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Fuels Quality and Supply Specialist

Applications by midnight 31st January 2021

About us

The UK Petroleum Industry Association (UKPIA) is the trade association representing the UK downstream fuel sector.  Our members and associates play a critical role in the supply of petroleum products used as road transport, aviation, marine and heating fuels, for power generation and as feedstocks for the petrochemicals industry.  Millions of consumers, including businesses, hospitals, schools, the emergency services, maritime and aviation customers depend on these supplies for their mobility, power and heating. How the energy sector operates is changing.  

As the energy landscape in the UK transforms, the downstream sector will continue to adapt and provide innovative solutions to meet the challenges and seize the opportunities posed by this unprecedented transformation.  UKPIA is striving to secure the right conditions to support continued investment and a safe, competitive and resilient sector, to deliver a just transition to a growing low-carbon economy in which the sector continues to thrive.  Numerous challenges - not least climate change - will require new low-carbon approaches to mobility, transportation, industrial operations, manufacturing and waste.  

By 2050 demand for liquid fuels will change, but they will still be needed. Our sector is a low-carbon enabler and is already contributing to the UK’s Net-Zero commitment.

UKPIA offers a generous benefits package, which includes a flexible working environment welcoming diverse views from across the team to ensure we deliver through our shared values: working together with integrity to deliver excellence.

Role summary

UKPIA is seeking a new Fuels Quality and Supply Specialist to join the growing downstream policy team. The team develops, shares and promotes good practice and knowledge to ensure the sector’s competitiveness, resilience and sustainability against the transforming energy landscape in the UK.

The team works with member companies and across governments to anticipate, monitor and influence development of policies and regulations affecting the sector.  It also generates UKPIA’s authoritative and evidence-based technical guidance on fuel quality and supply resilience, air quality, climate change, environmental performance, product and process safety policies.

The Fuel Quality and Supply Specialist plays an important role in delivery of priority objectives related to fuel quality, supply and resilience issues to support the vision, mission and strategic objectives of UKPIA.

The Specialist provides leadership for the following committees and working groups, developing clear, robust and agreed policy positions for engagement with governments and other decision makers and to support member companies:

• Fuels Committee
• Forecourt Committee
• Contingency Focal Points Network

Reporting to UKPIA's Energy Transition Lead, the role will:

• Contribute to the development of a high-level transformative vision to position the UK refining and downstream oil sector as a competitive, innovative and resilient enabler for a growing UK economy as the energy landscape changes.
• Anticipate and assess the emerging challenges and opportunities of policies, regulations and fuel quality standards affecting the refining and downstream oil sector, ensuring UKPIA is proactive in its engagement with Government and other stakeholders to input into policy-shaping and development.
• Be the UKPIA subject matter expert for fuel quality, supply and resilience issues, engaging with external bodies to position UKPIA as a source of leading technical expertise on these topics.
• Manage effective and delivery-driven industry committees and networks, maintaining appropriate and effective communication with members and associates.
• Lead the development of UKPIA consultation responses based on agreed policy positions, supported by sound science and robust quantitative data.
• Develop authoritative technical and good practice guidance with input from UKPIA technical committees and other stakeholders.
• Develop and enhance the role of UKPIA in coordinating fuel supply resilience, working closely with the BEIS Energy Resilience Team, Cabinet Office Civil Contingencies Secretariat, member companies and other stakeholders.
• Contribute to a dynamic, creative and positive working environment at UKPIA.
• Comply fully with UKPIA’s team handbook, competition law rules and other policies and procedures.

The ideal candidate

We are seeking an outstanding individual with the following competencies and experience:

• A track record of success in management of technical issues.
• An understanding of the current policy and legislative framework and standards covering fuels quality and supply and the challenges and opportunities facing the sector.
• External stakeholder relationship management.  Credibility in dealing with senior-level industry leaders and government officials.
• Effective interpersonal, communication and influencing skills with ability to facilitate effective decision-making, issues-management and change facilitation across the industry.
• Project and time management.  Ability to combine long-term proactive work with short term reactive response.
• Willingness to travel to undertake relevant stakeholder engagement.
• Flexible, willingness to support colleagues, where necessary, across the association.
• A degree or equivalent in engineering, chemistry or a related subject.
• Experience in supply and trading, technical or engineering roles in the UK refining and downstream oil sector.
• Significant subject matter expertise in fuel quality and UK fuel supply resilience.
• Experience of working within industry and trade association committees, using diplomacy to achieve consensus on key positions.
• Experience in crisis management is also desirable.

How to Apply

For all applications please send by email to Sebastian Hirsz (seb.hirsz@ukpia.com):

1. Your CV
2. A supporting statement explaining how your experience relates to the requirements of the role
3. Your salary expectation

You must have the legal right to work and reside in the United Kingdom. This role is being offered on an initial 12 month contract.

The deadline for applications is midnight 31st January 2021.