Emerging Technologies Technical Principal

Job summary

Emerging technologies are rapidly reshaping how the energy system operates, and at Ofgem, we are embracing these advancements while ensuring they are used safely, responsibly and in the interest of consumers. We’re seeking an Emerging Technologies Technical Principal to provide technical leadership and authoritative expertise in areas such as AI and quantum computing.

Ofgem is Great Britain’s independent energy regulator. We’re at the forefront of change across the sector, driving toward Net Zero whilst protecting consumers, especially vulnerable people.

We’re offering a permanent opportunity within our Emerging Technologies team, where you’ll have the chance to make a huge impact on how AI and other emerging technologies are used within Britain’s energy sector.

You’ll focus on cutting-edge applications of emerging technologies, leading on the technical elements of regulatory guidance and tools. This is an opportunity to shape how these technologies are deployed, exercising technical judgement to ensure safe, secure, sustainable and fair outcomes, whilst enabling the sector to harness its full potential and stay at the forefront of technical advancements.

Driving the delivery of the technical elements of work programmes, setting technical direction, standards and expectations for quality, you’ll line-manage a newly recruited technical lead, building capability, supporting development and ensuring high standards of analysis. What’s more, you’ll be involved in some seriously exciting projects and programmes that influence government, regulators and industry at the highest levels.

You’ll possess deep technical expertise in artificial intelligence or related digital technologies, with experience providing technical advice to senior leaders in complex or regulated environments. The ability to translate complex technical issues into clear, actionable recommendations will be vital, as will a strong understanding of areas such as AI governance, data governance, cybersecurity or digital systems risk. You’ll also need excellent communication skills, the ability to build effective relationships, and the willingness to support and develop others.

In return, you’ll have the opportunity to work at the forefront of how emerging technologies are applied within the energy sector, contributing to work that is both high-profile and nationally significant. You’ll be part of a supportive and forward-looking team, with the opportunity to shape how innovation is enabled while ensuring it is delivered responsibly.

We have a critical purpose to ensure the energy system works in the interests of consumers, now and in the future. Join us and help shape how emerging technologies are used to support a safe, resilient and future-ready energy system.

Job description

SC is required for this role. Information and eligibility guidance can be found here: SC - Guidance Pack for Applicants - GOV.UK

Key Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership across Ofgem’s emerging technologies programme of work (with an initial focus on AI and quantum), ensuring that technical input is well evidenced and future-proof.
• Lead the technical aspects of regulatory guidance and tools, ensuring alignment with engineering, cybersecurity and data governance considerations.
• Work with the Head of Emerging Technologies to define technology roadmaps (with an initial focus on AI and quantum).
• Translate strategic Ofgem, directorate and team objectives into clear technical work packages, ensuring the wider team understands dependencies, evidence needs, implementation considerations, and any constraints.
• Conduct and lead technical horizon scanning across emerging technologies, identifying opportunities for innovation and associated risks.
• Provide authoritative technical advice into policy development, including assessing technical proposals from regulated entities and their innovation partners, identifying risks, and advising on appropriate mitigation approaches grounded in technology, engineering, data, and AI governance principles.
• Ensure the quality and consistency of technical analysis and guide technical resource in the use of appropriate approaches, methodologies and tooling.
• Escalate complex technical risks and issues appropriately, advising senior leadership on potential system impacts and proposing evidence-based options or mitigations.
• In cross-government, regulatory and standards development forums elaborate on Ofgem’s technical position underpinning its regulatory approach to emerging technologies within Britain’s energy sector.
• Build and maintain a strong, inclusive culture, mentoring technical resource and supporting professional development across the Emerging Technologies team.

