Title:  Senior Regional Public Affairs Officer - NESO

About the role

National Energy System Operator’s (NESO) strength lies in our people. Together, we’re shaping the future where clean, affordable energy is accessible for all. Every day is an opportunity to make a real difference, accelerating the progress of sustainable GB energy, keeping people connected and society thriving as we create a brighter tomorrow.

We are looking for a Senior Regional Public Affairs and Policy Officer to join our growing Nations and Regions Public Affairs Team. The job will sit at the heart of the Nations and Regions Public Affairs Team and involve a varied workload from creating briefings for senior leaders across the business to attending meetings with regional and local stakeholders within England on energy related issues. 

The Nations and Regions team is responsible for engaging key stakeholders externally including devolved parliamentarians, combined authorities, councils, lobbying groups, think tanks, trade associations, academics and other regional stakeholders. The team is also responsible for horizon scanning and taking ownership for lines to take/key messages across strategic integrated regional campaigns and other priority issues.

This role will be based from Warwick, 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.

Key Accountabilities

• Support the Regional Public Affairs Manager in building a political consensus on business-critical issues.
• Enhance external engagement at a regional level with policymakers and energy industry players to help build awareness of NESO’s work.
• Support the delivery of core products for the NESO senior leadership team, including a regional stakeholder engagement programme as well as written and oral briefings.
• Support delivery of NESO’s programme of regional events and engagement with regional stakeholders, pro-actively sharing intelligence back into the business.
• Support the delivery of integrated campaigns on issues of strategic importance including messaging, collateral development, stakeholder mapping and forward planning.
• Work collaboratively alongside the wider Corporate Affairs Directorate to support horizon scanning to identify strategic issues and enable delivery against NESO’s strategic objectives.
• Work across the business to develop and shape policy messages, advising the wider business on the style, tone and content of its messaging to maximise stakeholder impact.
• Regularly track progress against KPIs and report them to the Regional Public Affairs Manager.

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: 

Knowledge

• High degree of knowledge about political environments and institutions at a regional and local level.
• Good understanding of the energy sector is essential, with a high awareness of the politics of energy at a regional level.

Experience

• Experience of engaging with stakeholders either at regional, local or national level.
• Experience of working in a similar public affairs role is preferred but not essential.
• Solid experience of developing and maintaining a network of stakeholder contacts.
• Proven experience of designing and delivering high quality stakeholder engagement strategies.
• Experience of communicating complex policy solutions in a clear and concise manner.
• Proven track record in planning and executing integrated campaigns, to achieve positive outcomes.

Skills

• Ability to manage and prioritise complex tasks, working both collaboratively with others and independently, to deliver to a high standard and at pace to meet deadlines.
• Strong communicator and interpersonal skills, with the ability to confidently engage stakeholders at a senior level.
• Expert ability to understand, interpret and develop clear messaging about complex issues to provide engaging and effective communication with stakeholders.
• Strong analytical skills, being able to understand and interpret complex data to refine information and provide effective insight, with a high degree of attention to detail.
• Good ability to see the bigger picture, providing effective understanding about how our work fits strategically with the wider business as well as wider policies and decision making.

About what you’ll get

A competitive salary between £46,000 - £55,000 – 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%.

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’s (NESO) mission is to facilitate the decarbonisation of Great Britain’s energy network and ensure the delivery of reliable, affordable, and clean electricity for consumers. We work with stakeholders across the whole energy industry to plan for future network needs, using a wider adoption of technology and changes in consumer behaviour, as well as ensuring we have the right markets, networks, and frameworks in place, to transform the way we operate tomorrow.

Join us, and let’s energise progress.
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 13/02/2025 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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