Do you want a career where you can make a real difference? Do you want to work in a government department that is at the forefront of current policy making decisions that will impact 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 securing the UKs long-term energy supply, bringing down energy bills and halving inflation. We are seizing the opportunities of Net Zero to lead the world in new green industries 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. 

Find Out More 

We regularly run events where you can find out more about the department and tips for the application process. You can sign up for upcoming events here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/departmentforenergysecurityandnetzero?  

You can also follow our LinkedIn Careers Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/desnz-careers/  

Would you like to deliver critical policies to decarbonise the economy and address climate change? This is an exciting time to join the Hydrogen and Industrial Carbon Capture directorate, which was formed to ensure successful delivery of the governments Net Zero programme. It is a fast-paced and exciting directorate that is at the heart of energy and climate change policy.

We are looking to recruit two SEO policy advisors in the Hydrogen and Industrial Carbon Capture directorate to support governments ambition to deploy 10GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity. At least half of this will come from electrolytic hydrogen, drawing on the scale up of UK offshore wind and other renewables and new nuclear. In addition to this, the government has set out its ambition to capture and store 6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year from industrial sources by 2030.This is an exciting time to work on low carbon hydrogen policy and to help ensure the UK achieves its climate commitments.

The team is developing commercial frameworks and support mechanisms to enable the construction of hydrogen production. The first electrolytic (green) hydrogen projects to be awarded support through the Hydrogen Production Business Model (HPBM) were announced at the end of 2023. We also aim to award HPBM revenue support to CCUS-enabled (blue) hydrogen projects through the Cluster Sequencing process.

Senior Policy Advisor for Hydrogen Allocation Rounds

The British Energy Security Strategy set out an ambition for Government to run annual funding allocation rounds to support electrolytic hydrogen production, and that the first two rounds should deliver up to 1GW of electrolytic hydrogen in construction or operation by 2025. Government intends to launch the second funding allocation round later this year, with the aim to award funding contracts to up to 750MW of capacity in early 2025, subject to affordability and value for money.

The team are looking to recruit a SEO to support policy design and the delivery of the second allocation round. We are looking for a self-starter who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment, and can work flexibly in a supportive team environment. This is an exciting opportunity to work in a role that contributes towards achieving government's key climate change commitments.

Senior Policy Advisor for Industrial Carbon Capture:

The Industrial Carbon Capture (ICC) business model is a new incentive mechanism to provide funding support towards decarbonising vital industries such as chemicals, refining, cement and waste management. We are looking to ensure we establish the correct incentives for deployment whilst delivering value for money for the taxpayer.

You will have the opportunity to work on high-profile, complex and challenging policy development, alongside engaging with our key internal and external partners, as well as the chance to make lasting change! You will also contribute to building a collaborative and happy environment where people bring their best to work, establishing excellent working relationships. We are a friendly and inclusive team, which places a strong emphasis on personal development.

The teams' work is varied, complex and challenging, and successful SEOs will have a chance to get involved in a range of areas. The two roles being advertised sit in the Industrial Carbon Capture Business Models G7 Strategy & Delivery team and the Hydrogen Allocation Design team, but we work very closely with the wider CCUS, Hydrogen and Industrial Decarbonisation programmes, X-WH and externally. 

Our team accommodates a range of part-time and other flexible working patterns. We encourage applications from people from the widest possible diversity of backgrounds, cultures and experiences. This is very important to us.

Key Responsibilities

In this role, your responsibilities will include leading and/or supporting on several activities with a focus on policy elements of the business model design, design of allocation rounds as well as strategic and stakeholder engagement. There will be scope to make the role your own, with plenty of stretching opportunities to lead on discrete pieces of work. For example:

Working in a mixed team of DESNZ and external advisors (including commercial, legal and technical advisers) on drafting the contractual terms that will underpin the business model.

Supporting the evolution of the business model for future rounds of allocation, including leading on particular policy areas.

Designing the eligibility and assessment criteria for allocation rounds for CCUS-enabled hydrogen projects wanting financial support, taking into account UK strategic policy objectives, industry insight and the practicalities of delivery.

Working closely with the team leading on assessing and negotiating with projects successful at application stage, ensuring a fair, transparent and robust process.

Drafting papers and presenting to internal and external stakeholders, including HM Treasury, No.10 and industry/external stakeholders.

Drafting advice and briefing to Ministers and the CCUS Programmes Senior Responsible Officers (SROs) to support decision making.

Working closely with other policy teams on hydrogen, industrial carbon capture, power CCUS and Greenhouse Gas Removal to coordinate and agree proposals.

Engaging directly with hydrogen/industrial projects.

Skills and Experience

Essential criteria

Strong policy development skills to contribute to the development of new policy.

Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build and maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Ability to work across a team, providing inputs to others and collaborating on interface areas with other work areas.

The ability to communicate complex and sometimes technical issues clearly and concisely to colleagues, stakeholders and ministers.

Proactive approach to workload and ability to deliver quality to short and long timelines in a fast-paced working environment.

Strong analytical skills, with an ability to understand and apply the commercial, legal and technical elements.

Desirable criteria

Experience working in carbon capture or an energy/infrastructure/net zero policy area (e.g. Hydrogen, power, industrial decarbonisation, nuclear).

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Working Together

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero offers a competitive mix of benefits including:

• A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
• Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension Scheme, with an average employer contribution of 27%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
• An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.
• Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.
• A hybrid office/home based working model where staff will spend a norm of 40-60% of their time in the office (minimum of 40%) over a month with flex dependent on balancing business and individual need.

Office attendance

The Department operates a discretionary hybrid working policy, which provides for a combination of working hours from your place of work and from your home in the UK. The current expectation for staff is to attend the office or non-home-based location for 40-60% of the time over the accounting period.

Job contact :

• Name : Rosanna Siese
• Email : [email protected]

Recruitment team

• Email : [email protected]