Great British Energy
Director of Compliance and Ethics
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Job Title: Director of Compliance and Ethics
Location: Aberdeen/Edinburgh
Reporting to: General Counsel
Number of Roles Available: 1
Company Overview:
Join Great British Energy and be part of powering the UK’s Clean Energy Future.
At GBE, we’re not just building an energy company – we’re shaping the future of the UK’s energy landscape.
Our mission is clear:
- Drive clean energy deployment across the UK as a strategic developer, investor, and owner of renewable projects
- Deliver benefits for communities and taxpayers, ensuring the clean energy transition creates jobs, boosts local economies, and increases public ownership
- We focus on innovation, sustainability, and impact, working on projects that matter – from large-scale national renewable investments to empowering local and community energy initiatives.
Joining GBE means:
- Purpose-driven work: Be part of a national effort to accelerate the clean energy transition
- Career growth: Opportunities to develop expertise in cutting-edge energy technologies and strategic investment
- Collaboration and flexibility: Work with passionate professionals in a dynamic, forward-thinking environment
If you want to make a real difference and help power a greener, fairer future for the UK, GBE is the place for you.
We welcome applications from all backgrounds and communities. If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.
About the Role:
The Director of Compliance and Ethics will establish Great British Energy’s compliance function from the ground up, leading the design, implementation and ongoing operation of the organisation’s compliance and ethics framework. Integral to this role will be an understanding of GBE’s status as a private limited company wholly owned by Government and subject to regulation as an investor in energy projects and businesses, an energy company and as a publicly funded entity.
Reporting to the General Counsel, the role will define the function’s remit within the parameters of the Company’s target operating model and will design the team and capability required to support Great British Energy’s strategic objectives as the organisation evolves.
The postholder will operate as a senior leader within the company working collaboratively with a range of teams across the business including investment deal teams, risk, portfolio management, commercial, HR, legal, governance and ESG teams to ensure the delivery of a robust and effective compliance and ethics function.
The postholder will command the confidence of the Executive Leadership Team and Board members of the Audit, Assurance and Enterprise Risk Committee in relation to which the post holder will be required to develop an appropriate approach to compliance metrics and reporting.
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Key Responsibilities:
- Establish Great British Energy’s compliance function based on the needs of the business as a strategic investor and as the company matures and becomes an owner/operator of renewable energy assets, building and maintaining a clear view of Great British Energy’s compliance obligations across relevant energy sector and public sector requirements
- Build, recruit and lead a high-performing compliance and ethics team, developing colleagues and establishing efficient systems, case management discipline and strong stakeholder service
- Act as a senior adviser to the company including to the General Counsel, Executive Leadership Team and relevant Board committees on compliance and ethics matters, ensuring that risks are identified early, understood clearly and managed proportionately
- Develop and deliver compliance reporting, metrics and management information that enable the Executive Leadership Team, Audit, Assurance and Enterprise Risk Committee and Board to assess programme effectiveness, emerging risks, breaches, incidents, investigations, regulatory engagement and remediation progress
- Embed a strong compliance and integrity culture across Great British Energy through clear expectations, practical guidance, targeted communications, mandatory training and leadership engagement
- Provide second line oversight of key compliance processes, including anti money laundering (AML) and customer due diligence (CDD), information management and ESG, working with deal leads to improve control design and evidence compliance. Support robust decision-making for investments, grants, partnerships, procurement and major programmes by ensuring compliance considerations are built into processes from the outset
Qualifications and Experience:
Essential:
- Significant senior experience in compliance within a complex, high-scrutiny environment conducting investment activity such as the energy, infrastructure, financial services, investment, utilities or another regulated sector
- Proven track record of establishing, scaling or materially improving compliance and ethics functions, including designing operating models, team structures, policies, controls, monitoring, investigations, training, information management and governance reporting
- Understanding of compliance obligations relevant to making investments in equity and debt transactions, including KYC and AML best-practice, reputational risk assessment, and a commercial understanding of typical information requirements in these areas
- Understanding of compliance obligations relevant to a publicly owned organisation operating at pace, including public sector governance, counter-fraud, bribery and corruption, procurement, subsidy control, information rights, data protection, conflicts of interest, whistleblowing and ethical supply chain considerations
- Experience advising senior executives, committees or Boards on sensitive compliance, conduct, regulatory or ethical issues, with the judgement to balance delivery pace, public accountability and proportionate control
- Ability to translate complex legal, regulatory and ethical requirements into practical guidance for non-specialists and to influence colleagues across functions without creating unnecessary bureaucracy
- Strong analytical and reporting skills, including experience developing meaningful compliance metrics, dashboards and narrative reports for senior leadership and Board-level audiences
- Excellent communication, stakeholder management and leadership skills, with the credibility to build trust across the organisation and with external stakeholders.
- High personal integrity, independence of judgement and commitment to public service values, transparency, fairness and responsible stewardship of public funds
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Desirable:
- Experience in energy, renewables, infrastructure, investment, public finance, grants, supply chains or project delivery environments
- Experience working in an investment environment (FCA-regulated environments desirable) assessing compliance of investees and related parties with relevant KYC, AML, and risk assessment policies/frameworks
- Experience working in or with organisations operating in the public sector or subject to significant parliamentary or audit scrutiny
- Relevant professional qualification or certification in compliance, risk, audit, law, governance, investigations, data protection, financial crime or ethics, or demonstrable equivalent experience
Personal Qualities:
- Takes ownership, shows confidence in decision-making, and is willing to challenge constructively
- Focuses on delivering meaningful outcomes and making a positive, lasting impact
- Works collaboratively, valuing different perspectives and building inclusive relationships
- Proactive and adaptable, with a curiosity to explore new ideas and improve ways of working
- Resilient and resourceful in a fast-paced environment
What We Offer:
- Competitive base salary
- Performance-related bonus scheme
- Excellent pension scheme
- 4x salary life assurance
- Group income protection
- 38 days annual leave
- Flexible working arrangements
- Ongoing professional development and training
- Supportive, inclusive working environment
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