Vacancy -- Fossil Fuel Licensing Manager

'Pan Wales' means that the location in which the vacancy can be based is flexible, subject to the needs of the business. Please note it may not always be possible to accommodate a preference for a specific office location, but requests will be taken into consideration.

The post is being established to scale up the capacity of Welsh Government to manage existing fossil fuel licences. The case load has significantly increased and support is urgently required to ensure Ministers are well advised, the processes for managing existing licences are clear and transparent, and case work is dealt with promptly and efficiently.  This post can be offered either as a fixed term appointment, or as a secondment. The position will be required for two years.

The post holder will support the Fossil Fuel Licensing Lead in delivering across the areas of petroleum and coal licences, with some support to the developing thinking around carbon capture, use and storage. The role has three primary purposes:

1. To support delivery of the Welsh programme of fossil fuel licensing casework through direct involvement with operators, managing licensing activities, helping to determine complex applications and keeping robust records.
2. To help finalise the legislative framework, tools and licensing systems necessary to regulate and administer petroleum, coal and carbon capture and storage licensing functions in accordance with newly devolved statutory requirements.
3. To advise Welsh Ministers in responding to legal challenges to their operation of devolved powers in relation to fossil fuel licensing functions.

It is expected the successful candidate will have knowledge and direct experience of developing or managing licencing systems, preferably with an emphasis on industrial activities and energy, including determining applications and direct involvement with operators. 

The role requires effective programme management to ensure the licence work programme is delivered within the appropriate timeframes, in accordance with the law, and that decisions reflect an accurate understanding of the evidence, regulations and policy.

The role will operate within an environment where all licensing decisions will be subject to scrutiny.

The post holder will provide support to the licensing lead across the following functions:

Design and preparation of the licensing system

• Finalise the petroleum licensing system tools and guidance. This will include stress-testing and publishing the documents.
• Continue to develop accurate legal and consenting histories for each fossil fuel licence to enable their effective management going forward.
• Complete case work on petroleum and coal licence extensions and applications. This involves gathering evidence from a range of stakeholders, assessing it against the legal framework and context and making a recommendation for Ministerial consideration.
• Help develop a licensing system for carbon capture and storage. This will include designing a process, working to implement any legislative changes and develop associated guidance and tools.
• Manage financial matters related to income from licences, including establishing effective income and financial management processes.
• Prepare communications materials and manage the online presence to ensure clear communication about the licensing processes in Wales
• Create licences if required, verify data and issue licence documentation.

General duties

• Provide advice on fossil fuel and carbon capture and storage licensing.
• Support the full range of Government business including Assembly Questions, Members Advice, and correspondence.

Response to challenges

• Prepare responses to challenges to licensing decisions, supporting the Fossil Fuel Lead and developing a detailed understanding of the regulations and the histories of all Welsh licences.
• Maintain accurate records of case management
• Provide advice to Ministers and support responses to public and media queries, with support from comms and policy staff.

This is a busy and high profile area, demonstrating how action on climate change is being taken and creating an impact on existing operating models. This time limited opportunity will provide an understanding of working in central Government and supporting Ministers. The post holder will gain experience of handling politically sensitive topics and gain an understanding of a range of legal processes.

07/09/2022, 16:00

Posts recruited to as part of this recruitment campaign are broadly open to UK nationals, those with right to remain and work in the UK and those that meet the Civil Service Nationality Rules only. Check your eligibility here:

• UK Visas and Immigration - GOV.UK

• Nationality rules – GOV.UK

Prior to appointment, all successful applicants will be required to produce original, acceptable documents as part of the pre-employment checks. If it becomes apparent at a later stage in the process that you aren’t eligible to apply, your application will be withdrawn, or offer retracted.

The Welsh Government is committed to providing services which embrace diversity and which promote equality of opportunity. This is underpinned by the Equality Act 2010 and will be adhered to at each stage of the recruitment process. Our goal is to ensure that these commitments are also embedded in our day-to-day working practices with all our customers, colleagues and partners.

