Details
Reference number
427408
Salary
£66,925 - £76,675
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
Job grade
Grade 6
Contract type
Permanent
Business area
DESNZ - Energy Infrastructure - Great British Energy
Type of role
Policy
Working pattern
Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time
Number of jobs available
1
Contents
* Location
* About the job
* Benefits
* Things you need to know
* Apply and further information
Location
Aberdeen, Edinburgh
About the job
Job summary
Great British Energy will be a publicly owned, operationally independent energy company, designed to drive clean energy deployment, boost energy independence, create jobs and ensure U K taxpayers, billpayers and communities reap the benefits of clean, secure, homegrown energy. Setting up Great British Energy is one of government's first steps for change and we will do this in a way that means it will have both an early impact and long-term success.
Through its five functions (Project development, Project investment, Local Power Plan, Supply chains and Great British Nuclear), Great British Energy will speed up the deployment of mature and new technologies, as well as local energy projects, to support the government's aim of decarbonising our electricity system by 2030 whilst also ensuring we can meet future demand as we further decarbonise the economy.
To this end and as an example of what it can achieve, we have already agreed a major partnership between Great British Energy and The Crown Estate to accelerate deployment and support U K supply chains.
Great British Energy will work collaboratively with industry, local authorities and communities, and other public sector organisations such as the National Wealth Fund, to spread skilled jobs and investment across the country. Great British Energy will be backed by a capitalisation of £8.3 billion of new money over this Parliament.
In recognition of Scotland's leading role in the UK's clean energy revolution, Great British Energy will be headquartered and run from Scotland.
More details can be found in the Great British Energy founding statement.
Roles in what will become Great British Energy will initially be undertaken in shadow form within the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. They will then be transferred to Great British Energy when the Great British Energy Bill becomes law and the company has the necessary procedures and systems in place to employ people directly.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Job description
Great British Energy (GBE) is seeking a dynamic and strategic Head of Environmental Sustainability to help shape and deliver its environmental sustainability vision. Initially reporting to the Director of Policy & External Affairs, this role will play a critical part in advancing GBE's ambition to become a global leader in clean energy—delivered in the most low-carbon, circular, and nature-positive way possible.
The role is responsible for leading the company's sustainability strategy and ensuring its integration across all business functions. It will drive the achievement of Carbon reduction targets, embed circular economy principles, and implement nature-positive initiatives across all GBE delivery.
The successful candidate will oversee GBE's sustainability reporting framework, regulatory compliance, and stakeholder engagement, while advising the executive team on sustainability risks and opportunities. This is a strategic leadership role requiring expertise in carbon reduction, resource efficiency, and environmental stewardship within corporate sustainability and the energy sector.
Person specification
• In collaboration with the Head of Social Sustainability - developing GBE's sustainability strategy and an actionable roadmap that articulates an inspiring, specific, measurable, and results-driven vision for GBE's ambition to become a leader in this space, as part of the energy transition.
• Build a high performing, self-sustaining and clearly defined sustainability function within Great British Energy.
• Ensure systems and processes are in place to ensure GBE and its supply chain are compliant with all relevant environmental and social legislation, and mandatory reporting requirements through GBE's growth.
• Embedding a strong culture for sustainability across the organisation with high levels of employee engagement, training participation, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Defining a baseline and measuring progress in reducing Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, implementing circular practices, and achieving tangible improvements in appropriate natural capital enhancement, across GBE's operations and Supply Chain.
What you will do;
Strategic Engagement
• Lead stakeholder engagement in Aberdeen and beyond, building awareness of GBE's sustainability ambitions and fostering strong community relationships. This includes organising and participating in events such as career fairs, environmental education sessions, and local forums to highlight GBE's role in the energy transition.
• Passionately presenting and articulating GBE's role in the UK's energy transition and the wider benefits of the work that will be delivered through GBE and its supply chain, in Aberdeen and beyond.
Development of Strategy
• Develop and implement an integrated sustainability strategy that reflects GBE's commitment to climate action, resource circularity, and nature positive best practice — ensuring alignment with the UK government's Clean Power 2030 and UK Net Zero by 2050 targets.
