Title:  Policy and Change Lead

About the role

The GB Connections process is undergoing significant transformation to enable the government’s Clean Power by 2030 target. In April 2024, Ofgem approved NESO’s Connections Reform policy proposals which will revolutionise how customers connect to the grid.

As a Connections Policy and Change Lead, you’ll be based within the Customer Connections Team that manages the connection of generation and demand to GB’s high voltage electricity network. You’ll therefore be at the forefront of accelerating the energy transition to net zero.

You will develop, champion and implement complex policies and electricity code changes that will impact the Customer Connections Team. You’ll be responsible for managing relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, to understand challenges and drive changes to policies, codes and legislation.

Sitting between Strategy, Change Delivery, Operational Teams and IT, you’ll support team members with innovative thinking on how future policies and code changes can be implemented. You will also work with Network partners (Transmission & Distribution) and ensure NESO’s customers are engaged throughout the process.

While your contractual base will be our Warwick office, you can work from any NESO office, including our London location.

We offer hybrid working, with the flexibility to work from home for part of the week. However, there is an expectation to attend the office in person at least once a week.

We are open to full time and part time applicants, as well as flexible working arrangements.

Key accountabilities

As a Policy and Change Lead, you will:

• Lead on identifying, developing and implementing the tactical nearer-term policy and code changes needed for the connections process. 
• Writing and presenting policy recommendations and briefing notes on connections complexities for senior decision-makers.
• Engage with external stakeholders (Ofgem, DESNZ, Transmission Owners) and internal NESO colleagues throughout the policy and code change process.
• Represent NESO externally as an expert at industry meetings, code panels, working groups and other externally facing events.
• Ensure awareness of political, economic and wider industry developments which may impact NESO and the Connections team, and brief others on these.
• You will be curious, proactive, able to join up the dots, with excellent problem-solving and presentation skills.

About you

We’re looking for someone energetic and passionate about driving the energy system transition and embedding innovation at the heart of NESO. In this case, we’re looking for:

Knowledge

• A basic understanding of the energy and/or electricity industry within GB.
• It would be desirable to also have:
• Good knowledge of the process by which major demand technologies connect to and make use of the National Electricity Transmission System (NETS)
• Knowledge of the electricity codes

Experience

• Expertise in policy development in a commercial or regulatory environment is necessary.
• Proven experience working across multifaceted, technical and complex projects (demand projects) and ensuring quality outcomes. Experience of this within the energy industry may be advantageous.
• Proven experience in understanding and analysing complex problems, process and information effectively, to produce clear outputs and articulate them to others.
• Experience in leading and facilitating others, at all levels, ensuring effective collaboration.
• Proven experience working with broad stakeholders types, internally and externally.

Our analysis shows that female applicants or applicants from diverse backgrounds are less likely to apply unless they meet all the criteria listed above. NESO wish to challenge that mindset as diversity, equity, and inclusion are at the heart of who we are and what we do. Our commitment to these values is unwavering and they are central to our mission. We encourage applications from all backgrounds, communities and industries and we are happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments that you require.

More Information

• Grade: Level 7 Ops & Engineering
• Closing Date: 16th July at 23:59
• Location: Warwick (Hybrid Working)
• Hiring Manager name and job title: Folashadé Popoola – Policy and Change Manager

If you are applying from outside NESO, please note that, due to separation, you can only apply as an external applicant. If you still wish to apply, please follow this link.