Title:  Energy Insight Portfolio Manager - NESO

About the role

National Energy System Operator (NESO) is on a journey towards a sustainable and secure energy future. Together we build on this momentum, advancing the Electricity System Operator’s (ESO) plan for zero carbon operability of the electricity system by 2025.

NESO seeks an Energy Insight Portfolio Manager to oversee projects supporting NESO's role as an expert advisor to government and Ofgem. NESO collaborates with government, the regulator, and industry to leverage its expertise across the energy system, providing independent advice and insights on optimal, secure, and deliverable energy policy and strategy. This supports government and industry decision-making and strategic direction for the energy transition.

As a Manager in the Strategy and Policy Portfolio Management Office (PMO), you will manage a broad portfolio, including strategic projects across NESO and requests for advice from Government and Ofgem. You will support teams in scoping deliverable projects, understanding cross-sector dependencies and risk. You will oversee delivery of outputs to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and effective communication. You will ensure the portfolio is governed effectively with a focus on strategic context, prioritisation and continuous improvement. 

This role can be based from Wokingham, Warwick, Glasgow or London, and we continue to offer hybrid working from office and home. We are open to full time and part time applicants, as well as flexible working arrangements.

Please make sure to include a cover letter when submitting your application.

Key Accountabilities

• Manage the portfolio of Energy Insight activities developed by the business, including both requests for formal advice made by the government or regulator, and strategic energy insight projects initiated by NESO. 
• Build and maintain relationships with DESNZ and Ofgem to ensure awareness of potential requests for advice, understand the priority and likelihood of these materialising and assess impact against the existing portfolio. 
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, effectively managing resources allocated to each project and understanding any risks, interactions and dependencies that may impact scope and delivery timelines. 
• Provide expert advice to project teams to champion project management and assurance appropriate to both strategic and deeply technical deliverables. 
• Manage portfolio governance including forums internal to NESO and between DESNZ, Ofgem and NESO. Some forums are enduring, and others time bound and specific to projects. You will ensure lessons are learned and improvements made where possible across all activity. 
• Ensure PMO and portfolio are compliant with NESO policies including knowledge and information management, enterprise risk management and procurement.  
• The post holder will be required to work flexibly across the portfolio and across teams. There will be both line management and matrix (activity) management opportunities in the team.
• Where appropriate, manage contracts and partnerships with external parties required for the delivery of responses and insights, ensuring compliance, efficiency, and successful outcomes.

About you

We’re forging the path, and we know we can’t do it alone. That’s why we need visionary minds like yours to join us on this transformative journey. In this case, we’re looking for: 
 
Knowledge

• Working knowledge of leading project management techniques and their application, plus enthusiasm to champion project approaches
• Familiarity with the energy sector is desirable but not essential. 

Experience

• Proven experience in project or programme management, including managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Experience working in multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience of leading change and improvement activities and implementing programme governance structures is highly desirable.
• Experience in contract management and working with external partners to deliver projects is desirable.

Skills

• Programme and project management: You are comfortable operating in a project-based environment delivering wide ranging work programmes with effective risk and dependency management.
• Stakeholder management: Your strong engagement skills enable you to see the bigger picture and approach a problem from several different perspectives. You can extract information from busy individuals and build relationships that facilitate knowledge sharing.
• Effective communication: You are a great communicator, both in writing and articulation, capable of providing clear and concise project updates, providing challenge to experts and raising concerns. You can the value of project and portfolio management effectively, making sure your insights resonate with a broad audience, and securing buy-in.
• Collaboration and problem solving: You will be comfortable working collaboratively within the PMO and across the wider organisations including project managers and operational teams, responding positively and proactively to problems and issues that arise. 
• Digital and data: You will be familiar with project and programme management tools and MS Office suite.

About what you’ll get

A competitive salary between £54,000 – 70,000 – dependent on experience and capability.

As well as your base salary, you will receive a bonus of up to 15% of your salary for stretch performance, 28 days annual leave as standard, and a competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%. 

You will also have access to a comprehensive benefits package tailored to support your well-being and professional success. From a competitive salary to flexible work arrangements, we promote your work-life balance. Enjoy fit for purpose wellbeing and lifestyle offerings, ongoing skill development aligned to our Purpose and Values, and be part of a supportive community that values your individuality and where you can belong.

About us

National Energy System Operator (NESO) has a key role to play in tackling climate change by transitioning GB’s electricity system to net zero. We already operate the fastest decarbonising electricity system in the world, with an ambition for zero carbon power operation by 2030 when there is sufficient renewable generation. We are also providing advice to the Government on achieving a decarbonised power system by 2030.

So, join the energy transformation and help shape the future. 
Your energy, our future, together.

About the National Energy System Operator (NESO)
In Autumn of 2024, the ESO transitioned to National Energy System Operator, or NESO for short. Previously denoted as the Future System Operator (or FSO), the new National Energy System Operator is the independent body responsible for planning Great Britain’s electricity and gas networks and operating the electricity system.  

The ESO, including all of its existing roles, are now at the heart of the new National Energy System Operator. As NESO, we will build on our existing roles, capabilities, and ways of working significantly to create an organisation the energy system and its users’ need. Our new capabilities will enable us to look across vectors, including electricity, natural gas and hydrogen, and crucially consider the trade-offs between them. 

The organisation is set up as a public corporation with its own Board of independent directors, with complete operational independence from government, the regulator and any and all commercial interest. As was the ESO, NESO will be licenced and regulated by Ofgem through price control agreements and obligated to identify optimal solutions to system operations and planning in the most sustainable, affordable and secure way for all. 

The time to deliver is now. As part of our team, you won’t just be touching the lives of almost everyone in Great Britain – you’ll be shaping the way we use and consume energy for generations to come.

More information

This role closes on 29/01/2025 at 23:59, however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary. 

We work towards the highest standards in everything we do, including how we support, value and develop our people. Our aim is to encourage and support employees to thrive and be the best they can be. We celebrate the difference people can bring into our organisation, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and offer flexible and tailored support, at home and in the office. 

We're committed to building a workforce that represents the communities we serve, and a working environment in which each individual feels valued, respected, fairly treated, and able to reach their full potential.
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