Organisation Details
The Climate Change Committee is the independent expert statutory adviser to Parliament and the UK Government on climate change policy. It was created as a key part of the long-term legal framework set out in the Climate Change Act (2008). The Act sets a long-term target for 2050 (Net Zero, a 100% reduction in net emissions from 1990) and requires that carbon budgets (five-year caps on emissions) are set on a path towards the long-term target. The Act also requires that the UK assesses and responds to the risks that it faces as the climate changes.
The CCC has established itself as a high-profile, high-impact expert body in the analysis of climate change mitigation and adaptation. Its reports can be accessed from the CCC’s website: www.theccc.org.uk
The CCC is comprised of two Boards (‘the Committee’ and ‘the Adaptation Committee’) and an analytical secretariat. The Committees have a distinguished membership of leading experts from the fields of climate change, science, engineering and economics: www.theccc.org.uk/about-the-ccc/the-committee. The Committees are supported by a Secretariat of around 40 economists, operational researchers, scientists and other analysts.
The CCC was the first body of its kind in the world and brings together different strands of expertise from its members, from government, the research community and business. It draws on existing information and undertakes its own analysis to provide expert advice to Ministers and to Parliament. It is required to give advice to Ministers on climate change matters covered by the Climate Change Act and on an ad-hoc basis as and when requested.
Job description
This role will join the Carbon Budgets team, within the CCC’s secretariat. This team is responsible for leading and coordinating the analysis carried out by our specialised teams (including energy supply, transport, buildings, agriculture, and industry), to provide advice on carbon budgets and monitor progress on the path to Net Zero across the UK. The overarching nature of the team means that the role will provide an opportunity to gain a broad understanding of the range of social, political, and technological solutions required to address climate change.
There are two core responsibilities to this role:
1. Model redevelopment
The CCC recently published our advice on the level of the Seventh Carbon Budget, our 5-yearly assessment of how the UK should decarbonise in line with its Net Zero target, as well as separate advice to the Scottish Government, Welsh Government, and Northern Ireland Executive. This was a large analytical project, consisting of the outputs from numerous sector-specific models. The CCC has begun the process of updating its modelling suite ahead of our advice on the Eighth Carbon Budget, due by 2030. As part of this work, the Carbon Budgets team has led a review of our modelling capability, which has agreed an ambition to redesign models in a number of key areas around a more standardised, interconnected, and agile manner using coding approaches.
The successful applicant will work collaboratively with other members of the Carbon Budgets team and with the CCC’s sector experts to deliver these modelling improvements. This could include developing core modules for performing calculations that can be shared between models and building working prototype models for key aspects of the decarbonisation pathway. This modelling will be undertaken in Python – training will be provided if required, but this project will suit someone with excellent analytical skills and an interest in coding. This has potential to be a high-impact project by improving the CCC’s analysis for years to come.
2. Engagement with devolved government officials
The branch of the Carbon Budgets team in which this role sits leads on delivering on the CCC’s responsibilities to the Scottish Government, Welsh Government, and Northern Ireland Executive. Therefore, the successful applicant would work together with the Grade 7 lead to maintain effective working relationships with relevant officials and manage production of advice to these governments (including reports on progress in reducing emissions in each nation).
The role may also contribute to various other projects on the roadmap, including contributing analysis to the CCC’s annual report on progress in reducing emissions, which is due in June. This will involve analysing the latest emissions data, sector-level indicators of delivery progress, and policy developments.
Person specification
This role will suit someone with the following skills:
Excellent analytical skills, including a strong grasp of the principles of data analysis.
Good knowledge of Excel and some experience with Python (or similar tools).
Strong communication skills.
Strong willingness to effectively collaborate with team members and stakeholders.
Experience working in energy or climate policy (desirable but not essential).
Ideally, we are looking for a candidate who is available to start by the end of March at the latest.
Assessment criteria
The application process follows the Civil Service Success Profiles framework. Applications for this role will be assessed against the following aspects of this framework: Behaviours, Technical skills, and Experience.
Behaviours
The following behaviours will be assessed:
Making effective decisions (assessed at application and interview).
Delivering at pace (assessed at application and interview).
Seeing the big picture (assessed at interview only).
In your response, please use the STAR format (Situation, Task, Action, and Result), using an example that demonstrates the bullets above. Most of your answer should focus on the ‘Actions’ taken.
Technical skills
Your analytical skills will be assessed at application and interview. You should outline how you have demonstrated the following analytical skills. Note, you do not have to use the STAR format in your response.
Extensive experience with Excel, and some experience of Python or similar tools, for data analysis.
Experience in sharing knowledge on technical tools, up-skilling colleagues, and working to improve the analytical capacity of an organisation.
Experience
The requirements for this role are:
A degree in a numerate discipline (e.g., engineering, environmental science, economics), or equivalent experience.
Experience working on collaborative analytical projects.
Experience working in energy or climate policy (desirable but not essential).
Statement of suitability
In no more than 250 words please describe your motivation for applying for this role and how you meet the requirements set out in the person specification.
The CCC has affiliation with the Government’s analytical progressions: GES, GORS, GSS, or GSR, and it is possible for analysts to maintain these memberships at the CCC. If you are a member of one of these professions, please ensure that you indicate this in your application.
If we receive a very large number of applications, applications will be sifted against the lead behaviour, “Making effective decisions”, and/or technical skills.
Things you need to know
The CCC office is based in Canary Wharf, London, with staff expected to attend the office for 40% of their contracted hours. The pay band for this role is £47,007 to £51,642and the expectation is that the successful candidate will join on the minimum of the pay band.
We support a wide variety of working patterns such as compressed hours, hybrid working, part time hours, job sharing and flexi time. National pay bands may be used where staff apply to work from home for more than 60% of their working hours and live outside London. Regular attendance at our London office, for example for meetings and training, will still be required. The national pay band for this grade is £43,115 to 47,269.
The Climate Change Committee are committed to creating a workplace culture where all staff feel valued, supported and can develop their potential. We work hard to ensure all staff can flourish and succeed, working with and respecting people’s different backgrounds and personal circumstances. We encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply for this position. For more information on our EDI commitments, please read our strategy here.
The CCC cannot offer Visa sponsorship to candidates through this campaign. The CCC does not hold a Visa sponsorship licence.
Please also note the following:
Security: Successful candidates must pass basic security checks.
Nationality requirements: Open to UK, Commonwealth and European Economic Area (EEA) and certain non-EEA nationals. Further information on whether you are able to apply is available here.
Feedback: Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview.
Guaranteed Interview Scheme: The Civil Service and the CCC embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. There is a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Interview dates
Provisionally, the interviews will be held in the weeks commencing 9th or 16th February.
Technical skills
Description
Extensive analytical experience – good knowledge of Excel and some experience with Python (or similar tools) is essential.
Experience in sharing knowledge on technical tools, up-skilling colleagues, and working to improve the analytical capacity of an organisation
Person specification
Please refer to Job Description.
Qualifications
We will assess candidates’ experience against the following criteria:
• A degree in a numerate discipline (e.g., engineering, environmental science, economics), or equivalent experience.
• Experience working on collaborative analytical projects.
• Experience working in a field relevant to energy or climate (not essential, but desirable).
Behaviours
We’ll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Making Effective Decisions
Delivering at Pace
Seeing the Big Picture
Technical skills
We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:
Please see Technical skills in the job description.