Policy Manager

At Smart Energy GB, we aim to engage and communicate with our diverse nation about the smart meter rollout across England, Scotland, and Wales. We are an independent organisation set up by the government to deliver the national public engagement campaign, raise awareness of smart meters and drive adoption of this technology in everyone's homes. Smart meters are essential building blocks in the creation of a cleaner, greener energy system for the future.

We are looking for a Policy Manager with experience in monitoring and analysing complex policy environments at pace, interpreting relevant impacts on an organisation, and subsequently advising on the organisation’s approach to join our team in our London office. Sitting within the Corporate Affairs Directorate, you will be instrumental in delivering Smart Energy GB’s policy programme in support of Smart Energy GB’s strategic aims.

Within Smart Energy GB, there are two primary elements to the policy function:

• The first is to work with internal and external stakeholders to identify potential barriers to the installation of smart meters and any missed opportunities for their promotion. We want this role to support and socialise well designed and evidenced proposals for reform as well as creative ideas to further their promotion, from a policy perspective.
• The second element is to understand the complex and ever‑changing energy sector and the role of smart meters within that. These policy areas are expected to include (but not necessarily be limited to) those relating to the smart meter rollout, the flexibility of the electricity system, and the changing nature of consumer participation in energy and wider energy consumer policy, which, if shaped correctly, could further extend the benefits that can be gained from smart meters.

Key tasks / responsibilities

• Assist the Senior Policy Manager and broader Corporate Affairs team in delivering Smart Energy GB’s policy programme in support of Smart Energy GB’s strategic aims.
• Be a subject matter expert on the energy sector, the role of smart meters within this and any implications of change across the sector for the rollout.
• Work with internal and external stakeholders, to identify, and develop, possible improvements for the smart meter rollout policy approach, and engage with stakeholders in this context.
• Support thought leadership by creating new and compelling evidence to drive stakeholder engagement and promote smart meters both as the foundation to a flexible energy system and as a tool to support consumer engagement in energy.
• Ensure that Smart Energy GB applies high‑quality methodologies to develop evidence‑based policy views.
• Communicate Smart Energy GB’s policy views with clear and compelling arguments and supporting evidence; and assisting the wider team with the materials and arguments that they need to be advocates for Smart Energy GB’s policy aims.
• Represent the Corporate Affairs Directorate on cross‑directorate working groups, including for segmented audiences such as the private rented sector, microbusinesses and consumers in vulnerable circumstances.
• Provide regular and timely policy updates across the organisation, compiling briefings on key consultations and decisions for dissemination to senior leadership.
• Attend Smart Energy GB and third‑party events for political and stakeholder audiences.

The role will involve a certain amount of travel within Great Britain and occasional evening and weekend working.

Skills, experience and competencies

Essential

• Experience in monitoring and analysing complex policy environments at pace, interpreting relevant impacts on an organisation, and subsequently advising on the organisation’s approach.
• Experience developing policy positions and related materials, in particular, those which are based on a strong and/or sophisticated evidence base.
• Experience in communicating complex policy aims and broader thought leadership through clear and compelling materials and argument.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal and written); creativity and innovation when communicating technical topics to varied audiences.
• Ability to act as an external ambassador for Smart Energy GB.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the policy and regulatory landscape governing the smart metering rollout and/or the energy sector is desirable.
• Appreciation of the objectives and activities of Smart Energy GB.
• Appreciation for the diversity of the people and communities of Great Britain and embrace this diversity in your approach to work.

Diversity

Smart Energy GB is an equal opportunity employer and we value diversity. We use data to measure the effectiveness of our attraction and selection methods to ensure that they are fair and equitable and that opportunities at Smart Energy GB are accessible to people from all backgrounds. We actively encourage applications from currently under‑represented groups. We have identified ethnic minority, lower socioeconomic backgrounds, disability and gender as the key areas we would like to focus our recruitment efforts.

Rooney Rule: We are building a team that is able to understand the needs of and effectively communicate with the whole of our diverse nation. We want our team to reflect the diversity of the wider population, in terms of the representation of people from ethnic minority and lower socioeconomic backgrounds. If consent is given, of the candidates who meet the essential selection criteria for the role and who are from ethnic minority or lower socioeconomic backgrounds, at least one will be shortlisted for the next stage in the recruitment process, which is usually an interview.

Disability: All disabled applicants who meet the minimum requirements of the job as set out in the job description will be guaranteed an interview if consent is given for this data to be considered at the shortlisting stage. Please let us know if there’s anything we can do to make our interview process or working environment more inclusive and to meet your particular needs. Our offices have full wheelchair access.