We are committed to being an anti-racist organisation and increasing diversity in the Welsh Government by removing barriers and supporting all our staff to reach their potential. We are committed to recruiting Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic people and disabled people who are currently under-represented in Welsh Government.

We welcome applications from everyone regardless of age, marriage and civil partnership (both same sex and opposite sex), impairment or health condition, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, gender identity or gender expression.

We are a Stonewall Diversity Champion and a Disability Confident Level 3 (Leader) organisation. Key to supporting this work and providing peer support are five Board sponsored Staff Networks (Disability Awareness and Support (DAAS); Minority Ethnic Support Network (MESN); Mind Matters (Mental health and well-being); PRISM (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex +) and Women Together.

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

The Welsh Government is a bilingual organisation and Welsh language skills are considered an asset to the organisation. We encourage and support staff to learn, develop and use their Welsh language skills in the workplace. 

The following list of language requirements represents an objective assessment by the line manager on behalf of the Welsh Government of the Welsh language skills required to undertake the duties of this particular post.

In Welsh Government, the relationship between the employer and trade unions is based on social partnership. We believe our goals can best be achieved by management and trade unions working together.

Our 3 recognised trade unions are:
•         PCS
•         Prospect
•         FDA

This relationship is underpinned by a partnership agreement. This sets out how our unions work with Welsh Government on issues such as:
•         pay
•         terms and conditions
•         policies and procedures
•         organisational change.

Our Welsh Government trade union colleagues work together to give their members a real say in the workplace. They make sure that the interests of their members are promoted and protected. They also help reduce inequalities and improve terms and conditions.

The Welsh Government has an excellent track record of working in partnership with its trade unions. We encourage staff to get involved. We support you to join a recognised trade union, to ensure your voice is heard in the workplace. and to learn more about trade unions and partnership working.

• Unless stated otherwise in ‘actual starting salary’, all candidates will start at the minimum of the pay scale being appointed to (this includes existing civil servants).This is not negotiable.
• Unless stated otherwise in ‘type of opportunity’, this recruitment advert is not open on a Loan or Secondment basis.
• For more information on the eligibility criteria and terms and conditions for Loan and Secondment positions in Welsh Government, please see external recruitment candidate guidance.
• Unless stated otherwise in ‘Location of Post’ the role/s recruited to via this campaign can only be worked in the UK, not overseas.

All applications for this vacancy should be made online via the Welsh Government's online application system.  If you have an impairment which would prevent you from applying on-line, please e-mail SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales request an application pack in an alternative format, or to request a reasonable adjustment related to an impairment in order to submit your application.

To apply, you'll need to have an account on our online application system.  Click the 'Apply' button below, and you'll be asked to 'Log in' if you already have an account, or 'Register' if you don't yet have an account.  Registration takes just a few minutes to complete.  You'll need an e-mail address to be able to register.  Once you've registered for an account and logged in, you'll be taken to the online application form, which you'll need to fully complete and submit before the deadline on the closing date.  

If you’d like to apply for this vacancy in Welsh, please use the ‘Newid Iaith / Change Language’ link at the top of this page, to take you to the Welsh version of this advert, from which you can apply in Welsh.

For further information regarding the Welsh Government recruitment process, please see the Recruitment Guidance for External Candidates (link).

When evidencing your suitability for the post, it is recommended that you refer to the Civil Service Competency Framework (link)

Anyone who believes they have been treated unfairly, or has a grievance or complaint, about how the process was conducted should either write to the Head of Resourcing, Welsh Government, Cathays Park 2, Cardiff CF10 3NQ or email SharedServiceHelpdesk@gov.wales.  If you are unhappy with the outcome of the complaint raised with the Welsh Government and feel that the principles of appointment on merit through fair and open competition have not been met you have the right to pursue your grievance with the Civil Service Commission.