RESP Strategic Lead - South East of England

About the role

National Energy System Operator (NESO) recognises the potential of bright and talented individuals, and we encourage you to join us as Great Britain’s energy system undergoes an ambitious, exciting, and vital transformation. Together with industry, we are creating a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.

In April 2025 the National Energy System Operator (NESO) has taken on the exciting new role of being the Regional Energy Strategic Planner. We will be responsible for developing 11 Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs) across Great Britain. NESO will be responsible for regional energy strategic planning as part of its portfolio.

Our South East of England based team will work with other NESO teams and organisations at a local level (‘local actors’), including local government and gas and electricity networks, in developing the RESP. Having an understanding and lived experience of the South East of England will be key – as will having complementary energy expertise and experience to allow the South East of England team to reflect the region’s diverse society, environment and energy planning needs.

The purpose of this job is to ensure engagement with local actors and other regional and central NESO teams is coordinated. This is the first time we will have a regional presence. Alongside your regional manager, you will be amongst the first to establish and coordinate energy planning work within your region. Regional teams will continue growing in 2025.

Our focus in the immediate term is to build trust with our stakeholders, establish our process and methodology, and grow our capability in whole energy systems to best support local actors and industry stakeholders in developing credible plans to support net zero.

This role will begin as home-based, but will transition to the South East of England office upon opening in the future. We are open to full time and part time applicants as this role is a job share, as well as flexible working arrangements.

The creation of National Energy System Operator (NESO) is driven by an urgent need to unify and optimise our approach to energy. A more integrated and coordinated strategy is needed to meet the unprecedented challenges of climate change, ensuring secure energy supply, and keeping costs manageable for consumers.

Join us and empower your potential, energise our team, and be part of something bigger.

Your energy, our future, together.

In Autumn of 2024, the ESO transitioned to National Energy System Operator, or NESO for short. Previously denoted as the Future System Operator (or FSO), the new National Energy System Operator is the independent body responsible for planning Great Britain’s electricity and gas networks and operating the electricity system.

The ESO, including all of its existing roles, are now at the heart of the new National Energy System Operator. As NESO, we will build on our existing roles, capabilities, and ways of working significantly to create an organisation the energy system and its users’ need. Our new capabilities will enable us to look across vectors, including electricity, natural gas and hydrogen, and crucially consider the trade-offs between them.

The organisation is set up as a public corporation with its own Board of independent directors, with complete operational independence from government, the regulator and any and all commercial interest. As was the ESO, NESO will be licenced and regulated by Ofgem through price control agreements and obligated to identify optimal solutions to system operations and planning in the most sustainable, affordable and secure way for all.

The time to deliver is now. As part of our team, you won’t just be touching the lives of almost everyone in Great Britain – you’ll be shaping the way we use and consume energy for generations to come.

• To develop, consult and then implement relevant parts of the RESP methodology to your region
• To be the subject matter expert in understanding specific aspects of your region’s energy system planning and the interfaces with both internal NESO and external stakeholders
• To define…