Senior Business Support Manager

Job summary

Could you be at the forefront of strengthening how Ofgem runs as an organisation, strengthening how we work, so we can continue the fight for energy consumers? We’re looking for a Senior Business Support Manager to join us and lead the smooth, effective, and resilient operation of one of our most strategically important directorates, Strategy, Economics, Research & Net Zero (SERN).

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

We’re offering a permanent position with the chance to make a direct impact on how we operate as an organisation. You’ll join a high-performing, collaborative team and work closely with senior leadership, giving you wide exposure across the directorate and corporate functions. This role will allow you to shape and embed key business processes that support the delivery of our strategic goals.

This is a fantastic opportunity to step into a central and trusted role where your judgement will help drive efficiency, transparency, and accountability across the directorate. You’ll work with a broad range of stakeholders across the organisation, playing a key part in improving systems and ensuring business continuity. It’s a fast-paced and varied role, ideal for someone looking to stretch their operational leadership experience and drive lasting improvements.

We’re looking for someone with strong communication and relationship-building skills, capable of influencing across all levels of the organisation. You’ll be comfortable working at pace and managing competing priorities while supporting your team to deliver quality outputs. Strong organisational skills, a collaborative mindset, and a solutions-driven attitude will be key to your success in this role.

In return, you’ll benefit from a supportive, collaborative work environment where your expertise will be utilised. You’ll have the opportunity to shape and lead a high-profile portfolio and contribute to some of our most important work. What’s more, we offer an excellent Civil Service pension, generous leave entitlement, and flexible working options to support your work-life balance.

We have a critical purpose to run Ofgem efficiently and effectively so we can continue delivering for consumers. This role will help shape how we manage budgets, resources and processes to keep the organisation strong and resilient.

Read on and find out more.

Job description

As Senior Business Support Manager your will be responsible for delivering an efficient, effective and well-run directorate on the Director’s behalf, taking into consideration Ofgem's wider priorities, risk appetite and delivery of value for money. The role will involve close working with the Director, and regular interaction with DDs and other managers across SERN Directorate. You will be expected to manage the SERN budget, liaising with Finance to ensure accurate forecasting and effective use of funds across staff, training, travel & subsistence and consultancy spend. You will also ensure processes are fit for purpose. You will draw upon your excellent communications skills to ensure your team communicates in clear, concise, and effective way, across the various tasks they are responsible for, with your help, direction and support.

This opportunity will suit someone with strong organisation skills who can drive forward initiatives to support business improvement. You’ll be part of and lead a small team that is highly collaborative in supporting SERN SLT and their wider teams, and you’ll have plenty of opportunity to work with colleagues across the organisation – establishing positive working relationships with Risk, Finance, HR, Workforce Planners, Business continuity and others.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide advice and support directly to the Director on how best to manage the directorate, in line with corporate policies, guidance and general direction of the organisation.
• Support and provide for a well-run, efficient and effectively managed Directorate, leading on improvements to processes and responding to business needs and queries in an appropriate and timely manner.
• Work with senior leaders to implement change, understand risks and ensure the delivery of key business support functions (Business Planning, Financial In-Year Management, Risk management and so on).
• Work with colleagues in SERN and other areas to facilitate Ofgem delivery ensuring activities are carried out in line with agreed strategic policies and overall priorities.
• Provide leadership and motivation to staff within your immediate line management responsibility and colleagues across the Directorate as necessary.
• Recruit, lead, motivate, develop and manage the performance of direct reports and influence others in SERN to develop high calibre and high performing teams with the skills and capabilities needed to deliver the required results for the Directorate. You will be responsible for setting the direction for your team, overseeing day to day activities and monitoring performance.
• Support and lead on SERN’s in-year financial management, business planning, business continuity activity, control and assurance and all necessary corporate and other relevant commissions as appropriate.
• Manage key external stakeholders including supplier and contract management to ensure smooth delivery of business support services.
• Provide a level of flexibility to respond to ad hoc request as and when they arise and as directed.
• Run the CEO’s Policy Forum, working with his office on the frequency of meetings and undertaking all secretariat duties.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Strong interpersonal skills with significant experience developing and managing effective working relationships and networks with a range of internal stakeholders. (Lead criteria)
• Advanced skills in both written and oral communication, presentation, negotiation, and collaboration at all levels and with a diverse range of stakeholders.
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment, with the flexibility to manage multiple, concurrent priorities and tasks, to deliver on requirements.
• Strong analysis skills, ideally with an experience with budgets and financial reporting.
• Solutions-focused problem-solver with excellent ability to prioritise, plan, and deliver high quality outputs under time pressure.
• Proven aptitude for leadership through formal or informal management of others.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience of implementing robust governance, risk management and assurance processes.

Behaviours

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

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £47,895, OFGEM contributes £13,875 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 this is kept under 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, Ability and Experience.

When you press the ‘Apply now’ button, you will be asked to complete personal details (not seen by the sift panel), your career history and qualifications. You will then be asked to provide a 1250 word ‘supporting statement’ evidencing how you meet the essential and desirable skills and capabilities listed in the role profile. Failure to fully complete both sections of the online application form (your career history (cv) and supporting statement) will mean that the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the essential criteria listed in the person specification

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].

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 : Lynn Robertson
• Email : Recruitment@ofgem.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@ofgem.gov.uk

Online test instructions

This test is not timed but please ensure that you allow sufficient time to complete the test and fully submit your applications as late applications are not accepted.

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

Senior Business Support Manager Candidate Pack_448116 Opens in new window (pdf, 658kB)Senior Business Support Manager role profile_448116 Opens in new window (pdf, 156kB)Terms and Conditions April 2025 Opens in new window (pdf, 335kB)