Job title: Policy Manager

Job salary: £46,000 - £51,000 per annum

Job location:
Edinburgh (hybrid-working - WeWork office) or;
London (hybrid-working – London office located in SE1)

Deadline: 16th August 2024

Purpose of the job

Sitting within the Corporate Affairs Directorate, reporting to the Senior Policy Manager, you will be instrumental in delivering Smart Energy GB’s policy programme in support of our 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, potential issues arising within the rollout, 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 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 those relating to the smart meter rollout and the flexibility of the electricity system, the changing nature of consumer participation in energy and wider energy consumer policy.  This activity aims to further extend the benefits that can be gained from smart meters.

The role of Policy Manager will be integral to supporting our understanding and navigating the impact of any upcoming policy changes on the rollout, our role and that of energy suppliers, government and other external stakeholders.

To support this, you will work with the Senior Policy Manager providing input across the organisation’s policy function, focussed on working with industry and government to support the smart meter rollout.

Key tasks and responsibilities

• Develop Smart Energy GB’s policy programme in support of our strategic aims, working closely with the Senior Policy Manager and broader Corporate Affairs team
  
  
• Be a subject matter expert on the energy sector and the role of smart meters within this
  
  
• 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

• Develop and deliver new and compelling evidence to drive stakeholder engagement and promote smart meters both as the foundation to a net-zero future and as a tool to support consumer engagement in the energy system

• 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 assist 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

• Represent Smart Energy GB at third-party stakeholder events

• 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, conveying 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)
  
  
• Appreciation for the diversity of the people and communities of Great Britain and embrace this diversity in your approach to work

Desirable

• Knowledge of the policy landscape governing the smart metering rollout and/or the energy sector
  
  
• Creativity and innovation when communicating technical topics for varied audience
  
  
• Ability to act as external ambassador and public platform and media spokesperson for Smart Energy GB

• Appreciation of the objectives and activities of Smart Energy GB

Welcome to Smart Energy GB. It’s our task to engage everyone in England Scotland and Wales with the national rollout of smart meters - and we are all thrilled to have this once-in-a-career chance to communicate with the whole of our diverse nation.

Every British home and microbusiness has the opportunity to upgrade to new gas and electricity smart meters, which will utterly transform the way we all buy and use energy and pave the way to a smarter, more energy efficient future. It’s one of the biggest technological and infrastructural investments of our time, the smart meter rollout has already converted just over 50 per cent of British households. The goal for this voluntary technological upgrade is to engage every household in Great Britain, and so there is a continuing critical role for Smart Energy GB in the years ahead (government has recently indicated that Smart Energy GB’s campaign should continue until at least 2025, and potentially beyond).

Our campaign is one of the most far-reaching of any campaign in the country. We are talking to consumers from all backgrounds, across the whole of Great Britain. Our legal duties mean that we have a particular need to make sure that consumers who are harder to reach or need greater support are not left behind (already an important part of our responsibilities and likely to be an increasing focus over the period leading to 2025).

It’s an exciting time to join one of the most talented and creative teams in the country. We have an exciting mission, and we pride ourselves on having a fully inclusive working environment.

We love what we do. We are flexible, eager to learn and hugely motivated by this chance to be part of one of the biggest-ever behaviour change campaigns, which brings with it benefits for both individual households and the environment.

We’re looking forward to meeting you, and hope you’ll be as fired up about the challenge ahead as we are.

The Smart Energy GB team

We have established a robust framework of initiatives dedicated to fostering fairness, representation, and a sense of belonging in our workplace.

We actively welcome applications from underrepresented groups, particularly focusing our recruitment efforts on ethnic minorities, individuals from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, those with disabilities, and diverse gender identities.

We’re proud to be one of the first organisations awarded All In Champion status, as part of the Advertising Association, ISBA, and IPA’s initiative. As an All In Champion, we place an emphasis on improving the experience and representation of Black, disabled, working-class, women, Asian, and older talent.

We want to make our recruitment practices as inclusive and fair as possible, and as part of that, we have joined the Disability Confident Scheme. We actively advocate for individuals with disabilities ensuring they not only receive support but also have guaranteed interview opportunities if they meet minimum job requirements.

We want our team to reflect the diversity of the wider population. This includes the representation of people from ethnic minorities and lower socio-economic backgrounds. We apply the Rooney Rule to achieve this. Subject to consent, we ensure that at least one candidate from both ethnic minority and lower socio-economic backgrounds, who meet the essential selection criteria for the role, are shortlisted for an interview.

Every member of our team goes above and beyond, helps one another out and contributes to the achievement of our ambitious goals. We think it’s only right for us to reward them accordingly:

• Competitive pension scheme
• 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays)
• Gym memberships
• Private medical insurance
• Annual health check
• Annual eye test
• Season ticket loan
• 5 annual volunteer days
• £1,000 (net) work anniversary gift
• Local discounts with Better Bankside Buzz Offers
• Option to buy additional annual leave
• Option to take out a personal loan
• Cycle to work scheme
• Free standard breakfast and healthy snacks provided in the office
• An in-house wellbeing programme, Thrive

Thrive

We prioritise creating a supportive workplace. We offer a comprehensive well-being program under Thrive, including fitness classes, awareness sessions, guest speakers on specific topics and 1:1 support sessions with a counselling psychologist. Through our employee assistance program, we offer confidential access to financial, medical, and mental health advice for both employees and their families. Our London office includes the 'Thrive Room', a private space for decompressing, meditation, prayer, or for new mothers needing to express milk.