Early Careers Specialist

Early Careers Specialist – Ofgem

Salary: £49,452–£62,699 per year (National: £49,452–£58,519; London: £52,397–£62,699)

Location: Cardiff, Glasgow or London, UK

Contract: Permanent

Working Pattern: Full-time, flexible working and hybrid working

Number of Vacancies: 1

Job Grade: Grade 7 / Level 2B

Reference Number: 487803

Visa Sponsorship: Not stated in the job advert. Applicants must meet the Civil Service nationality and right-to-work requirements. Sponsorship is not confirmed.

Closing Date: Monday, 9 November 2026, at 11:55 pm

About the Role

Ofgem, Great Britain’s independent energy regulator, is recruiting an Early Careers Specialist to help develop and deliver programmes that attract and nurture future talent.

The successful candidate will lead initiatives covering apprenticeships, graduate programmes, internships, placements, internal talent development and entry-level career pathways.

This role offers an opportunity to shape how Ofgem attracts and develops emerging talent while making career opportunities more accessible to people from different backgrounds.

You will work with internal teams, training providers and assessment organisations to ensure early careers programmes are effective, inclusive and aligned with the organisation’s workforce priorities.

You will also use data and performance insights to monitor learner progress, evaluate programme outcomes and identify improvements.

Key Responsibilities

Early Careers Strategy and Programme Management

• Develop and deliver an early careers strategy aligned with workforce priorities and organisational objectives.
• Design programme structures and coordinate participant cohorts.
• Map professional accreditation routes where applicable and align programmes with skills gaps.
• Support inclusive recruitment and development opportunities.

Apprenticeship Levy Management

• Manage the day-to-day use of the apprenticeship levy.
• Ensure compliance with relevant funding rules, standards and requirements.
• Maintain accurate, audit-ready records.
• Work with Finance on forecasting, reporting, co-investment and preventing funding expiry.

Training Provider and Contract Management

• Select and manage training providers and learning partners within agreed frameworks.
• Monitor service levels, programme quality and learner outcomes.
• Resolve delivery issues and drive continuous improvement.
• Maintain provider performance reviews, contracts and service-level agreements.

Learner Support and Programme Delivery

• Oversee the learner journey from attraction and selection through onboarding, training, reviews and progression.
• Track off-the-job learning and monitor participant progress.
• Provide appropriate pastoral support, reasonable adjustments and progression planning.
• Coach line managers on mentoring, performance management and safeguarding responsibilities.

Data Analysis and Continuous Improvement

• Use management information (MI), dashboards and performance data to monitor programme effectiveness.
• Track starts, progress, completion, achievement, retention, progression and diversity.
• Identify barriers to success and develop improvement measures.
• Use evidence to strengthen equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) outcomes.

Key Deliverables

The successful candidate will be expected to produce:

• An approved early careers strategy and delivery plan.
• Programme calendars aligned with workforce priorities and skills requirements.
• Apprenticeship levy utilisation plans, monthly reports and audit records.
• Provider selection documentation, contracts and performance reviews.
• Learner onboarding materials, learning agreements, progress reviews and safeguarding records.
• Dashboards covering learner outcomes, retention, progression and diversity.
• Hiring manager guidance, learning sessions and early careers communications.
• Improvements in access to opportunities and EDI outcomes.

Essential Skills and Experience

Applicants must demonstrate:

• Experience designing and delivering early talent programmes, such as apprenticeships, internships or entry-level recruitment pathways.
• A strong understanding of apprenticeship standards, frameworks and compliance requirements.
• Experience managing external providers, assessment organisations and training partners.
• The ability to monitor learner progress, provide support and promote successful programme completion.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to influence senior leaders.
• Experience analysing programme data and using performance metrics to improve outcomes and return on investment.

Lead Criteria: Experience designing and delivering early talent programmes, and the ability to use data and metrics to evaluate performance and learner outcomes, are highlighted as lead criteria for the initial sift if application numbers are high.

Desirable Skills and Experience

The following would be advantageous:

• Experience working in the UK Civil Service or wider public sector.
• Knowledge of workforce capability strategies and organisational skills planning.
• Familiarity with recruitment principles and their application to early talent recruitment and development.

Civil Service Behaviours

Candidates will be assessed against the following behaviours:

• Delivering at Pace
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Developing Self and Others

Salary and Benefits

Ofgem offers a competitive benefits package, including:

• Annual salary of £49,452–£62,699, depending on location.
• Civil Service pension, with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• 30 days of annual leave after two years of service.
• Hybrid working, currently requiring one day per week in the office, subject to review.
• Flexible working hours and family-friendly policies.
• Training and professional development opportunities.
• Modern, centrally located offices.
• Opportunities to contribute to Ofgem’s work towards a clean, affordable and secure net-zero energy system.

Location and Working Arrangements

Successful applicants may be based in Cardiff, Glasgow or London. Ofgem particularly welcomes applications from candidates in Cardiff and Glasgow.

The role is full-time, with flexible working arrangements and hybrid working currently involving one office day per week. This arrangement is kept under review.

Application and Selection Process

This vacancy uses the Civil Service Success Profiles recruitment framework and assesses candidates on their behaviours and experience.

Applicants will be required to provide personal details, career history and qualifications, followed by a 1,250-word personal statement demonstrating how they meet the essential and desirable criteria.

Your statement should address each relevant criterion with clear evidence from your own experience. Pay particular attention to the two lead criteria, as an initial sift may focus on these if a high number of applications is received.

Applications must be truthful and based on your own experience. Ofgem permits the use of AI as an application support tool but warns that presenting generated or other people’s experiences as your own may lead to an application being withdrawn.

Successful candidates will be required to undergo a basic criminal record check and Baseline Personnel Security Standard checks.

Apply before: Monday, 9 November 2026, at 11:55 pm.

Official application link: https://www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/jobs.cgi?jcode=2018853

Nationality and Eligibility Requirements

The vacancy is broadly open to eligible groups, including UK and Irish nationals, certain Commonwealth nationals with the right to work in the UK, qualifying EU and other specified nationals with relevant settlement status, and other groups covered by Civil Service nationality rules.

Applicants should check the official nationality requirements and confirm their eligibility before applying. The advert does not confirm whether visa sponsorship is available.

Contact Information

For questions about the vacancy or recruitment process, contact:

Email: P&EEvolve@ofgem.gov.uk

Reference Number: 487803

Important Information

Ofgem recruits on merit through fair and open competition and is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. The vacancy is also part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.

Candidates who attend an interview or assessment may receive feedback. Further information about the recruitment process, nationality requirements and employment conditions is available through the official application page.