Principal Policy and Programme Officer - Energy

Good Growth is responsible for delivering and implementing the Mayor’s environment, transport and economic strategies and for the effective implementation of the London Plan. The Directorate is also responsible for regeneration, enterprise, growth, capital projects and design work.

The Mayor wants to make London a zero-carbon city by 2030 and our GLA Group Clean Power Commercial Programme will play an important role in driving these efforts.

The post holder will use their experience of similar work to deliver the Mayor’s ambition to make London a net-zero carbon city by 2030. They will work with a wide array of stakeholders such as GLA Group organisations, central government, London Treasury, Community Energy Groups, London Boroughs, schools, and other delivery partners. They will ensure integration between the GLA Group Clean Power Commercial Programme and other related programmes and strategies accelerates the purchasing of clean power, solar panel installations on buildings, heat pumps roll out and buildings retrofit among public sector organisations across London.

The post holder will be part of a small team and will focus on the GLA Group Clean Power Programme, leading on programme delivery, management, and stakeholder engagement. We expect the post holder to be able to work flexibly across these different policy areas in response to priorities and needs.

What your day will look like:

• Identify the need for, devise and develop effective long term policy support strategies targeting organisations such as community energy groups, GB Energy, and other public sector organisations to promote the rapid decarbonisation of power in London.
• Build new, and maintain existing partnerships, to assist in delivery of initiatives to implement the Mayor’s policies and programmes, including negotiating funding and leading for the GLA on relationship management with key stakeholder groups in relation to the environment portfolio.
• Establish and develop relationships on technical and policy matters with key stakeholders including international organisations, Government departments, the London Boroughs, functional bodies and other organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors.
• Provide advice and where necessary responses, written and oral, to the Mayor and his staff, senior managers, Assembly Members, and Functional Bodies, GLA staff, government departments, London-based and national organisations on environmental and energy matters, making recommendations on policy and strategy options.
• Source, select, appoint, and manage consultants and contractors to carry out relevant work in accordance with relevant public procurement and GLA procedures, policies and Code of Ethics and Standards and ensure delivery within the allocated budget/to time/quality.
• Lead on the development of environment policy areas within the London Environment Strategy and other mayoral strategies, including undertaking research, analysis, option appraisals, knowledge sharing and consultation to develop a sound evidence base.
• Take responsibility for strategic horizon scanning and maintaining up-to-date awareness of legislative, technical and policy changes in relation to the environmental and energy portfolio and disseminating appropriate information and advice within the GLA Group and with partner organisations and functional bodies.
• Establish and maintain excellent internal and external working relationships, and participate in cross-organisational and sector projects, to ensure opportunities for integration are maximised across the work programme of the GLA Group and that relationships with key stakeholders are further enhanced.
• Present the projects, in the context of the Mayor’s policies, objectives and concerns at conferences, seminars and meetings to external bodies and organisations, and deputise for Senior Managers by representing the GLA at national policy and regional meetings and on study groups and working parties.
• Realise the benefits of London’s diversity by promoting and enabling equality of opportunities and promoting the diverse needs and aspirations of London’s communities.
• Realise the benefits of a flexible approach to work in undertaking the duties and responsibilities of this job, and participating in multi-disciplinary, cross-department and cross-organisational groups and project teams.

Skills, knowledge, and experience:

To be considered for the role you must meet the following essential criteria:

• A track record of working in partnership with multi-stakeholder groups to deliver shared goals.
• Evidence of success in undertaking programme and project-based work, and experience of managing and delivering high value environmental projects and programmes, with track record of contract management and delivering results on target and within budget and allocated resources.
• Preparing clear and concise reports, presentations and briefings on complex and sensitive issues for a range of different audiences.
• Ability to analyse and interpret environmental and energy issues in relation to urban areas, their causes, effects, and possible solutions, utilising software to an advanced level to assist in such analysis.

Problem Solving:

• Clarifies ambiguous problems, questioning assumptions to reach a fuller understanding.
• Actively challenges the status quo to find new ways of doing things, looking for good practice.
• Seeks and incorporates diverse perspectives to help produce workable strategies to address complex issues.
• Initiates consultation on opportunities to improve work processes.
• Supports the organisation to implement innovative suggestions.

Research and Analysis:

• Expands networks to gain new information sources for research and policy development.
• Identifies and implements methods to ensure intelligence is of a high quality.
• Encourages others to analyse data from different angles, using multiple perspectives to identify connections and new insights.
• Retains a bigger picture view, ensuring research recommendations are appropriate and practical for the GLA and its stakeholders.