• Shaping the internal capability, culture and awareness for environmental Sustainability across GBE. Ensuring proactive collaboration between teams and local stakeholders to seize opportunities for social value creation.
• Establish clear metrics and KPIs to monitor the impact of Net Zero, circularity, and nature-positive initiatives, enabling continuous improvement and transparent reporting.
GBE Partnerships
• Build relationships with appropriate delivery partners who have an ability to accelerate the delivery of GBE's strategic objectives, formalising GBE's collaboration where appropriate and operationalising these high value community partnerships effectively. In addition, carefully and proportionately managing relationships with all other stakeholders (including those proactively reaching out to GBE) to maintain the support from the wider community of stakeholders.
GBE Delivery
• Identify and set-up frameworks to ensure GBE deliver work in alignment with all mandatory environmental legislation and mandatory disclosures.
• Provide specialist advice to ensure sustainability risks are mitigated and opportunities for environmental and social value are maximised throughout project delivery.
• Integrate sustainability criteria into procurement processes, leveraging supplier relationships to drive innovation and positive impact across the value chain.
Essential Criteria
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the personal credibility to quickly build trust and influence at executive committee level, as well as with senior stakeholders, delivery partners, and community groups.
• Proven experience in leading, authoring, and delivering corporate sustainability strategies, aligning environmental goals with organisational objectives.
• Experience in setting up organisational management systems to manage key climate adaptation and resilience-associated risks, in the context of renewable energy.
•
Working knowledge of environmental legislation and sustainability reporting requirements, including the Procurement Act 2023, PPN 06/21, Environment Act 2021, UK Sustainability Reporting Standards (UKSRS), TCFD, TNFD, Greening Government Commitments (GGCs), CSRD, ISO 14001, and equivalent frameworks across the devolved nations. Also, highly proficient in carbon accounting methodologies such as SBTi, SBTN, and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHGP).
• Strong commitment to delivering positive societal impact, demonstrated through a passion for sustainability, diversity and inclusion, community development, and the energy transition.
• Extensive experience in designing and implementing comprehensive carbon accounting and management systems, including full Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions reporting across operational, financial, and capital delivery functions, including supply chain integration.
• Track record of establishing sustainability functions from the ground up, embedding environmental performance into organisational culture and governance.
• Outstanding project delivery capabilities, with a consistent record of achievement and the ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives with credibility and impact.
• Genuine enthusiasm for GBE's mission and policy objectives, including the delivery of clean energy, economic growth, UK job creation, resilient supply chains, and long-term value for the UK taxpayer—while championing sustainability and social value at every level.
Desirable Criteria
• Good knowledge of the UK energy market, or experience within the energy sector.
• Previous experience working in corporate sustainability for a public organisation.
• Ability to conduct qualitative analysis, with some experience in quantitative methods.
• Experience in research methods, such as framing analysis to inform a compelling political narrative.
• Ability to work at pace, in a calm and focused fashion, within a rapidly changing sustainability context and with multiple deadlines and priorities.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
* Changing and Improving
* Delivering at Pace
* Leadership
* Communicating and Influencing
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £66,925, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £19,388 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
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.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement and behavioural statements. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to outline the relevant skills and experience you have that meet the criteria for this role
Applications will be sifted on behavioural statements, CV, and personal statement.
In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the lead behaviour statement (Changing and Improving).
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.
Sift and interview dates
Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.
Further Information
Reasonable Adjustment
We are proud to be a disability confident leader and we welcome applications from disabled candidates and candidates with long-term conditions.
Information about the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) and some examples of adjustments that we offer to disabled candidates and candidates with long-term health conditions during our recruitment process can be found in our DESNZ Candidate Guidance. A DESNZ Plain Text Version of the guidance is also available.
We encourage candidates to discuss their adjustment needs by emailing the job contact which can be found under the contact point for applicants section.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
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 the Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero 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; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.
DESNZ 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).
DESNZ cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. DESNZ 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 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- 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 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email
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
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)
* 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
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code 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 .
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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans 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 : Paul Addison
* Email :
Recruitment team
* Email :
Further information
Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the recruitment principles, and wish to make a complaint, then you should contact in the first instance If you are not satisfied with the response that you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission/Complaints