support strategy projects and storytelling in Board slide pack presentations.
• Contribute to both internal and external documents.
• Develop and actively manage project plans.
• To closely follow developments in the energy sector relevant to the specific projects and net zero transition.

Key Responsibilities (Role-Specific)

All of the below will apply with a focus on electrification of heat and/or transport as well as wider net zero-focused projects.

• Lead the strategic analysis and delivery for high priority strategic projects. This will include primary responsibility for senior management briefing materials, development of strong relationships with relevant parties, and project planning.
• Drafting policy papers and recommendations to the team and the senior leadership team.
• Providing briefings to senior management to support their understanding of key elements of Ofgem's net zero workstreams and key policy areas, as well as those of government.
• Where new and emerging areas are identified take action to ensure these are escalated and appropriate stakeholders engaged.
• Coordinating and managing work across Ofgem, to help ensure a coherent approach, and timely delivery.
• Engaging effectively with Ofgem colleagues, government and industry to influence policy decisions and to work collaboratively to resolve potential issues and regulatory barriers.
• Keeping up to date with national and international technological and policy developments and sharing knowledge appropriately.
• Ensure that knowledge is shared within the team and knowledge management is continuously improved.

Key Outputs and Deliverables

• Providing input into strategic publications to communicate Ofgem's strategy externally (either as the owner on a specific document or by providing input).
• Transparent and clear definition of the structure and approach for specific strategy projects, including barriers to the energy transition and understanding of how Ofgem can address these barriers.
• Informative, concise papers for discussion with key senior stakeholders on key energy policy issues.
• Briefing notes and emails that raise key questions, analyse opportunities, identify threats and offer weighted solutions.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Strategic thinking: A track record of translating strategy into delivery, ability to understand the work of the team and the Directorate in a wider, strategic context, and to identify and take up opportunities to develop this knowledge over time. (Lead)
• Analysis and evidence: excellent ability to analyse quantitative and qualitative information, identify issues, synthesise diverse sources and intelligence and develop options and recommendations on a wide range of issues. (Lead)
• Stakeholder engagement: a track record of building collaborative working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, engaging influencing skills to secure desired outcomes.
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment and managing multiple, concurrent priorities and projects.
• Communications: Excellent ability to communicate effectively to a range of internal and external audiences, both in writing and in presentations, and to convey complex issues clearly and concisely.

Desirable Criteria

• Knowledge and experience relevant to heat and/or transport decarbonisation.
• Knowledge and experience relevant to the wider energy transitionand net zero.

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 £12,315 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.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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) .

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window) .