Title:  Strategy Engineer

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.

In this high-profile team, we currently have a role for a Strategy Engineer to play an important part leading on the next phase of work following on from our Holistic Network Design (HND) exercises. This includes the interaction with future seabed leasing rounds, our network planning processes, connections reform and the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP). The successful candidate will work in collaboration with key external stakeholders, Transmission Owners (TOs) and NESO colleagues to set the direction by developing the strategies needed to deliver co-ordinated offshore network design recommendations and embedding this into business-as-usual processes. In addition, you’ll also focus on developing the long-term offshore network planning processes ensuring they are consistent with the requirements of Ofgem’s Electricity Transmission Network Planning Review (ETNPR) and the Centralised Strategic Network Plan (CSNP). In this innovative team you’ll play a fundamental role in driving a low carbon future for Great Britain.

This role can be based from Wokingham, 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.

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

• Lead on the development of key strategies needed to deliver co-ordinated offshore network design recommendations
• Develop the long-term offshore network planning process ensuring consistency with the requirements of ETNPR
• Engage and work with key industry partners, such as the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, Ofgem, The Crown Estate and Crown Estate Scotland, supporting the strategy of offshore network planning in GB.
• Work with technical experts across multiple subject areas to quickly develop sufficient knowledge to be able to investigate, define, analyse, and clearly articulate situations and problems
• Engage and work with key internal and external stakeholders to develop the necessary strategic thinking to improve on and develop new ways of delivering a HND and future network planning processes
• Work closely with TOs to understand any challenges and collaborate on potential solutions
• Communicate our strategies to senior management both internally and externally
• Articulate and share key strategic insights through clear, concise, short reports and slide packs, ensuring that the key messages are relevant and pitched appropriately for the audience

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:

• Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to investigate, understand, analyse, and define “problems” and select the correct approach to make progress to resolve
• Strategic thinker and curious mindset, being able to “see the bigger picture”, and connect multiple themes and activities, with a full “end-to-end” approach
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to communicate complex technical information in a simplistic way
• Confidence in creating and presenting precise written and presentation material that clearly “tells the story” to the audience
• Knowledge of the UK Electricity Industry and the current and future energy landscape
• High level knowledge of power system engineering and its application in transmission investment planning
• Awareness of existing GB transmission network planning processes, such as customer connections or the Network Options Assessment (NOA)
• Ability to build high quality relationships both internally and externally and using those to achieve the required outcomes

About what you'll get

A competitive salary between £50,000 - £70,000 – 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 12th January 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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