Strategic Planning Officer - North East and Yorkshire

About the Role

In April 2025 the National Energy System Operator (NESO) took on the exciting new role of being the UK’s Regional Energy Strategic Planner. We are responsible for developing 11 Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs) across nine English regions, plus Scotland and Wales. This role is based in the North East and Yorkshire RESP region, encompassing the North East, Teesside, and all of Yorkshire.

https://www.neso.energy/what-we-do/strategic-planning/regional-energy-strategic-planning-resp

Our North East and Yorkshire team will work with other NESO teams and with organisations at a local level ('local actors'), including local government and gas and electricity networks, in developing the RESP. The purpose of the North East and Yorkshire Strategic Officer is to support aspects of developing the North East and Yorkshire RESP, as detailed in the Key Accountabilities below.

This role will include a weekly team day in our Leeds office. Some travel will be expected (e.g., to NESO Warwick Office for team workshops or within the North East and Yorkshire to meet with key stakeholders). We are open to full time and part time applicants, as well as flexible working arrangements.

• To represent NESO’s national/regional energy planning function at strategic level and deputise for the North East and Yorkshire RESP manager
• To engage with specific national and regional stakeholders within local government, gas and electricity networks, other local actors and whole energy system stakeholders to understand their views and requirements to ensure that RESP delivers value
• To design and deliver workshops and engagement activity working with the strategic lead and regional manager to deliver these to the North East and Yorkshire RESP Strategic Board, working groups and other national and regional stakeholders
• To implement relevant parts of the RESP methodology in North East and Yorkshire and support the Strategic Lead and Regional manager to contribute to continuous development and consultation.
• To contribute expertise in specific aspects of North East and Yorkshire energy system and the interfaces with both internal NESO and external stakeholders
• To deliver packages of work in a matrix style structure to ensure co-ordination across other national/regional and hub RESP teams
• To produce and deliver clear, concise, short reports and slide packs in progressing the RESP. Ensure that the key messages are relevant, clear, and pitched appropriately for the audience.
• To understand, engage and gain required and beneficial inputs from stakeholders in developing the RESP to the prescribed methodology; being able to clearly communicate and propose changes where needed to key assumptions
• To create new ways to analyse and present problems and potential solutions, building on the work and experience of others to quickly develop sufficient understanding of unfamiliar topics in developing the RESP.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK by the start of employment. Visa sponsorship may not be available for this role and will be considered in line with business requirements.

To deliver RESP requires a diverse team made up of individuals with a wide range of skills and knowledge which are unlikely to be present in a single individual. Key skills and experience we are looking for are:
Experience in and/or knowledge of the energy sector, experience of communicating with, internal and external stakeholders at a range of levels Excellent interpersonal and communication skills Knowledge of energy project development and the 'whole energy' system – with experience in at least one of the energy vectors (gas and/or electricity networks, heat decarbonisation, hydrogen, transport decarbonisation,…