Why I love working in Project Delivery at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

by Vicky Eccles, Team Leader on the Projects Assistance Team

I began my career in the Civil Service in Operational Delivery, and always enjoyed the ‘problem solving’ element of working through complex cases, delving into policies to understand the intent and making sure that I was delivering the right outcome for citizens. Eventually, I moved over into the Project Delivery Profession at an HEO (Higher Education Officer) grade which made use of my natural aptitude and allowed me to learn and grow. Here I worked alongside experienced Project Delivery Professionals and gained professional qualifications to support my career journey.

Having worked for a few years in another Government Department delivering complex and high-profile welfare projects, I saw my current role advertised and knew I had to go for it! My twin passions are social justice and environmental issues, so working in a department that is transforming the energy sector and making green energy more accessible to all seemed like the ideal combination. From a career development point of view, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero is a much smaller Department than my previous one, so there is a real opportunity to make a difference and have your voice heard.

One thing I have learned to embrace since joining DESNZ is to expect the unexpected. On any given day there may be a new priority that needs our immediate attention to ensure delivery deadlines can be met. One example of this was getting the Energy Bills support in place – there is no hard deadline like the arrival of Winter! You can’t negotiate an extension on that.

Being a relatively small Department, we are all pretty friendly so if you need help or support there is always someone to lean on; if they can’t help you themselves, they know someone who can. It feels like a relatively equal structure too, where experience and talent are valued more highly than grade, so everyone is approachable.

The best tip I can give to someone thinking of applying for one of these roles is - make the time to do a quality application. Read the job spec and tailor your application to demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria, and be specific in the examples you give, backed up by evidence of ‘how’ and ‘why’, not just ‘what’. Be clear about the story you are telling and what your role in the narrative is so we can get a feel for the size, scale and complexity involved in your example, and remember to always be honest – when you get to interview, we will be asking lots of questions to test the evidence you’re presenting us with!

We're currently advertising a number of project delivery roles at Department for Energy Security and Net Zero across many grades. If you are interested in applying then click the links below.

Project Support Officer

Project Manager Level 2

Project Manager Level 3