Director, North Sea Transition

This is a high-profile leadership role at the heart of delivering the Government’s energy security and net zero priorities, and specifically, driving forward the Government’s approach to securing a fair, managed and prosperous transition for the North Sea.

The postholder will lead policy and delivery across upstream oil and gas, offshore energy transition and coal legacy, with a strong focus on delivering manifesto commitments, providing effective sponsorship of arm’s-length bodies, and managing significant financial, commercial and delivery risks. The role combines strategic policy leadership, complex stakeholder management and operational delivery in areas of high ministerial, parliamentary and public interest. The postholder will provide strategic advice to Ministers on the future of the UK’s offshore energy sector.

Reporting to Jonathan Mills, Director General for Economy, International and Security, the postholder will lead the North Sea Transition Directorate (currently 36 staff but likely to grow)

The Director will:

• Lead delivery of ministerial and manifesto commitments across the upstream oil and gas portfolio, including implementation of the Government’s plans for the future of the North Sea and the development of the new oil and gas licensing framework.
• Set the strategic direction for managing the transition of the North Sea as domestic oil and gas production declines, balancing energy security, jobs, investment, communities, supply chains and the transition to clean energy.
• Lead the department’s engagement with the oil and gas industry, offshore workers, trade unions, investors, the Scottish Government, local leaders and other partners, with a particular focus on Aberdeen and the wider North Sea economy.
• Oversee policy on the resilience and orderly evolution of the upstream oil and gas sector, including the management of significant business shocks, insolvencies, changes in ownership and risks to critical infrastructure, workers and supply chains.
• Provide effective sponsorship of the North Sea Transition Authority and support its evolving role in enabling a fair, managed and prosperous transition. The postholder will undertake senior departmental responsibilities in relation to the NSTA’s governance, including serving as Shareholder Director on its Board, subject to confirmation.
• Lead work to support investment, skills, good jobs and UK supply-chain opportunities arising from the transition, working across government and with industry to secure tangible benefits for workers and communities.
• Implement commitments relating to coal and fracking, oversee the management of historic coal liabilities through sponsorship of the Mining Remediation Authority, and ensure effective delivery of coal health and pensions arrangements, with strong governance, commercial control and value for money.
• Provide visible, inclusive leadership to a multidisciplinary directorate and work closely with other DESNZ groups, HM Treasury, the Cabinet Office, regulators and delivery partners.

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)

To apply for this post please follow the instructions on the CS Jobs website by no later than 15 November 23:55. As part of the application process, you are asked to complete the following:

1.CV - Your CV should be no longer than two pages and cover your career history, skills and achievements. This should not be just a list of posts but rather details of the responsibilities you held, the scale of the role and what you delivered for each post. Detailing your achievements in this way will help the hiring manager understand the true depth of your experience and differentiate your application at shortlisting.

2.Personal Statement - Your statement is not a cover letter for your CV, rather it's your chance to showcase how you meet each of the essential and desirable criteria for the role, as outlined in the role advert. The vacancy holder will be looking for specific examples of your work that demonstrates how you meet the criteria. Please keep this to no more than 1000 words.

3.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.

Recruitment Process – Assessment & Interview

1.Assessment - Staff Engagement Exercise – Shortlisted candidates will be invited to undertake an assessment as part of this recruitment prior to a final interview panel. This gives you an opportunity to meet with prospective colleagues and stakeholders, providing you with an insight into the culture and ethos of DESNZ. These assessments will not result in a “pass” or “fail” decision. Rather, they are designed to support the panel’s decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview.

2.Final Interview - the panel intend for final interviews to take place in-person in London. To best prepare for your interview you should build on the information you have provided in your application, developing examples of how you meet the requirements for the role. Ahead of your interview you may be asked to prepare a presentation on a topic related to the role and deliver this at the start of the interview. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.

Arrangements for interview

We are planning for the final selection panel interview to be held in person in London. You will receive full details in your invite.

Following your interview, you’ll receive the interview outcome and feedback within 2 weeks; successful candidates move to the offer and onboarding phase. If you meet the required standard but are not the top candidate, you will be placed on a Reserve List for up to 12 months for potential future similar roles. If unsuccessful, we recommend utilising the feedback to help guide your future job search and upskilling efforts.

Indicative Timeline

Please note that these dates are only indicative at this stage and could be subject to change. If you are unable to meet these timeframes, please let us know by contacting scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk. Please ensure you quote the job title and reference number in your email.

• If candidates are required to prepare a presentation for their interview, you will be given at least one week’s notice of the subject.
• Expenses incurred by candidates during the recruitment process will not be reimbursed by the Department except in exceptional circumstances and only when agreed in advance.

Candidates are asked to note the timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process. The anticipated timetable is as follows:

Advert Closing Date – 23:55, 15th November 2026

Shortlist Announcement – w/c 23rd November 2026

Assessments – w/c 7th December 2026

Interviews – w/c 14th December 2026

Reserve lists

If you perform well at interview, meeting the standard required for the role, but are not the top candidate in merit order you will be added to a Reserve List for up to 12 months. Being on a Reserve List will give you the potential opportunity to be offered a role which is the same or very similar without going through the full recruitment process again, should one become available.

Civil Service Commission

Selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit, on

the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.

In accordance with the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Principles, our recruitment and selection processes are underpinned by the requirement of appointment on the basis of merit by fair and open competition. If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance you should contact; scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk.

Alternative Formats

If you wish to receive a hard copy of the information, or in an alternative format e.g. Audio, Braille or large font then please contact:

scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

If you are unable to complete your application online, and need assistance, we may be able to put a reasonable adjustment in place to help.

If this is the case, please contact us at: scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk and we will look into this situation for you.

Please note we are unable to accept any applications after the closing date, if you require a reasonable adjustment, please let us know prior to the closing date.

Further Information

If you have any questions about applying for this role or want to discuss the role further with the vacancy holder, please contact:

scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Please ensure you quote the job title and reference number in your email.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.