Programme Officer International Nuclear Security

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. Information about disability confidence and just some examples of the adjustments that you can request can be found in the reasonable adjustment section below.
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.
Find Out More
We regularly run events where you can find out more about the department and tips for the application process. You can sign up for upcoming events here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/departmentforenergysecurityandnetzero?
You can also follow our LinkedIn Careers Page: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/desnz-careers, This post sits within the Non Proliferation Unit in the Nuclear Protection Directorate. Our purpose is to ensure that civil nuclear power continues to be supported by the public and the international community as a safe and secure source of clean energy. We do this by, internationally, delivering policy and assistance to prevent states or terrorists from acquiring and misusing nuclear material or technologies and, domestically, showing the world that the UK’s civil nuclear programme is used only for peaceful purposes. This is critical for our national security and to support the UK’s broader energy policy objectives.
In delivering against these aims, the team’s key responsibilities include:
1. Deliver international non-proliferation policy as it relates to civil nuclear policy and applications, including leading on the “Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy” pillar of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and supporting the work of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
2. Provide assistance to help improve nuclear security in priority countries, and to enable the IAEA to conduct its nuclear safeguards and security work effectively.
3. Ensure the UK’s civil nuclear programme and exports meet our nuclear non-proliferation obligations.
The post holder will focus on the second of these objectives with a focus on counter-terrorism objectives to prevent non-state actors from acquiring nuclear or radiological materials. This post will handle much of the day-to-day activity of the Global Nuclear Security Programme - the UK's only programme for providing nuclear security improvements overseas. The security of nuclear and radiological material globally is a national security priority (reiterated in the Integrated Review). The role sits within a small team that coordinates a budget of c£9m per year.
The team works closely with other policy areas within the Unit. The programme officer maintains links within DESNZ, across Whitehall, with international partners, and with implementing partners. This is a central role supporting effective programme management including financial and corporate oversight, governance, and reporting. You will be working with one SEO and a G7 and will have the opportunity to develop key skills on programme management, financial management, policy development, building and maintaining relationships both domestically and internationally - this role provides an excellent opportunity at this grade to work on programme management, high priority policy areas, financial management, and to represent the UK internationally and is a great role to stretch the post holder.
The post holder will be expected to travel internationally as part of their role and this could be as much as six times a year both short and long-haul to attending multi-lateral meetings and undertaking project oversight visits.
While the role can be undertaken with SC clearance we request that the candidate be willing to undergo the DV clearance process.

Person specification
The role coordinates the day-today activity of the Global Nuclear Security Programme and contributes to the successful delivery of a cross-government national security priority. This includes:
• Programme management - Governance through the use of oversight tools; financial management of the c£9m programme; risk registers; evaluation tools; reporting internally and to government partners.
• Project management - management of workstreams including nuclear security culture, radiological source security and counter nuclear smuggling. This includes identifying potential projects, managing existing projects, and ensuring activity is in line with priorities.
• Policy delivery - assisting with the development of overall programme policy objectives and where programme funds should be spent, in line with HMG priorities.
• Engagement - Developing and maintaining relationships whether it is with finance teams in DESNZ, policy leads in Cabinet Office, suppliers delivering programmes, or international partners. These are key to the effectiveness of the programme and explaining what we do and how we do it.
International travel will be an essential part of the role and the programme officer can expect to undertake at least six overseas trips a year. This can encroach on weekends and evenings but we seek to minimise this as far as possible and time off in lieu can be taken., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Managing a Quality Service
+ Seeing the Big Picture
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Communicating and Influencing, As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement and behavioural statements.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
Please use your personal statement (in no more than 500 words) to set out why this role interests you and the skills and experience you would bring to the role.
Please note - the CV incorporated into the application form is for information purposes only and will not be scored.
Applications will be sifted on behavioural statements and personal statement.
In the event of a large number of applicants, applications will be sifted on the lead behaviour statement (Managing a Quality Service).
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 questions.
Sift and interview dates
Expected Timeline subject to change
Sift dates: w/c 27/05/2024
Interview dates: w/c 09/06/2024
Interview Location: MS Teams.
Candidates are asked to note the above timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process.
Further Information
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
Reasonable Adjustment
We are proud to be a disability confident leader and we welcome applications from disabled candidates and candidates with long-term conditions.
We fully support adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we encourage candidates to discuss their adjustment needs by emailing the job contact which can be found under the contact point for applicants section.
We do not have an exhaustive list of adjustments that we support but just some examples include additional time to complete your application form, behaviour questions up to 72 hours prior to interview and having extra time at interview.
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
A location based reserve list of successful candidates will be kept for 12 months. Should another role become available within that period you may be offered this position.
Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
Any move to the Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
DESNZ does not normally offer full home working (i.e. working at home); but we do offer a variety of flexible working options (including occasionally working from home).
DESNZ cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign.
DESNZ holds a Visa sponsorship licence but this can only be used for certain roles and this campaign does not qualify.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Feedback
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
+ UK nationals
+ nationals of the Republic of Ireland
+ nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
+ individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
+ Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

The candidate will have good organisational skills and the ability to own a range of different portfolios. The ability to handle priorities and workload is important as the team often has a busy travel schedule. Programme management is highly desirable but not essential and opportunities will be available to develop those skills. Good financial management and experience of working within internal corporate structures will help in navigating some aspects of the role. Good interpersonal skills and confidence are desirable as much of the role is outward facing and requires the job holder to quickly develop relationships with key partners within and outside of government.
DV clearance is desirable but not essential for the role and the successful candidate will be asked to go through the DV process once in post. The successful candidate will be able to undertake the job with SC clearance.

Do you want a career where you can make a real difference? Do you want to work in a government department that is at the forefront of current policy making decisions that will impact 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 securing the UK’s long-term energy supply, bringing down energy bills and halving inflation. We are seizing the opportunities of Net Zero to lead the world in new green industries 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.

Alongside your salary of £33,635, Department for Energy Security & Net Zero contributes £9,081 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
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 average employer contribution of 27%.
+ 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.
Office attendance
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.