Principal Policy and Programme Officer - Energy - The Guardian : Job Details

Good Growth

Good Growth is responsible for delivering and implementing the Mayor’s environment, transport and economic strategies and for the effective implementation of the London Plan. The Directorate is also responsible for regeneration (where the programme is not housing led), enterprise, growth, capital projects and design work.

About the team

The Mayor wants to make London a zero-carbon city by 2030 and our GLA Group Clean Power Commercial Programme will play an important role in driving these efforts

About the role

The post holder will use their experience of similar work to deliver the Mayor’s ambition to make London a net-zero carbon city by 2030. To do this they will work with a wide array of stakeholders such as GLA Group organisations (Transport for London, Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, London Fire Brigade, London Legacy Development Corporation, The Metropolitan Police Service and Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation), central government, London Treasury, Community Energy Groups, London Boroughs, schools, and other delivery partners. They will ensure integration between the GLA Group Clean Power Commercial Programme and other related programmes and strategies accelerates the purchasing of clean power, solar panel installations on buildings, heat pumps roll out and buildings retrofit among public sector organisations across London.

The post holder will be part of a small team and will focus on the GLA Group Clean Power Programme, leading on programme delivery, management, and stakeholder engagement. We expect the post holder to be able to work flexibly across these different policy areas in response to priorities and needs.

What your day will look like

• Identify the need for, devise and develop effective long term policy support strategies targeting organisations such as community energy groups, GB Energy, and other public sector organisations to promote the rapid decarbonisation of power in London.
• Build new, and maintain existing partnerships, to assist in delivery of initiatives to implement the Mayor’s policies and programmes, including negotiating funding and leading for the GLA on relationship management with key stakeholder groups in relation to the environment portfolio. 
• Establish and develop relationships on technical and policy matters with key stakeholders including international organisations, Government departments, the London Boroughs, functional bodies and other organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors. 
• Provide advice and where necessary responses, written and oral, to the Mayor and his staff, senior managers, Assembly Members, and Functional Bodies, GLA staff, government departments, London-based and national organisations on environmental and energy matters, making recommendations on policy and strategy options. 
• Source, select, appoint, and manage consultants and contractors to carry out relevant work in accordance with relevant public procurement and GLA procedures, policies and Code of Ethics and Standards and ensure delivery within the allocated budget/to time/quality. 
• Lead on the development of environment policy areas within the London Environment Strategy and other mayoral strategies, including undertaking research, analysis, option appraisals, knowledge sharing and consultation to develop a sound evidence base. 
• Take responsibility for strategic horizon scanning and maintaining up-to-date awareness of legislative, technical and policy changes in relation to the environmental and energy portfolio and disseminating appropriate information and advice within the GLA Group and with partner organisations and functional bodies. 
• Establish and maintain excellent internal and external working relationships, and participate in cross-organisational and sector projects, to ensure opportunities for integration are maximised across the work programme of the GLA Group and that relationships with key stakeholders are further enhanced.
• Present the projects, in the context of the Mayor’s policies, objectives and concerns at conferences, seminars and meetings to external bodies and organisations, and deputise for Senior Managers by representing the GLA at national policy and regional meetings and on study groups and working parties.
• Realise the benefits of London’s diversity by promoting and enabling equality of opportunities and promoting the diverse needs and aspirations of London’s communities.
• Realise the benefits of a flexible approach to work in undertaking the duties and responsibilities of this job, and participating in multi-disciplinary, cross-department and cross-organisational groups and project teams.

Skills, knowledge, and experience

To be considered for the role you must meet the following essential criteria:

• A track record of working in partnership with multi-stakeholder groups to deliver shared goals.  
• Evidence of success in undertaking programme and project-based work, and experience of managing and delivering high value environmental projects and programmes, with track record of contract management and delivering results on target and within budget and allocated resources. 
• Preparing clear and concise reports, presentations and briefings on complex and sensitive issues for a range of different audiences. 
• Ability to analyse and interpret environmental and energy issues in relation to urban areas, their causes, effects, and possible solutions, utilising software to an advanced level to assist in such analysis. 

Behavioural competencies

Problem Solving

… is analysing and interpreting situations from a variety of viewpoints and finding creative, workable and timely solutions.

Level 3 Indicators of Effective Performance

• Clarifies ambiguous problems, questioning assumptions to reach a fuller understanding
• Actively challenges the status quo to find new ways of doing things, looking for good practice
• Seeks and incorporates diverse perspectives to help produce workable strategies to address complex issues
• Initiates consultation on opportunities to improve work processes
• Supports the organisation to implement innovative suggestions

Research and Analysis

… is gathering intelligence (information, opinion and data) from varied sources, making sense of it, testing its validity and drawing conclusions that can lead to practical benefits.

Level 3 Indicators of Effective Performance