Head of Connections - Customer Contract Management

About the role

We are seeking a Head of Connections – Customer Contract Management to assist the Head of Connections Policy, Strategy, and Reform in establishing the new Customer Contract Management team and enhancing the performance of the Connections Account Management team.

In this role, you will be responsible for cultivating key stakeholder relationships, ensuring their insights contribute to ongoing improvements in our Connections service offering. You will also oversee the strategic and operational management of customer contracts for Extra High Voltage (EHV) demand and generation connections. This includes supervising the implementation of contractual changes in line with the Electricity Connections Reform (G2TWQ process), while ensuring compliance, customer satisfaction, and commercial integrity across all relevant projects.

We are looking for a candidate who can lead, motivate, and coordinate the Contract Management team, ensuring they possess the necessary expertise and support. The team consists of Senior Contract Managers and Junior Contract Management colleagues who are tasked with the efficient and accurate issuance of Standard License Condition 12 (SLC12) Connection Offers, as well as their contractual management from acceptance to energisation, aimed at mitigating contractual, network security, and financial risks to National Grid Electricity Distribution. 

We offer flexibility for the role to be based in our offices located in Bristol, Castle Donington, London, Birmingham or Warwick. We continue to offer hybrid working and there will be a requirement travel to varying National Grid locations.  

About you

•    Great management skills, including experience in coaching, mentoring, and performance management.
•    An understanding of the Distribution business with a detailed knowledge of Connection policy with a strong commercial acumen to manage and administer contracts and negotiate disputes. 
•    Project/Portfolio management skills (workloads, finance forecasting, key dates and project planning).
•    A Commercial expert with an understanding of regulatory funding and charging mechanisms, including extensive experience in contract management within the electricity distribution or utilities sector.
•    Excellent customer & stakeholder management skills, preferably experience in liaising with industry specialist groups, including Ofgem, DNOs, business customers, trade associations and governing bodies.
•    In-depth knowledge of EHV demand and generation connections processes, including understanding and knowledge of Transmission Connections process.
•    Strong understanding of Ofgem regulations and the Connections Reform framework.
•    Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage establishment and growing new teams and embedding in associated new processes and governance within extended organisation working across directorates and departments impacted. 
•    Excellent stakeholder management, negotiation, and communication skills.
•    Legal, commercial, or engineering background (desirable).

What we can offer you

 A competitive salary of £90,000 - £100,000 dependent on experience.
•    Plus: 
•    An electric company car or car cash allowance
•    As well as your base salary, you will receive a bonus based on personal and company performance with on target being 20% (with a maximum of 40%)
•    28 days annual leave, plus eight statutory days in addition to the option to buy additional or sell holiday days every year
•    Private medical insurance
•    A generous contributory pension scheme - we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%
•    Life Insurance 10 x base salary
•    Financial support to help cover the cost of professional membership subscriptions.
•    Family care benefits including a back-up care service for when your usual care arrangements fall through (six paid days each year as standard with the option to purchase further days).
•    Access to apps which support health, fitness, and wellbeing.
•    Career development, ongoing training and support, career progression and plenty of opportunity to progress!

Further information

This role closes on 20 July 2025, however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary. 
 
National Grid’s recruitment periods can and may vary. We reserve the right to remove this advert or close it to further applications at any point during the recruitment process. #LI-HYBRID #LI-SC1

About us

National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) is the regional electricity distribution division of National Grid.

We are the largest UK Electricity Distribution company, providing services and energy to over 25 million customers, through 8 million connections in our four regions across South Wales, the South-West, West Midlands, and East Midlands. Over the next five years we need to invest in over £7.5bn of infrastructure to fulfil the UK’s ambition, enabling capacity for more than 1.5 million Electric Vehicles and 600,000 heat pumps and ensuring our customers can connect to our network when they want and how they want.
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.