Planning and Organising:

• Prioritises work in line with key team or project deliverables.
• Makes contingency plans to account for changing work priorities, deadlines and milestones.
• Pays close attention to detail, ensuring team’s work is delivered to a high standard.
• Negotiates realistic timescales for work delivery, ensuring team deliverables can be met.

Communicating and Influencing:

• Encourages and supports teams in engaging in transparent and inclusive communication.
• Influences others and gains buy-in using compelling, well thought through arguments.
• Negotiates effectively to deliver GLA priorities.
• Advocates positively for the GLA both within and outside the organisation.

Organisational Awareness:

• Challenges unethical behaviour.
• Uses understanding of the GLA’s complex partnership arrangements to deliver effectively.
• Recognises how political changes and sensitivities impact on own and team’s work.
• Follows the GLA’s position in the media and understands how it impacts on work.

The GLA Competency Framework Guidelines further detailing each competency and the different level indicators can be found here: GLA Competency Framework.

How to apply:

If you would like to apply for the role you will need to submit the following:

• Personal statement with a maximum of 1500 words. Please ensure you address how you demonstrate the essential criteria outlined above in the advert.
• Applications submitted without a Personal Statement will not be considered.
• Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement have a maximum file size of 1.5MB each and upload your Personal Statement to the ‘CV and Cover Letters’ section of the form, ensuring you address the technical requirements and competencies in your Personal Statement.
• Word or PDF format preferred and do not include any photographs or images.
• Please ensure your CV and Personal Statement are saved with the job reference number as part of the naming convention (E.g., “CV – applicant name - 012345).

As part of GLA’s continuing commitment to be an inclusive and equal opportunity employer we will be removing personal identifiable information from CVs and Personal Statements that could cause discrimination.

If you have questions about the role, please attend our open information session for an opportunity to hear about the team, the role and to ask any questions you wish to ask. Thursday, 3rd July between 10.00 – 11.30 am.

If you have a question about the role or would like to discuss it informally, the hiring manager Dipo Lafinhan would be happy to speak to you. Please contact them at (email protected).

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, contact the (email protected) who support the GLA with recruitment.

Assessment process:

Once you have submitted an application, your details will be reviewed by a panel. If shortlisted, you’ll be invited to an interview/assessment. The interview/assessment date is: Early August (exact dates tbc).

Equality, diversity and inclusion:

London's diversity is its biggest asset, and we strive to ensure our workforce reflects London’s diversity at all levels. We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, gender, gender identity, gender expression, ethnicity, sexual orientation, faith or disability. We particularly encourage applications from Black, Asian and Minority ethnic candidates and disabled candidates who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. We are committed to being an inclusive employer and we are happy to consider flexible working arrangements. We would welcome applications from candidates who are seeking part time work as this role is open to job share. Please note we are a Disability Confident Employer so for candidates who wish to be considered under the scheme and meet the essential criteria, they will automatically be invited to interview. Please note, should you require any adjustments through the process, we will accommodate as much as possible. Please contact the recruitment team for further information if required.

GLA staff are hybrid working up to 3 days a week in our offices and remotely depending on their role. In addition to a good salary package, you will be paid every four weeks, providing frequent salary payments. We also offer an attractive range of benefits including 30 days’ annual leave, interest free season ticket loan, interest free bicycle loan and a career average pension scheme.

Additional Information:

Please note, all candidates will need to confirm that the information provided in this application form is true and correct. Should a candidate deliberately give false information, including the use of AI software, they understand that this would disqualify them from consideration. Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record (DBS) check but some roles may require additional security screening.

If you are a GLA employee applying for an internal fixed-term position, as an internal secondment opportunity, you must ensure you satisfy the following secondment policy criteria listed below before applying:

• On a permanent contract or a fixed term contract where the time left on the contract at the point at which you apply for secondment is longer than the secondment period;
• Successfully completed your probation period and are performing to the required standard for your current role; and
• At least 18 months service with the GLA.

If you do meet the criteria listed above, you will need to complete the Approval for secondment application form and gain line manager approval, before emailing the fully completed form to the Resourcing Assistant who is managing the vacancy. This form must be received by the closing date of the vacancy. Failure to provide this form will mean your application cannot be progressed. If you are unable to satisfy all of the criteria, unfortunately, you are not eligible to apply for this vacancy as an internal secondment.

For further information, please see Secondment Policy and Procedure.

More Support:

If you have a disability which makes submitting an online application form difficult, please contact (email protected). The GLA is proud to be a Level 2: Disability Confident employer. We are committed to becoming a more inclusive and accessible organisation, and creating a truly inclusive and accessible workplace and culture for our disabled staff. We have named Disability Equality as a key corporate priority within our EDI Strategy. We welcome and encourage applications from disabled applicants. Should you wish to opt into the scheme, please let us know during your application.

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