Skip to main content
GOV.UKSenior Policy Officer - Green Finance Team
Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 5th February 2023
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Business area
Type of role
Policy
Strategy
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Job summary
Our Mission
At BEIS, we are leading the UK’s recovery from coronavirus and are building a stronger, greener country. Our varied work makes a real difference to people across the UK and internationally. This is a fantastic opportunity to become part of the BEIS team and our exciting mission!
We lead on the UK’s commitments to tackle climate change and drive green economic growth. We support businesses to create jobs and increase opportunity in regions across the UK. We also encourage investment and innovation to make the UK a science superpower producing research that will improve lives.
Our Inclusive Environment
We are building an inclusive culture to make BEIS a brilliant place to work where our people feel valued, have a voice and can be their authentic selves. We value difference and diversity, not only because we believe it is the right thing to do, but because it will help us be more innovative and make better decisions.
We offer first-class flexible working benefits, excellent employee well-being support and a great pension. We are fortunate to have a range of excellent staff networks and are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We will support talented people from all backgrounds to build a career and thrive.
We actively welcome applications from anyone who shares our commitment to inclusion. We will fully support candidates with a disability or long-term condition who require adjustments in our recruitment process.
Job description
The role and our team
This is an exciting opportunity to work at the centre of Government Net Zero policymaking. To achieve the ambitions set out in the Net Zero Strategy, Government must attract significantly more private capital into critical sectors and technologies. To deliver this additional private investment, the right framework of policy, regulatory and financial support will be needed, for which the BEIS Green Finance team plays a central strategic role.
This role sits within the BEIS Net Zero Strategy Directorate, which is responsible for the development and delivery of the Government's strategy for net zero - bringing down the UK's greenhouse gas emissions to meet our climate commitments and driving clean growth across the UK.
The BEIS Green Finance team, working alongside teams in HM Treasury, Defra and DIT, have central responsibility for developing Government’s approach to financing net zero. Following the successful delivery of key elements of the first Green Finance Strategy, published in 2019, the UK’s policy framework has been further strengthened with the issuance of our first Sovereign Green Gilt, the launch of the UK Infrastructure Bank and the publication of the Greening Finance Roadmap.
Looking ahead, there is an opportunity to build on these strong foundations through the publication of our second Green Finance Strategy in the coming months. This will be an opportunity to re-establish Government priorities in this policy area, provide a clear narrative of how the work supports broader net zero and energy security objectives, and establish what new policy is needed to maintain the UK’s competitive advantage in this space.
Person specification
Key responsibilities
We are looking for a motivated and enthusiastic Senior Policy Officer (SEO) who can hit the ground running:
• Our immediate priority is the delivery of the second Green Finance Strategy in early 2023. You will take on responsibility for specific components of the strategy, and work with the rest of the team to ensure an ambitious, high quality strategy is delivered that meets Ministerial and stakeholder expectations.
• After the delivery of the strategy, you will pivot to delivery of the various commitments that have been made in the newly published strategy. These could range from regulatory measures, to reviewing the UK's competitiveness as a green finance centre, development of a UK Green Taxonomy or ensuring that government and government-owned financing institutions are making best use of public money to crowd private investment into net zero.
• You will work to ensure that the UK maintains its position as a leading international centre for Green Finance, and advise Ministers on policies and measures that they can undertake to enhance this status.
Skills and experience
We are looking for a highly motivated individual with strong financial, policy and strategic skills and experience:
• Understanding of how financial markets and financial institutions will support the transition to net zero, through lending, investment and insurance decisions.
• Understanding of the Government’s approach to net zero is desirable – experience of working with key HMG strategy documents (Net Zero Strategy, British Energy Security Strategy) would be welcome.
• Experience working in green and sustainable finance markets would be beneficial (e.g., green bonds, project finance, developing green lending, insurance or investment products).
• Excellent written and verbal communication, and experience landing messages with senior stakeholders (C-Suite/Ministerial).
• Excellent analytical skills (both qualitative and quantitative), with the ability to distil messages down to guide decisions.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Communicating and Influencing
- Making Effective Decisions
Benefits
BEIS 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 (from September 2021, depending on how the public health guidance evolves).
Things you need to know
Selection process details
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Applications will be sifted on behavioural statements and CV.
In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the lead behaviour statement (Seeing the Big Picture). Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.
The interview will consist of behaviour questions.
Interviewees will be asked to deliver a presentation; further details will be provided nearer the time.
Expected Timeline subject to change
Sift dates: w/c 6th February 2023
Interview dates: w/c 20th February 2023
Interview Location: MS Teams.
Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.
Further Information
Reasonable Adjustment
If a disabled person is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
- Contact Government Recruitment Service via beisrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
- Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional
We are proud to be a disability confident leader, more information about the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) and some examples of adjustments that BEIS offers to disabled candidates and candidates with long-term health conditions during our recruitment process can be found in our candidate guidance document. A plain text version of the guidance is also available.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
A location based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.
Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
Any move to Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
BEIS does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home).
BEIS cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. BEIS holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service / Disclosure Scotland on your behalf. However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles.
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Jamie Armour
- Email : Jamie.Armour@beis.gov.uk
Recruitment team :
- Email : beisrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
