Senior Consultant

Gemserv is an expert provider of professional services. We are purpose-driven, working across multiple sectors including energy, low carbon, the public sector and health to tackle today’s social and environmental challenges. Established in 2002, the business provides a range of consultancy and outsourcing capabilities including programme management, market design and governance.  We also have extensive and award winning capabilities across cyber security, data privacy and digital transformation. We are a B Corp, IIP Gold accredited and a Financial Times Leading Management Consultancy for 2021 and 2022. Our purpose is to make things that matter work better for everyone.      

The nature of what we do means we are very much a people business. The contribution every member of the team makes to our diverse range of experience, skills and personalities is valued. We invest heavily in learning and development to enable our people to develop skills and gain experience which will enhance career prospects for life. Many who started their careers with us have rapidly progressed to more senior positions.

At Gemserv no two days are the same, but we believe in a flexible approach to working which we know our employees value. We also offer an attractive package of benefits in addition to highly competitive salaries including bonus scheme, pension and healthcare, season ticket loans, discounted gym membership, Cycle to Work scheme and more.

The Smart Energy Code (SEC), the “rulebook” for smart meters, underpins the smart meter rollout programme in Great Britain, and is opening up opportunities for the future direction of the market.  Gemserv has been providing the Smart Energy Code Administration and Secretariat (SECAS) service on the energy industry’s behalf since 2013.

It’s a complex, challenging and ground-breaking sector and would suit someone who wants to make a real difference in the transition to Net Zero. We are looking for a Senior Consultant to join us who has good knowledge of the smart metering regulatory arrangements and excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

In your role as Senior Technical Consultant, you will be working in a dedicated team whose responsibility is, via the relevant committees, to ensure that the Smart Meter infrastructure is designed effectively, tested properly, and working correctly, as defined by the SEC.

You will provide support to the SEC Panel and its Technical Sub-Committees by shaping and providing technical input to the discussion; ensuring industry issues and work items are discussed in the right places and taken forward; and ensuring SEC obligations are understood and being met. A sound understanding of the technical arrangements underpinning the Smart Metering infrastructure, as well as how it is governed, is therefore essential to the role.

There are five Technical Sub-Committees covering testing, governance, technical architecture, operations, communications, and device assurance. Our Technical Sub-Committees comprise key industry stakeholders (SEC Parties) representing Energy Suppliers, Equipment Manufacturers, Network Operators, and the Data Communications Company (DCC) affording the role holder the opportunity to develop extensive relationships and insight into the industry. You will also liaise with the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) and Ofgem, so will have the opportunity to shape and influence the direction of the wider smart metering programme. Strong stakeholder management skills are therefore a must.

You will play a lead role in supporting the technical architecture and device assurance committees, working alongside the Chairs of those meetings, to guide and shape meeting agendas, and the forward work plan and deliver high-quality papers and presentations to support the discussion. In support of the SMDA Sub-Committee, you will also manage the contractual relationship with the third-party Test House, ensuring their effective delivery.

There is scope for the role to change over time, and for the Consultant to support other Technical Sub- Committees in line with their skills and as needs arise.

You will work with a small team of consultants who provide expertise to support the Technical Sub-Committees, and you will also engage with technical and Smart Energy Code experts outside the team. The SECAS team itself comprises over 35 motivated individuals who pride themselves on quality of delivery while also fostering a collaborative and fun atmosphere. We operate a hybrid working approach with a mix of office and remote working, with the team expected to be in Gemserv’s London office for part of the week.

As a Senior Technical Consultant, your responsibilities will include:

Candidates must have a solid understanding of the SEC and its Subsidiary Documents, the smart metering arrangements, and the governance and technical arrangements underpinning these, having worked in the energy or smart metering sector for at least four years.  Whilst expertise in the SEC is very beneficial, we will also consider candidates with similar skills and experience in other industry codes.

In addition, successful candidates will:

• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal, and can understand and communicate complex issues and solutions to technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Skills, knowledge, and technical confidence to work with SEC Parties, the Panel and Sub-Committees, Meeting Chairs, Ofgem, and DESNZ, and to challenge views and assumptions with these stakeholders
• Strong client and stakeholder management skills, and be proactive in identifying and addressing client requirements
• Excellent planning and organisational abilities, are able to manage their time, and be adaptable to varying workloads and changing priorities
• Excellent problem-solving and analysis skills
• strive for excellence in their work and that of others, able to deliver high-quality work, being methodical, diligent, and paying attention to the detail
• Fast learner, able to assimilate and understand new information and subject areas in a short space of time
• Team player, able to work as part of a team and support colleagues, with good interpersonal skills

Upon employment, employees should also have a sound awareness of the Company's Information, Quality, Environmental and Energy Management Systems