Director of Networks and Innovation

Job Title:

Director of Network & Innovation Reporting to:

SONI Chief Executive

Contract:

Permanent

Location:

Belfast,with occasional travel Applications are invited for the role of Director of Networks and Innovation. Reporting to the Chief Executive, the Director of Networks and Innovation will be responsible for providing strategic leadership to vision, direct and drivea diverse portfolio of change programmes needed to realise SONIs vision and strategic objectives and help to further establish SONIs trusted advisor status in the energy sector.
1. About SONI SONI is Northern Irelands Transmission System Operator. We are the people behind Northern Irelands electricity grid. We make sure that every home, business, school, hospital, factory and farm has power - when and where they need it. Andthatsjust the beginning of our story. We have a critical role to play in delivering a cleaner, cheaper more secure energy future for everyone living in Northern Ireland.

Our focus is on safety,security and reliability. Our work environment is challenging, fast-moving, collaborative and team orientated. Our culture is driven by continual development,knowledge and teamwork. Our people are committed to reducing Northern Irelands reliance on fossil fuels and transforming the energy system to make decarbonisation a reality while providing a safe and reliable electricity supply in a way that secures the future for those who follow us.

The work you will deliver with us here at SONI matters. Join a great and supportive team and be part of the transformation.
2. Role Profile The Director of Networks & Innovation will lead the programme of visioning and delivering a power systemforthefuture;aonce in a generation transformation of Northern Irelands highvoltagetransmissiongrid andthedevelopment ofworld leading operating technology andelectricitymarkets. The Networks & Innovation directorate is central to achieving the future ambitions of SONI on multiple levels. Within this context, the Director of Networks & Innovation is a substantial leadership role with a particular focus on the long-term viewandprogrammedelivery, ensuring that SONI is future focused, developing and growing its position as a trusted advisorto regulators and government.

The role holder willbe responsible fora number ofbusiness functions including Networks(Grid), Digital Innovation, Future Markets and Future Power Systems.

The teams within this Directorate develop scenarios, options, andoptimumpathways to ensure that SONIs strategic ambitions are realised,future demand for clean electricity is met, whilst at the same time ensuring that the power systemremainsstable and reliable during theenergytransition. Networks Overview The Director of Networks & Innovation will manage the team responsible for planning the development of thehigh voltage transmission grid,bringing large scale infrastructure projects such as new power lines and subsations from conception, feasibility through the planning system tothe point of handover to NIE Networks for construction.

The projects in SONI's Tran mission Development Planrepresentin excess of £500m capital investment over the next 10 years andaretimecritical to allow the flow of renewable energy as we undertakea once-in-a-generation upgrade to Northern Irelands transmission system. The team is also responsible for the connection of new generation, storage,system service, interconnection and demandcustomersto thetransmissiongrid. SONI therefore plays a keyrole inenablingwidereconomic growthas well asdecarbonisationof society.

Close collaboration and engagementwithstakeholders such asthe Utility Regulator,NIE Networks, connecting customers, planning authorities, government and communities is a key feature of this role. Future Power Systems Overview Therole holderwillcreatevision and drive the change programme to transform the power system of the future, optimising current technologies such asenergy storage,onshore wind and solar,evaluate and support the market entry of new technologies such as offshore windandlong duration energy storage and lead the evidence-based assessment and identification of the optimum solutions and pathways to a cost-effective renewables-based power system, supported by gasfiredgeneration as the cleanest form of fossil fuel.

Working closely with the Operations Directorate, the role holder will lead the implementation oftheoperational policy roadmap to develop and deliver a power system for the future that can support up to 100% renewables on an instantaneous basis,providing strategic insights and analysis on all capacity related activities such as the volume setting process for capacity auctions, winter outlook analysis, renewable auctions, and governance.

Therole holderwillhave an understanding ofsystem services in supporting a renewables-based power system, thus ensuring power system resilience is not compromised in any way. They will lead the process implementing the next generation of system services, both from a technical and market…