Policy Advisor, Green Industrial Strategy

at  Department for Energy Security Net Zero

JOB SUMMARY

Do you want a career where you can make a real difference? Do you want to work at the forefront of current policy making decisions? Do you want to have an impact on the UK and beyond? If yes, then a career at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) could be for you.
Here at DESNZ we are delivering our mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower, with clean electricity by 2030 and accelerating the UK’s journey to net zero. Our work is helping ensure clean energy for all, keep bills down and seize the opportunities to lead the world in new green industries, taking back control of our energy with Great British Energy and encouraging greater energy efficiency across the UK. The work of the department has never been more timely or relevant, and by joining us you will be part of making that difference.
Our work is varied, interesting and most importantly it’s impactful. Our DESNZ Values are interwoven into everything we do; we are bold, we are collaborative, we are inclusive, and we learn. As a department we are committed to these values to build a culture where everyone can thrive
We offer great working benefits including a world-class pension, flexible working options and a career where your learning and development is taken seriously. We are enormously proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We support candidates with adjustments throughout our recruitment process. Information about disability confidence and just some examples of the adjustments that you can request can be found in the reasonable adjustment section below.
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 and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.

JOB DESCRIPTION

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Net Zero Strategy Directorate in the team that leads strategic thinking across DESNZ and other Government departments on the challenge of mobilising significant amount of private capital across the economy to achieve the UK’s Net Zero targets. The Green Industrial Strategy team sits at the intersection between the Government’s Growth and Clean Energy Missions. We work in a fast paced, complex area with a real chance to have a consequential impact on the country.
In this role, you will work on strategy, policy and engagement to shape DESNZ’s contribution to the UK’s Industrial Strategy. We will enable government to seize the growth opportunities of the transition to net zero by supporting new clean energy industries.
The new modern Industrial Strategy “Invest 2035” is the UK government’s credible 10-year plan to deliver the certainty and stability businesses need to invest in the high growth sectors that will drive our growth mission. The Strategy will focus on tackling barriers to growth in our highest potential growth-driving sectors and places, creating the right conditions for increased investment, high-quality jobs and ensuring tangible impact in communities right across the UK. The Strategy’s goal is to capture a greater share of internationally mobile investment in strategic sectors and spur domestic businesses to boost their investment and scale up their growth – an essential step in achieving, sustainable, inclusive and resilient growth.
This is an ambitious role, with strong Ministerial interest and involvement. You will build your skills and experience of policy, strategy, cross-Whitehall negotiations and private sector engagement to formulate policy to capture growth opportunities in key clean energy sectors, ensuring that Net Zero is at the heart of the UK’s industrial policy and that growth is at the heart of Net Zero in the department.
Our team is responsible for three core activities. First, managing DESNZ input into the Industrial Strategy, working with teams across the department and Whitehall to develop our understanding of the barriers and challenges that industry face and the enabling policy that Government can put in place to over come. This will have a particular focus on clean energy sectors, but will have the opportunity to influence Government policy more widely than that.
Second, working with sector teams across the department to gain a greater understanding of both the macroeconomic factors that influence a sector’s ability to grow, and on the ground information of how the supply chains of key net zero sectors work. To deliver Clean Power by 2030 and the legally mandated Carbon Budgets we need to ensure our supply chains will provide the components and materials that we need, to accelerated timescales. These supply chains are varied and complex, and, without Government intervention, we are unlikely to be able to access the required materials to meet our targets. Our team works across the department assess opportunities and challenges, and design policy solutions to prevent bottle-necks and enable industry to grow.
Thirdly, we are working alongside the Net Zero Strategy, spending review and other central teams to ensure that the growth opportunities of the net zero transition are captured across the economy, not just in those sectors that are prioritised for the Industrial Strategy. The team works across a broad area and we will have the chance to be involved in some of the most important workstreams DESNZ is responsible for over the coming years.
You will also have the chance to build your cross-Whitehall network and negotiation skills. The team works alongside various sector specific teams, the Private Investment for Net Zero, the Office for Clean Energy Jobs, the Net Zero Strategy and Green Finance teams within the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, as well as cross-Government with HM Treasury, DEFRA, DBT and the Office for Investment to develop the Government’s approach to financing net zero. We also expect to play a key role in Comprehensive Spending Review negotiations this year.

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)

While direct policy experience is not essential, we welcome highly motivated individuals with strong policy, strategy and engagement skills, and:

• Strong teamwork skills with the ability to operate in an agile environment, grasp issues quickly, and explain complex matters in simple terms.
• Ability to deliver across various policy themes, see the big picture, make connections between policy areas, and shape work programmes to support team delivery.
• Contribute to building team capacity, fostering a friendly, supportive and high-performing culture, and developing necessary skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, interpersonal and influencing skills. Strong presentation skills, including when engaging with senior stakeholders

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The work of the team is varied, and your role will develop over time as the team does. Currently, projects this role will lead on include:

• Assisting in scoping and drafting the ‘Clean Energy Industries Plan’ for green sectors, a document to be published in the new year which will announce policies to capitalise on growth opportunities for the net zero transition.
• Working across government, including HMT and Number 10, with high profile and senior stakeholders to ensure a unified position on growth.
• Horizon scanning to support the team in in understanding key policy programmes and changes in the department, as well as relevant political and industry news.
• Gathering and synthesise departmental views to identify a short list of policy interventions.
• Drawing policy conclusions from analysis on UK’s comparative advantage in different green sectors.

Skills and experience

While direct policy experience is not essential, we welcome highly motivated individuals with strong policy, strategy and engagement skills, and:

• Strong teamwork skills with the ability to operate in an agile environment, grasp issues quickly, and explain complex matters in simple terms.
• Ability to deliver across various policy themes, see the big picture, make connections between policy areas, and shape work programmes to support team delivery.
• Contribute to building team capacity, fostering a friendly, supportive and high-performing culture, and developing necessary skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, interpersonal and influencing skills. Strong presentation skills, including when engaging with senior stakeholders.