Portfolio Development Manager

About the role

This is the time for action – we need to move at pace and reform our energy system – to deliver energy security, to tackle climate change and to protect our people. 

To create solutions to develop the network of the future
As owners of Wales and England’s electricity transmission network, it’s up to us to provide a network that will facilitate Net Zero. Unless we deliver our infrastructure projects successfully and on time, we cannot make the transition to cleaner, greener energy.

We’re looking for a Portfolio Development Manager to help us create projects or solutions to things that need to be delivered. By taking on this influential leadership role you’ll be accountable for a team of professionals developing early stage projects that will help ensure we meet our Net Zero targets.

You’ll have a holistic view over all our projects at the crucial early stage. You’ll have the power to help us deliver our projects in a safer, more efficient way, helping to create value for all electricity customers across England and Wales. 

You’ll be leading a team which is developing and evolving in exciting ways, and working in a positive, inclusive organisation, that aims to become one of the most diverse, equitable and inclusive companies of the 21st century. We look after our people and do whatever we can to help them progress and enjoy their work. If this sounds like the kind of organisation that you would like to become part of, we look forward to talking to you soon.

“It’s easy to see how the work we do contributes to Net Zero.”
Marc Vincent, Senior Delivery Strategy Manager

National Grid continues to offer hybrid working from office and home and are open to full time and part time applicants, as well as flexible working arrangements. 

About you

What we do isn’t just important – it’s essential. That’s why we look to recruit experts in their field. In this case, we’re looking for someone who has:

You are an established leader. Naturally inquisitive and calm under pressure you have a passion for supporting and developing others. You know how to empower your team to deliver, even under occasional pressure. 

You can create solid networks with a variety of stakeholders and keep them informed and up to date. You are comfortable bridging the gap between technical and non-technical colleagues and collating their input into a single team mission. You have great clarity of perspective and can simplify things where others can’t. You are also experienced at influencing others and getting them to buy into your proposed solutions.

Engineering experience would be highly desirable although not essential. 

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At National Grid, we’re committed to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace for everyone. So if you’re excited about this role but your experience or qualifications don’t match the job description exactly, we encourage you to apply anyway. You might just be the right person for our growing business in this role or another one. 
 

What you'll do

•    Your communication style will be friendly, professional and collaborative and you will excel at simplifying complex information for stakeholders. 
•    Stakeholders could include Project Directors, Managers, Outage Planners, Power System Engineers, Consents Managers, and members of the Electricity System Operator (ESO), Customer Connections and Asset Operations teams.
•    You’ll be playing a central role in the development and delivery of projects, so it’s crucial that you can successfully communicate and get along with a wide variety of people, being required to work with the exec team. 
•    You’ll take the long view when it comes to relationships; carefully building professional, mutually beneficial relationships with colleagues across National Grid. Naturally approachable, you are good at listening and understanding the needs of teams and colleagues to create positive outcomes.
•    From the construction of a new substation to the building of a new underground tunnel, every project that happens in Strategic Infrastructure first has to be assessed by your team. While we don’t expect you to have a technical understanding of such projects beforehand, we do expect you to be enthusiastic with regards to learning about them. 
•    If you don’t initially understand the technicalities of a project, your robust and logical thought process will allow you to quickly arrive at key issues and insights. 
•    Applying your structured, questioning and coaching mindset you will help your team problem solve and deliver successful outcomes. 
•    You will write to suit your audience; your messaging will be concise, on point, and easily understood.   
•    Your documents will often be the first documents that people see in the project lifecycle; those reading them should be able to quickly and easily find the information they need. 
•    You will explain complex issues in language that can be easily understood by those without a technical background. 
•    You will coach, mentor, and develop your team to ensure members can deliver required outcomes as a high-performing team. You will set visions, identify and fill any skill or knowledge gaps with the appropriate training, and generally make sure your team is being challenged and developed in the right way. 
 

What you'll get

A competitive salary between £60,000 - £80,000 dependent on capability.

As well as your base salary, you will receive a bonus of up to 15% of your salary for stretch performance 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, salary sacrifice car and technology schemes, support via employee assistance lines 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 April 30th 2024, 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 via MS Teams

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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