Senior Cost Assessment Lead

Job summary

As we transform the energy system to deliver Clean Power 2030 and the transition to Net Zero, Ofgem is seeking several Senior Cost Assessment Leads to help ensure critical infrastructure is delivered on time, to cost and in a manner that supports consumers.

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 four permanent opportunities within our Major Projects Delivery directorate, with flexible, part-time and job-share arrangements considered. You’ll be joining at a pivotal moment, as more than £20bn of electricity transmission infrastructure is in the pipeline to support the drive to Net Zero.

Working at the centre of how major network investment is assessed, monitored and delivered, you’ll ensure the costs passed on to consumers are efficient, robust and properly evidenced.

You’ll contribute to projects that will shape the future of Great Britain’s electricity system, working across major infrastructure assessments and applying analytical insight to complex project information.

Job description

You’ll bring established expertise in cost assessment, regulatory performance monitoring or data analysis, ideally within electricity networks or regulated utilities. Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills will be vital, alongside knowledge of cost assessment and risk quantification approaches in the electricity transmission sector or other regulated utilities. You will also need experience of working on major project delivery or assessment in a commercial or regulatory environment as part of your core skillset.

In return, you’ll have the chance to work on nationally significant infrastructure at a defining moment for the energy system including the accelerated delivery of crucial upgrades for Clean Power 2030. You’ll be enabled to apply your expertise to complex, high-value projects, influence how major investments are assessed, and act as the champion of consumers.

We have a critical purpose to ensure energy networks are delivered efficiently and in the interests of consumers as the system transitions to Net Zero. Join us and help assess the infrastructure that will power the UK’s clean energy future.

Person specification

Essential Criteria:

• Established expertise and experience in regulatory performance monitoring, cost assessment and / or data analysis, preferably in electricity networks. (LEAD)
• Knowledge of cost assessment and risk quantification approaches in the electricity transmission sector or other regulated utilities (LEAD)
• Excellent analytical skills (quantitative and qualitative), with the ability to critically assess and validate complex data, develop robust analysis, and make clear, evidence‑based recommendations to senior management.
• Strong communication, negotiation and stakeholder‑management skills, including the ability to explain technical information clearly, influence and challenge effectively at senior level, and manage input from experts, team members and consultants to ensure value for money.
• Proven experience delivering or assessing major projects in a commercial or regulatory environment, with a strong focus on cost and schedule control, procurement and contracting, and risk forecasting and management.
• Strong project and programme management capability, able to deliver demanding programmes of work within challenging timescales and with minimal supervision.

Behaviours

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

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £49,452, OFGEM contributes £14,326 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 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 ‘personal statement’ evidencing how you meet the essential skills and capabilities 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.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 : Rob Wilkins
• 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

460123 - Senior Cost Assessment Lead Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 743kB)460123 - Senior Cost Assessment Lead Role Profile Opens in new window (pdf, 225kB)Terms and Conditions April 2025 Opens in new window (pdf, 335kB)