Head of Operating Model Delivery in Birmingham

Do you want a career where you can make a real difference? Do you want to work at the forefront of current policy making decisions? Do you want to have an impact on the UK and beyond? If yes, then a career at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) could be for you. Here at DESNZ we are delivering our mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower, with clean electricity by 2030 and accelerating the UK’s journey to net zero.

Our work is helping ensure clean energy for all, keep bills down and seize the opportunities to lead the world in new green industries, taking back control of our energy with Great British Energy and encouraging greater energy efficiency across the UK. The work of the department has never been more timely or relevant, and by joining us you will be part of making that difference. Our work is varied, interesting and most importantly it’s impactful.

Our DESNZ Values are interwoven into everything we do; we are bold, we are collaborative, we are inclusive, and we learn. As a department we are committed to these values to build a culture where everyone can thrive. We offer great working benefits including a world‑class pension, flexible working options and a career where your learning and development is taken seriously. We are enormously proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We support candidates with adjustments throughout our recruitment process.

The role is responsible for leading the work of the Operating Model Delivery Team, which forms part of the wider DESNZ Operating Model Programme in DESNZ’s Change & Transformation Directorate. The postholder is accountable for the Operating Model Team’s provision of advice, support and guidance on operating model development for core DESNZ, through effective application of expert organisation design and development and change and project management.

The postholder will need to build strong relationships with senior stakeholders and work closely with the relevant policy teams, DESNZ Corporate Delivery Group, and Integrated Corporate services to coordinate activity and ensure the delivery of the team’s work packages. This could include, for example, leading the team’s operating model design and development through:

• Shaping and directing the strategic framework for operating model design and development within the team.
• Leading the end‑to‑end operating model design process across work packages, ensuring alignment to DESNZ’s mission and strategy.
• Ensuring comprehensive analysis on organisational activities, capabilities, and interfaces are included within operating model design to drive efficiency and effectiveness.
• Encouraging a development culture within the team and ensuring a focus on personal and professional development for both self and team members.
• Leading the development of methodologies and tools to deliver effective operating model design and development while ensuring compliance with internal guidance and Cabinet Office recommendations on operating model development.
• Collaborating in key cross‑department activities e.g., preparing for and responding to Spending Reviews, MOG changes, Elections etc.

Person specification:

• People management and leadership of the Operating Model Delivery Team, including recruitment, performance management, learning and development and work planning.
• Ensuring the Operating Model Delivery Team has the knowledge, skills and capabilities to provide expert advice and guidance to DESNZ programme teams on operating model design and development.
• Leading complex operating model workstreams and/or projects from early concept through to implementation, post‑implementation review and handover.
• Leading the design and facilitation of virtual and/or in‑person workshops to support project delivery and the production of effective workshop outputs.
• Ensuring effective reporting of progress on workstreams and projects, leading and coaching the team to identify issues and risks and develop mitigating actions and/or solutions.
• Providing a leadership role within the Change & Transformation Directorate, leading cross‑directorate projects, and knowledge sharing.
• Working with colleagues, particularly from HR, Finance & Strategy and key cross‑departmental events, such as Spending Reviews, to ensure Change & Transformation input and resulting Operating Model impacts.

As a line manager, you will be responsible for working with your members of staff to define their objectives, as well as managing their development and performance.

Behaviours we’ll assess you against during the selection process:

• Leadership
• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing

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. 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.
• 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.

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:

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factual‑accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified, applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

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 and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form. Please use your personal statement (in no more than 750 words) to describe how your skills and experience would be suitable for the advertised role, taking into account the key responsibilities and Essential criteria. Applications will be sifted on CV and personal statement. In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the personal statement. 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‑based questions. Interviewees will be asked to deliver a presentation; further details will be provided nearer the time.