Head of Energy Policy

Salary from £72,000 to £90,000 (subject to location and experience) per annum, 30% Bonus, Family Health Cover

Closing Date – 12 July 2023

Reporting to Scottish Power Renewables Policy and Regulation Director, responsibility for the management and development of sustainable and commercially viable energy policy in respect of renewable energy markets to enable deployment of offshore and onshore renewable energy projects in the UK and Irish markets, in support of Scottish Power Renewables’ onshore and offshore projects and growth ambitions across the UK and Ireland.

This senior role supports the coordination of energy policy developments across the Iberdrola Group by working with colleagues in Scottish Power and Iberdrola across policy, project delivery and operations primarily for onshore wind, offshore wind, solar PV and battery storage but extending to the application and implementation of other policy, technology, innovation and market developments including hydrogen, heat and achieving Net Zero.

Lead and develop strategies and plan internally and externally at a senior level across the business (e.g. Policy and Regulation Director, SPR CEO, Managing Director -– Offshore, Managing Director - Onshore and SPR leadership team and senior business representatives) including key external industry groups and key external stakeholders to ensure SPR’s strategic direction influences and shapes existing and future energy policy.

You will lead a team of 4+ Energy Policy Analysts supporting onshore and offshore energy policy matters across all technologies in UK and Ireland. Develop and maintain a detailed understanding of energy policy developments in respect of renewables in UK, NI and ROI markets while developing and implementing strategies for managing policy issues that will have a significant financial impact on SPR, principally in onshore wind, offshore wind, solar PV and battery storage but extending to other technologies and market drivers.

We will look to you to lead market competitor analysis, renewable input to the development of ROC price forecast data and presentation of analysis to internal stakeholders while identifying and prioritising policy risks and opportunities in order to focus available resources where they will have greatest impact on SPR’s financial performance.

The Head of Energy policy will source, interpret and provide strategic energy market insight for SPR in respect of UK and Irish renewable markets, including the commercial implications of evolving policy and regulation.

You will have the ability to communicate effectively with and influence colleagues at all levels within Iberdrola / Scottish Power to ensure that key regulatory issues from SPR’s perspective are understood and appropriate resources are employed effectively to help achieve SPR’s objectives while developing and maintaining professional relationships with important regulatory, government and industry contacts so that SPR retains and develops the capability to influence.

You must have an expert understanding and knowledge of energy market environment (offshore/onshore) and application of policy and regulatory drivers influencing renewable energy deployment – in particular the Contract for Difference scheme and Capacity Market and potential options for reform of covered in the UK Government’s Review of Electricity Market Arrangements.

Expert knowledge and policy advocacy is required to:

• Influence CfD framework and supply chain policy to align with SPRs pipeline and growth plans
• Proposed Capacity Market reform to improve participation opportunity/risks for SPR assets and support increasing levels of renewables on the system
• Influence REMA to ensure future market arrangements support investment in renewables and increasing levels of renewables on the system
• Engage in transition from ROCs to Fixed Price Certificates
• Support develop SPR position on maximising economic impact (employment/supply chain) from onshore wind, repowering, solar to support advocacy for increased levels of deployment
• Support delivery of our Scotwind projects and future offshore projects / leasing and auction rounds
• In…