Senior Energy Policy Advisor - Electricity Markets & Policy in Birmingham

Status: Permanent / Full-time preferable (requests for part-time/flexible working arrangements are welcome)

About Us

Meeting the UK’s 2050 Net Zero emissions target requires transforming our entire energy system and the policies, regulations and markets that govern it. The Energy Systems Catapult’s mission is to accelerate energy innovation towards Net Zero. We do that by helping a broad range of innovative companies bring products and services to market, and by helping shape the future energy system. The Business Model and Policy Innovation team supports innovators to scale-up. We make the case to government for policy and regulatory reform. By translating existing policy and regulations, we help innovators make sense of the opportunities and barriers to introducing new services and products.

The Catapult is a place where you can do the best and most impactful work of your career. You will be exposed to a variety of exciting projects, from how we go about decarbonising 26 million homes, how we decarbonise both complex sites and industrial areas, and the role of local areas in decarbonisation. There is also the small question of how the whole transformed system will work together. Our HQ is in Birmingham, but our hybrid working arrangements mean that our people are distributed across the country. We believe that innovation often stems from connecting different areas and ideas, and that working together in person can be an important enabler for that. We therefore expect people to be in the Birmingham office ~40 days/year (roughly one day per week). With a rich mix of disciplines and experiences across the energy system, the Catapult is a highly stimulating environment and was recently awarded a Great Place to Work certification.

You

We are looking for a policy expert. It would be great if you demonstrate a successful track record of delivering projects related to electricity policy, perhaps in a consultancy, government, industry, or academia. But this is not a prerequisite if you are genuinely interested in and understand the subject matter and can demonstrate strong capabilities in other areas. We value flexibility in supporting other areas of the business, in particular other policy themes such as decarbonising heat, and supporting other teams, such as our international offerings. You will be able to showcase how you have delivered policy projects that have led to impact and change to the sectors in which you have worked. As the Catapult’s policy expert in this space, you will not only be comfortable and effective working collaboratively with your colleagues, but also engaging externally with a variety of stakeholders, as you will be expected to develop strategic relationships on electricity policy and to represent the Catapult at external events. You will lead the delivery of electricity policy projects from conception through to final output. With that in mind, you will use your first class analytical, report writing, and presentation skills to ensure that your outputs are engaging and well targeted to the intended recipients. In addition, you will contribute to the Catapult’s bids for projects, as well as helping to shape the Business Model and Policy Innovation team’s strategic direction, operational approach, effectiveness, and growth.

What you will be doing

• Delivering policy projects in our Electricity Markets & Policy practice. Depending on the nature and scale of the project, you could be leading the policy work or supporting a Practice Manager (subject matter lead). There may also be opportunities to be involved in the work of our two other practices: Heat Policy and Carbon Policy.
• Supporting Innovators to scale-up – providing advice and expertise to help them navigate policy, regulation and markets and collaborating to bring about reform to unlock innovation.
• Developing the Catapult’s positions on issues relating to electricity markets, networks, and institutions in the context of the Net Zero transition.
• Delivering projects for a wide range of clients, including government and private companies (established players and start-ups).
• Producing reports, presentations, blogs, and articles – either as lead author, co-author, or contributor to specific sections.
• Representing the Business Model and Policy Innovation team within the Catapult – for example, by presenting on project work at company Show & Tell events.
• Managing interactions with stakeholders such as the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, Ofgem, the National Energy System Operator, Great British Energy, private companies, innovators, and academia. This may include attendance at and/or running workshops, and delivering presentations and webinars.
• Contributing to the Catapult’s bids for future projects, contributing and scoping relevant Markets, Policy & Regulation expertise and inputs as appropriate.
• Horizon scanning and maintaining the Catapult’s knowledge and insight on electricity policy matters.

Key Credentials

• Experience of work on policy issues, analysis of problems, and developing strategically sound solutions.
• Deep understanding of the UK’s electricity markets and policy, and their strategic challenges.
• Evidence of high-quality writing in your area of expertise and the ability to collaborate and contribute to writing research outputs for different audiences (e.g. reports, think-pieces, blogs, briefings).
• Excellent communication skills (both written and verbal) and experience of delivering presentations.
• Quantitative and/or qualitative research skills.
• Collaborative and confident in developing relationships with a variety of stakeholders with different backgrounds (e.g. government, commercial, academic).
• Ability to work both independently and closely with a team.
• Ability to work accurately to tight deadlines, and good planning and organisational skills.

Employee Benefits

• Annual leave 28 days plus bank holidays (FTE) + Buy/Sell holidays
• Buy/sell holiday – maximum 1 week based on contracted hours
• Pension 2 for 1 contribution via salary sacrifice scheme up to 10%
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• Recognition scheme to celebrate 'above and beyond'
• EV Scheme Salary sacrifice
• Cycle2work Salary sacrifice
• Life assurance 4 x salary
• Health Cash Back Plan
• Retail and gym discounts
• Employee Assistance Programme 24/7 phoneline and 6 free counselling sessions
• Snacks and drinks
• Annual company off-site event.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of race, sex, disability, religion and belief, sexual orientation, or status regarding gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity.