This is an exciting moment in the UKs transition to net zero where energy system planning is at the fore. The UK Government has committed to deliver Clean Power by 2030, and Ofgem has an important delivery role to play. Building on the 2030 plan,DESNZ has also commissioned the newly formed National Energy System Operator (NESO) to prepare a Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) for Great Britain. The SSEP will play a crucial role in shaping our future energy system by guiding investment choices in generation and transmission infrastructure to facilitate the transition to net zero. Alongside preparing the SSEP, we are working jointly with NESO and DESNZ to consider how to bring about alignment and implement the SSEP. Electricity demand is also increasing, especially from AI data centres, and we need to plan future growth in ways that ensure that the energy system remains optimised for efficiency to keep control of costs.
A dedicated Energy System Planning team in Ofgem leads engagement with NESO and the UK Government in the development of the SSEP, coordination of Ofgems support for delivering Clean Power 2030, and understanding future electricity demand growth, with a focus on ensuring that the future system takes account of consumer interests. The team is small but with a remit to engage widely across Ofgem and with external stakeholders to ensure our interests are represented, understood, and served.
As Head of the Energy System Planning team you will offer team leadership, strategic senior-level advice, build cooperation with teams across Ofgem, and lead engagement with external stakeholders especially NESO and DESNZ to deliver a diverse, impactful, and exciting programme of work in the GB energy sector. You will be someone who:
* Brings energy sector insights, analytical thinking, and an ability to craft policy and strategy through clear advice to senior leadership
* Is flexible and can thrive in a fast-paced environment when the need requires.
* Will champion our culture of inclusion, and encourages, supports, and celebrates the diverse voices and experiences of our colleagues, ensuring we best represent the consumers and the communities we serve.
Person specification
* Senior energy sector experience and knowledge of energy system planning in GB. (LEAD)
* An ability to think strategically and conceptually, combined with strong analytical skills, to generate senior level advice and recommendations to complex policy challenges.
* Experience of engaging, influencing and collaborating at all levels, including diverse colleagues, senior managers, internal and external stakeholders with credibility and self-assurance.
* Proven leadership and experience in building capability in diverse multi-disciplinary teams and supporting them through, and successfully embedding, changes to policies and processes.
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
* Ability to manage different work activities or workstreams to keep projects on track.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Seeing the Big Picture
* Making Effective Decisions
* Leadership
* Communicating and Influencing
Benefits
Alongside your salary of 61,446, OFGEM contributes 17,800 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Ofgem can offer you a comprehensive and competitive benefits package which includes; 30 days annual leave after 2 years; Excellent training and development opportunities; The opportunity to join the generous Civil Service pension which also includes a valuable range of benefits; hybrid working (currently 1 day a week in the office but this is kept under review), flexible working hours and family friendly policies. Plus lots of other benefits including clean and bright offices based centrally, engaged networks and teams and an opportunity to contribute to our ambitious and important targets of establishing a Net Zero energy system by 2050. This exciting blend of professional challenge and personal reward identifies career opportunities at Ofgem as something to get excited about.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
When you press the Apply now button, you will be asked to complete personal details (not seen by the sift panel), your career history and qualifications.
You will then be asked to provide a 1250 word personal statement evidencing how you meet the essential and desirable skills and capabilities listed in the role profile. Please ensure you demonstrate clearly, within your supporting statement, how you meet each of the essential and desirable skills and capabilities.
The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application or used during interview, including your CV and any statements or examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Ofgem takes any incidences of cheating very seriously. Please ensure all examples provided are of your own experience. Any instances of plagiarism or other forms of cheating will be investigated and, if proven, the relevant applications will be withdrawn from the process. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.
Please refer to Civil Service candidate advice on the acceptable use of artificial intelligence within the recruitment and selection process - Artificial intelligence and recruitment, Civil Service Careers
The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected, you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by [ https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn ].
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
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)
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window) .
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
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 (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window) .
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window) .
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
* Name : Chloe.Baily
* Email : Recruitment@ofgem.gov.uk
Recruitment team
* Email : recruitment@ofgem.gov.uk
Further information
Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commissions Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of these Recruitment Principles.
In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via recruitment@ofgem.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website.
Attachments Terms and Conditions April 2025 Opens in new window (pdf, 335kB) 424379 Candidate Pack- Head of Energy System Planning Opens in new window (pdf, 639kB) 424379 Role Profile - Head of Energy System Planning Opens in new window (pdf, 101kB)