Head of Risk

About the role

The most ambitious upgrade to the UK's electricity grid in generations is under way.

Strategic Infrastructure, part of National Grid Electricity Transmission, is responsible for delivering 17 major new projects to connect more clean, low-carbon power to the transmission network in England and Wales.

These projects play a vital part in achieving the UK Government’s ambition of connecting 50GW of offshore wind by 2030.  

That’s why we’re looking for 2 Head of Risk professionals with significant experience in large construction programmes, knowledge of modern but pragmatic practice. These roles offer the opportunity to combine functional best practices with the behaviours and culture needed to effect change in a large diverse organisation. 

As a Head of Risk, you’ll develop the risk environment to be used by the risk practitioners across the projects. You'll work with a wide range of stakeholders and external providers. It will involve working across people, process, and systems to optimise the risk and opportunity management practice across the projects/PMO.

In these roles you can enjoy our hybrid working from office and home. You'll be flexible to regular travel throughout England and Scotland, depending on the project.

Head of Risk – EGL 2 & 3
Eastern Green Link 2 & 3 are multi-billion pound projects (c.£10b), both of which are being delivered via Joint Venture between National Grid and SSEN. These projects are focusing on the development of Eastern HVDC Subsea Links which will connect Scotland and England to support the transfer of renewable electricity to key UK centres of demand. 

Head of Risk – Onshore PMO
The Onshore Programme Management Office (PMO) has a significant role to play in supporting delivery of these projects, including the risk management team through the robust development and upkeep of sufficiently detailed risk and opportunity registers, risk modelling and utilisation of QCRA and QSRA techniques. 

Key accountabilities

• Lead the development and implementation of effective risk and opportunity management policy, strategy, process, procedures, practices, and behaviours to be used consistently across all projects.
• Combine the strengths of People, Process and Systems to enable a high-performance team to deliver the risk management function deliverables.
• Support continuous improvement of the performance of the Project Services / PMO and risk teams, setting high standards and creating a culture of learning and continuous improvement.
• Lead the risk management workstream, including the prioritisation and allocation of specific workload activities and coaching and mentoring of a geographically spread team.
• Provide guidance, advice and leadership to the risk team representatives allocated to the delivery projects. In addition, enable collaboration within the team and the development of new ideas and enhancements. This will include team meetings and workshops for development initiatives. 
• Work collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure risk and opportunity data is appropriate, readily available for performance reporting and easily understood to support effective decision making. 

About you

• Experienced professional with extensive knowledge of risk management and good knowledge of other functions such as Commercial and Finance.
• Experience in developing or implementing the risk and opportunity management function on high-value programmes / portfolios: >£500m.
• Expert knowledge of project and programme risk management practice and the communication of risk and opportunity data through effective reporting tools.
• Experience of using a range of risk management digital tools and their successful application in an enterprise environment including robust risk registers, QCRA and QSRA deliverables.
• Demonstrable experience of successfully working in a matrix and integrated team on major infrastructure projects and leading a geographically spread team. Significant experience in leading risk and opportunity workshops and reviews to ensure risks and opportunities are identified early and actively managed.
• Demonstrable examples of exercising sound judgement and facilitating decision making on complex issues among multiple suppliers. 
• Ability to bring creative and innovative new approaches to projects, programmes or a business that deliver lasting improvements.  
• A Degree or similar qualification in a related subject area including, but not limited to, Business, Commerce, Finance, Construction or Engineering.
• Additional qualifications and memberships from relevant provider and awarding body including but not limited to PMI, APM, OCG, MSP, MoR, Mop, ITL, RICS, CIOB.

What you'll get

A competitive starting salary between £80,000 - £100,000 – dependent on capability.

As well as your base salary, you will receive a full electric company car or cash alternative, a bonus of up to 20% of your salary for stretch performance, private medical insurance 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 number of flexible benefits such as a share incentive plan, a salary sacrifice technology scheme, support via the employee assistance line and matched charity giving to name a few.

About us

National Grid Strategic Infrastructure is a Business Unit created to propel our grid forward to deliver in 5 years, what has been achieved in the previous 30. By 2030 we aim to have 17 new major infrastructure projects live across England, Scotland and Wales. 

Here at National Grid, we connect homes and businesses to power, making sure supply and demand match each other. We make sure the lights are on in schools, operating theatres, and sporting arenas; we’re thousands of people working on behalf of millions of people. 

Our investment in Strategic Infrastructure via The Great Grid Upgrade will mean more home-grown power, greater energy security and a cleaner future. 

Whatever your role, wherever you work with us, you’ll help us hit stretching targets and achieve our far-reaching goal: to secure, clean energy that supports our world far into the future. Here, you will be at the heart of energy.

More information

This role closes on 25 March 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. 

At National Grid, 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.

Our goal is to drive, develop and operate our business in a way that results in a more inclusive culture. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, the innovation from diverse teams & perspectives and business need. We are committed to building a workforce so we can represent the communities we serve and have a working environment in which each individual feels valued, respected, fairly treated, and able to reach their full potential.

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