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

The Emergency Response, Capabilities and Operations (ERCO) team is friendly, collaborative, and driven by purpose. We ensure that the Department understands and prepares for significant threats to energy security and infrastructure. From flooding to space weather, cyber threats to industrial action, we work across Whitehall and with industry to reduce risk, build resilience, and lead incident response.
We play a key role in planning, training, exercising, and coordinating DESNZ’s emergency response—ensuring our people and processes are confident, capable, and aligned with wider cross-government preparedness efforts.

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)
• 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

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

As Senior Training and Exercising Advisor, your primary focus is on capability building through targeted training and effective exercises. You will:
Lead the DESNZ Crisis Management Training and Exercising Programme.
Design and deliver a strategic programme that develops departmental response capability, increases preparedness, and embeds learning.
Enhance Departmental Readiness: Build confidence through regular and scenario-based exercising, using the DESNZ Assurance Framework to test and improve plans, policies, and procedures.
Drive Continuous Improvement: Embed a cycle of learning from real incidents (e.g. Covid-19, severe weather) and exercises, ensuring lessons are acted upon and integrated into planning and training.
Emergency Response Exercising: Lead and participate in emergency response exercises that simulate real-world conditions and decision-making environments, building capability at all levels.
Volunteer Capability Management: Oversee the departmental pool of trained emergency response volunteers, ensuring sustained capability and ongoing engagement.
Internal Capability Building: Support internal teams by designing bespoke exercises and capability assessments that develop team confidence, identify risks, and assure readiness.
Contract and Supplier Oversight: Lead the management of external suppliers delivering training and exercising components, ensuring quality and alignment with departmental needs.
Cross-Government Collaboration: Represent DESNZ in cross-Whitehall exercising forums, contributing to shared planning, lessons, and capability development.
Emergency Coordination Support: Support real-time coordination of DESNZ’s response to major incidents when activated, contributing leadership and expertise.
Stakeholder Engagement.
Maintain strong relationships across DESNZ, government partners, and industry to deliver integrated training and exercising outcomes.