Key Outputs and Deliverables

• Clear, high quality technical reports and assessments that explain how AI and quantum might create opportunities and risks, including technical reviews of how these technologies are being used within the energy sector, and how the overall system design works, with a particular focus on safety, security and resilience.
• Robust, evidence‑based technical components of guidance, standards, frameworks and regulatory tools, ensuring safety, security, fairness and transparency are embedded.
• Clear, well‑structured technology roadmaps outlining technical considerations, dependencies, future capability needs and the sector, market, firm and/or consumer risks or opportunities.
• Effective internal and external technical communication, explaining complex technical issues clearly to policy, legal, economics, leadership, and wider government stakeholders.
• Technical contributions to cross government working groups, regulator networks and standards bodies.
• A technically confident and motivated technical resource, supported through coaching, guidance and clear expectations around quality of analysis and technical excellence.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Technical expertise in AI technologies demonstrated through experience designing, assessing, or assuring AI, data, digital or cyber related‑ systems ideally in a regulated environment. (Lead Criteria)
• Proven ability to provide authoritative technical advice to senior decision‑makers experience translating complex technical issues into clear, actionable recommendations for non‑technical audiences (Directors, Deputy Directors, legal teams, policy teams, external partners). (Lead Criteria)
• Strong understanding of AI governance, safety, data governance, cybersecurity or digital systems risk with evidence of applying technical and risk-management principles to real‑world or regulatory contexts.
• Ability to influence and collaborate across organisational boundaries experience working with multidisciplinary teams (policy, legal, data, engineering), and building strong relationships with external stakeholders such as government departments, regulators, energy companies or technology providers.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop technical specialists including setting expectations, supporting development, and fostering an inclusive, high‑performing technical culture.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills able to articulate technical considerations and strategic implications clearly and concisely for both technical and non‑technical audiences.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience working in a regulated environment particularly in energy, digital regulation, cyber security, or sectors with significant AI or data‑governance requirements.
• Familiarity with national and international technical standards such as BSI, ISO, NIST, IEEE, or other relevant AI, data, cybersecurity or emerging‑tech standards bodies.
• Knowledge of quantum and emerging technologies technologies, distributed systems, or next generation digital infrastructure particularly where these intersect with AI, system security, or regulatory oversight.
• Experience commissioning or overseeing specialised technical consultancy work such as AI model evaluations, cyber‑risk assessments, or technical reviews conducted by external experts.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving
• Making Effective Decisions

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• You will be asked to conduct a 5 minute presentation at interview. Further details will be provided in your invitation to interview.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £63,443, OFGEM contributes £18,379 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Ofgem can offer you a comprehensive and competitive benefits package which includes; 30 days annual leave after 2 years; Excellent training and development opportunities; The opportunity to join the generous Civil Service pension which also includes a valuable range of benefits; Hybrid working (currently 1 day a week in the office but is in review), flexible working hours and family friendly policies. Plus lots of other benefits including clean and bright offices based centrally, engaged networks and teams and an opportunity to contribute to our ambitious and important targets of establishing a Net Zero energy system by 2050. This exciting blend of professional challenge and personal reward identifies career opportunities at Ofgem as something to get excited about.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

When you press the ‘Apply now’ button, you will be asked to complete personal details (not seen by the sift panel) and upload a copy of your CV anonymising all personal details such as name/age/contact details. Please do not remove names of previous employers.

You will then be asked to provide a 1250 word ‘personal statement’ evidencing how you meet the essential and desirable criteria listed in the role profile. Please ensure you demonstrate clearly, within your supporting statement, how you meet each of the criteria listed in the role profile. In the event of receiving a large number of applications, an initial sift may take place on just the lead criteria indicated in the essential criteria.

The personal information we have collected from you will be shared with Cifas who will use it to prevent fraud, other unlawful or dishonest conduct, malpractice, and other seriously improper conduct. If any of these are detected, you could be refused certain services or employment. Your personal information will also be used to verify your identity. Further details of how your information will be used by us and Cifas, and your data protection rights, can be found by [https://www.cifas.org.uk/fpn].

At Ofgem, we expect our staff to carry out their roles with honesty, fairness and openness. They should follow the Civil Service code and be free from any influence or bias. We are committed to making sure interests are recognised, declared and managed appropriately so that we can fulfil our duties as an energy regulator. Our Conflicts of Interest policy outlines the types of interests Ofgem staff must declare before onboarding, and the rules they must follow throughout employment so that we can clearly demonstrate that our decisions are not influenced by private interests.

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 theCivil 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.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : Lewis Buckley
• Email : recruitment@ofgem.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ofgem.gov.uk

Further information

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel there has been a breach of these Recruitment Principles.

In the first instance, you should raise the matter directly via recruitment@ofgem.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website.

Attachments

Emerging Technologies Technical Principal, Role Profile Opens in new window (pdf, 181kB)Emerging Technologies Technical Principal, Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 853kB)Terms and Conditions Apr25 Opens in new window (pdf, 335kB)