Policy Officer - Energy

Consumer Scotland is hiring a Policy Officer - Energy to support advocacy for consumers in Scotland, focusing on energy markets and transitions. The role involves collaboration with various stakeholders and contributes to the organization's strategy. The position is based in Glasgow or Edinburgh, with a hybrid working approach requiring two days in the office weekly. The salary ranges from £36,944 to £42,244, with a permanent contract.
Details

Reference number

395782

Salary

£36,944 - £42,244

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

GBP

Job grade

Other

B2

Contract type

Permanent

Type of role

Policy

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time

Number of jobs available

1

Contents
• Location
• About the job
• Benefits
• Things you need to know
• Apply and further information

Location

This post will be based in Edinburgh or Glasgow. We operate a hybrid working approach and staff are expected to spend two days per week in the office.

About the job

Job summary

Consumer Scotland is the statutory body for consumers in Scotland. Established by the Consumer Scotland Act 2020, it formally took on its statutory functions and powers on 1 April 2022. As a Non-Ministerial Office Consumer Scotland is independent and accountable to the Scottish Parliament. The staff of Consumer Scotland are civil servants.

Consumer Scotland has the general function of providing consumer advocacy and advice with a view to –
• reducing harm to consumers in Scotland
• increasing confidence among consumers in Scotland in dealing with businesses that supply goods and services to consumers
• increasing the extent to which consumer matters are taken into account by public authorities in Scotland
• promoting –
• sustainable consumption of natural resources, and
• other environmentally sustainable practices, in relation to the acquisition, use and disposal of goods by consumers in Scotland
• otherwise advancing inclusion, fairness, prosperity and other aspects of wellbeing in Scotland.

Consumer Scotland is committed to putting consumer rights and interests at the heart of markets, services and policy, taking an evidence-led approach to its advocacy.

Our Energy Markets team represents consumers on issues including affordability, debt, vulnerability, RTS and future tariffs in the gas and electricity markets. Our Energy Transition, represents consumers on issues including heat networks, energy efficiency, low carbon technologies and smart meters. Close working between the two teams is essential, given the high degree of synergy between the respective areas.

We are now recruiting for an Energy Policy Officer across our Energy Transition and Energy Markets teams.

The Energy Policy Officer (Markets/Transition) is a key part of the energy teams. They will contribute to the development and delivery of their team’s work plan and the organisation’s strategy for working with public and third sector partners, business, the Scottish Parliament and other key stakeholders.

The Energy Policy Officer (Markets/Transition) will report to the Head of Energy (Markets/Transition).

Job description

The post holder will be responsible for supporting policy and advocacy work into sectors or practices of interest to Consumer Scotland. The post holder is likely to work across a broad range of issues and themes when considering issues affecting energy consumers in Scotland. They will be required to collaborate effectively with other teams within Consumer Scotland and stakeholder organisations. There will be a need for flexibility and creativity, as the organisation continues to develop its work, role, functions, and organisational capacity.

The post-holder will support the organisation’s work by:
• Supporting the Head of Energy (Markets/Transition) in developing and delivering Consumer Scotland’s policy and advocacy work programme.
• Helping to build and maintain an in-depth knowledge of consumer issues across the Energy teams
• Contributing to the delivery of high quality, evidence-led policy and advocacy work, developing robust, accessible recommendations that can be readily implemented by the relevant organisations. This may include producing reports, consultation responses, briefings and other outputs.
• Being an ambassador for Consumer Scotland, managing and nurturing good relationships with stakeholders to ensure effective engagement and information gathering
• Working collaboratively with other teams within the organisation and maintaining high standards of integrity and professionalism
• The role holder will need the ability to work independently but with support available from the wider energy teams and the wider Policy Officer network

Person specification
• A demonstrable track record of contributing to policy and advocacy work of at least one year’s duration and experience in one or more aspects of the energy market.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with experience of establishing, developing and maintaining positive relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent planning and organisational skills, including the ability to balance competing demands, and use initiative and judgement.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, enabling the production and presentation of strategic documents and the analysis of diverse information, cutting through complexity to bring clear, relevant and intelligible findings and recommendations to a range of audiences and stakeholders.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Seeing the Big Picture

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £36,944, Consumer Scotland contributes £10,702 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
• 25-30 days holidays
• 11.5 days public and privilege holidays

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

At application stage you will be required to submit a CV and a 500 word Personal Statement. Please ensure your Personal Statement is aligned with the person specification for this role.

At interview we will assess experience and civil service behaviours listed in the advert.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Interview details will be confirmed nearer the time.

We do not anticipate a second round of interviews but we may invite candidates back for a second round should there be a high calibre of candidates.

Further Information

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Consumer Scotland 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.

Reasonable Adjustment

If a person with disabilities 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 info@consumer.scot 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.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

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-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

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

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.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

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.

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 : Catriona Kirk
• Email : Catriona.Kirk@consumer.scot

Recruitment team
• Email : Catriona.Kirk@consumer.scot