Director, North Sea Transition

This is a high-profile leadership role at the heart of delivering the Government’s energy security and net zero priorities, and specifically, driving forward the Government’s approach to securing a fair, managed and prosperous transition for the North Sea.

The postholder will lead policy and delivery across upstream oil and gas, offshore energy transition and coal legacy, with a strong focus on delivering manifesto commitments, providing effective sponsorship of arm’s-length bodies, and managing significant financial, commercial and delivery risks. The role combines strategic policy leadership, complex stakeholder management and operational delivery in areas of high ministerial, parliamentary and public interest. The postholder will provide strategic advice to Ministers on the future of the UK’s offshore energy sector.

Reporting to Jonathan Mills, Director General for Economy, International and Security, the postholder will lead the North Sea Transition Directorate (currently 36 staff but likely to grow)

The Director will:

• Lead delivery of ministerial and manifesto commitments across the upstream oil and gas portfolio, including implementation of the Government’s plans for the future of the North Sea and the development of the new oil and gas licensing framework.
• Set the strategic direction for managing the transition of the North Sea as domestic oil and gas production declines, balancing energy security, jobs, investment, communities, supply chains and the transition to clean energy.
• Lead the department’s engagement with the oil and gas industry, offshore workers, trade unions, investors, the Scottish Government, local leaders and other partners, with a particular focus on Aberdeen and the wider North Sea economy.
• Oversee policy on the resilience and orderly evolution of the upstream oil and gas sector, including the management of significant business shocks, insolvencies, changes in ownership and risks to critical infrastructure, workers and supply chains.
• Provide effective sponsorship of the North Sea Transition Authority and support its evolving role in enabling a fair, managed and prosperous transition. The postholder will undertake senior departmental responsibilities in relation to the NSTA’s governance, including serving as Shareholder Director on its Board, subject to confirmation.
• Lead work to support investment, skills, good jobs and UK supply-chain opportunities arising from the transition, working across government and with industry to secure tangible benefits for workers and communities.
• Implement commitments relating to coal and fracking, oversee the management of historic coal liabilities through sponsorship of the Mining Remediation Authority, and ensure effective delivery of coal health and pensions arrangements, with strong governance, commercial control and value for money.
• Provide visible, inclusive leadership to a multidisciplinary directorate and work closely with other DESNZ groups, HM Treasury, the Cabinet Office, regulators and delivery partners.

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