Title:  Senior Operability Lead

About the role

National Energy System Operator (NESO) recognises the potential of bright and talented individuals, and we encourage you to join us as Great Britain’s energy system undergoes an ambitious, exciting, and vital transformation. Together with industry, we are creating a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.

We are looking for 2 people to join the Operability Strategy team as Senior Operability Leads. The Operability Strategy Team coordinates a holistic strategy to support NESO and industry in managing future operability challenges, so that there is a smooth transition to a future secure, clean power system at the lowest cost.

The team covers eight operability workstreams (Adequacy, Frequency, Flexibility, Thermal, Restoration, Voltage, Stability and Whole System) which are split across the team. You will lead on one or more of these areas and interact with the others to ensure a holistic view and plan for future system operability. There is a new focus to understand the various operational requirements of a clean power system and ensuring that a clean power electricity system in 2030 is operable. The role will include collaborating with others on their analysis, developing new ways to understand and explain complex issues, supporting NESO to make decisions and prioritise efforts, and working with external stakeholders.

This role can be based from Wokingham, Warwick or Glasgow, 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.

About us

The creation of National Energy System Operator (NESO) is driven by an urgent need to unify and optimise our approach to energy. A more integrated and coordinated strategy is needed to meet the unprecedented challenges of climate change, ensuring secure energy supply, and keeping costs manageable for consumers.

Join us and empower your potential, energise our team, and be part of something bigger.

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.

Key Accountabilities

• You will lead cross-functional NESO teams to understand, define, and mitigate future challenges, in new areas without established methods, both in GB and globally.
• You will evaluate the operability context for NESO, identifying where our future operability gaps are and help identify the actions needed to resolve them
• You will provide insight into the changes affecting the future energy landscape that is the basis of our strategy, decision making and policy development
• You will identify trends, deliver papers and briefing notes for senior decision-makers
• Once a year, you will help write the Operability Strategy report; an external publication which articulates the future challenges in operating a decarbonised electricity system and the strategy to meet those challenges
• You will be curious, able to join up the dots, understand operational impacts, have good stakeholder skills and able to think strategically

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 someone who:

• Passionate about understanding technical and commercial fundamentals of electricity system planning and operation.
• Passionate about enabling NESO to be a world leader in operating a clean power electricity system.
• Experience of dealing with ambiguity, and the ability to be flexible and agile to manage a wide range of issues at the same time, and to refocus rapidly when priorities change.
• Well-developed critical thinking skills – able to understand current state and recommend strategic and technical solutions to achieve desired state
• Experience in managing internal stakeholders to develop and deliver new understanding, products and services.
• Strong communicator with excellent writing skills and an ability to analyse and present complex issues to a range of audiences

About what you'll get

A competitive salary between £61,000 - £72,000 – dependent on experience and capability. As well as your base salary, you will receive a bonus based on company performance, 26 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%.

As we work towards creating a cleaner, greener, and more affordable future for all, we also work towards creating a place for our teammates to belong, with professional and personal growth and positive well-being.

• Full support and career-development resources to expand your skills, enhance your expertise, and maximise your potential along your career journey.
• A diverse and inclusive community of belonging, where teammates are empowered to bring ideas to the table.
• Generous Total Rewards Plan – comprising of health, finance and wealth, work/life balance, and career benefits.

More information

This role closes on 23rd July 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. Interviews will be held between 4th August and 13th August 2025.

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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