Project Manager

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.

Find Out More

We regularly run events where you can find out more about the department and tips for the application and interview process. You can sign up for upcoming events here: https://forms.office.com/e/pqUhdr3L72

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

We are recruiting for a Senior Project Manager in the Energy, Infrastructure, supporting DESNZ’s Power Sector Modelling Programme – a critical departmental priority. The programme aims to develop the departments modelling capability to enable the department to evidence its policy proposals. The programme’s proposals aim to unlock unprecedented levels of investment across the full range of low carbon technologies; maintain security of supply; and ensure the system can be operated safely and cost-effectively.

We pride ourselves on having a friendly, inclusive and supportive work environment. We support team members to develop their careers. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and to offering flexible working opportunities. We are keen to hear from those who work part-time, job-share or have other arrangements.

Key responsibilities

This is a high profile and fast-paced area of work requiring someone with experience, confidence and the ability to enable delivery in a challenging environment. The Power Sector Modelling capability for the department is paramount for setting and deciding upon policy direction.

Responsibilities may include but are not limited to:

• Delivery – responsible for supporting the delivery of the department’s power sector modelling and transitioning away from the previous model.
• Project Management – Day to day project management responsibilities, implementing industry best practice and responsible for implementing project controls. Design the project structure and organisation appropriate to stage. Determine appropriate delivery methodologies.
• Stakeholder Management – Identify and manage stakeholder relationships including those requiring senior level support. Develop the Stakeholder Management plan to manage internal and external relationships appropriately.
• Risks & Issues – Identify and monitor project risks and issues. Develop mitigating actions and escalate as appropriate. Identify and work with related projects to manage interdependencies.
• Governance – Support effective governance and decision making. Provide reporting and engage in mechanisms that hold you, as Project Manager, to account for delivery.
• Assurance – Engage with assurance reviews and support action on recommendations. Organise assurance processes such as gateway reviews, as required.
• Change Management – Ensure effective Change Management processes are in place to agree and document changes to deliverables as agreed with stakeholders.
• Guidance & Support – Show commitment to personal development. Promote effective individual and team performance through effective collaboration.
• Project Performance & Controls – Cascade vision and translate into delivery objectives for the team. Develop and maintain the Project Plan. Identify and set appropriate Project Controls. Manage performance and report progress to sponsors.

Skills and experience

We are seeking highly motivated Project Manager to support one of the most interesting and complex programmes in DESNZ. Successful candidates will be practitioners in shaping project approaches and relationships to achieve successful outcomes and benefits.

Essential:

• Have experience in delivering either complex or high-risk projects within an agreed time, cost and quality constraint.
• You will be adaptable when applying your knowledge of project management tools and methodologies, capable of designing a project structure and organisation to meet the requirements of the project according to its point in the lifecycle.
• Be experienced and credible in dealing with a broad and complex range of stakeholders both in writing and in person, with the confidence to engage with senior officials.
• You will have a proactive stakeholder engagement approach, seeking out opportunities to effectively communicate and influence, and be used to operating with a high degree of autonomy where there is ambiguity and change in a project.
• Have practical experience in actively managing project risks and issues, able to make decisions, engage in dialogue on risk management strategy, and demonstrate a level of skill beyond simply ‘managing a process’.
• You will be able to apply your skills to a range of risks, with a sound understanding of how they relate to wider strategy.
• Have managed a project through the key stages in its lifecycle, from agreeing vision to project closure.
• Have successfully delivered transformation outcomes, able to understand project objectives, the wider strategic organisational context.
• You will have a recognised accreditation in professional project management.

Desirable:

• Have experience managing contracts and working with external contractors. It would also be an advantage to have worked on IT delivery and have experience in the energy sector.

• PRINCE2 Practitioner
• MSP Practitioner
• Agile Project Management Practitioner
• APM Practitioner Qualification
• APM Registered Project Professional
• Civil Service Project Leadership Programme

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

• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together

We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• Quality Management

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 employer contribution of 28.97%.
• 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.

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 :
Chris Eliadis
Email :
chris.eliadis@energysecurity.gov.uk

Recruitment team

Email :
desnzresourcing.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk