James tells us about his role as an Administrative Officer in the Department of Climate, Energy & the Environment (DCEE).
Please tell us a little bit about your role.
In 2024, I joined the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment as an Administrative Officer (Policy Officer), working on the Retail Energy Affordability Policy and Regulation team. My day-to day policy work is focused on Energy Poverty, Consumer Protection and Supports and Market Monitoring. I undertake various tasks such as contributing towards policy research in relation to energy poverty and consumer supports, monitoring and reporting on statistics in the retail energy market, assisting with Parliamentary Questions and contributing towards briefings and reports for the Minister among many other tasks.
I am also working and have worked on various policy projects. I engage with Energy Poverty on a European level, being a member of the Energy Poverty and Vulnerable Consumers Coordination group and representing the Department at European Commission meetings.
Other notable pieces of work I have undertaken in my role include contributing to delivering a targeted stakeholder workshop on Energy Poverty and Consumer Supports that will contribute to the development and publication of an Energy Affordability Action Plan. I also worked on transposition of the European Energy Efficiency Directive into Irish law (Article 24) that outlines Ireland’s current measures on tackling energy poverty.
What were your reasons for applying for your role?
I applied for this role as I have a wide interest in social and political affairs both at home in Ireland, across Europe and the world. Considering this, I wanted to pursue a career path of where I could make an impact on the political system. I also studied Geography in my undergraduate degree and have always had a wide interest around the Climate and the Environment which to is why I applied for this specific stream to work in.
What do you value most about your job?
I value the opportunity to be a part of high-profile projects that help shape Irish public policy and contribute towards bettering Irish society. Collaborating on projects and contributing towards research policy is especially rewarding knowing the impact my work has.
What are some of the benefits and supports available to you?
Many Departments offer various courses and academic opportunities in terms of educational supports. The Civil Service provides many opportunities to self-develop and grow as a professional, especially regarding career progression. I have myself recently availed of the educational supports programme, and I am currently undertaking a Masters in Leadership and Strategy in the Institute of Public Administration which is funded by the Department. Other benefits include flexible working arrangements, which is a plus for people with busy lives. This is also especially useful in terms of my own work balance in relation to my studies and my own role.
What opportunities has this role provided for you?
The Civil Service provides many opportunities to graduates entering the workforce. For example, I took part in the Emerging Leaders Graduate programme, which gave me an opportunity to collaborate with fellow AOs from other Departments and research and present a policy research project, which is offered to graduate AOs entering the Civil Service.
What has surprised you since starting this role?
As a graduate, entering the civil service can appear daunting, especially with the high level of technical expertise and understanding needed. While this work has challenged me to learn to adapt and get up to speed in an area of policy that may be unfamiliar, it has surprised me to how fast I got up to speed, which is a testament to the positive culture and supports available to you as a graduate civil servant.
What aspect of the role do you particularly enjoy?
My role involves collaborating on policy projects and working together as an organisation by sharing policy input and developing and maintaining relationships with colleagues and various stakeholders, and I enjoy this part of the role particularly.
Would you recommend a career in the public sector and why?
I would absolutely recommend a career in the public sector. It provides many opportunities to work on high profile projects and learning opportunities to upskill both professionally and personally. It is also a flexible area to work in as you are a part of a large network. This means you unlock the opportunity to potentially work across different areas of the Civil Service to diversify your skills, and these are opportunities you may not get in other workforces.