Horizon Scanning Manager

About the role

National Energy System Operator’s (NESO) strength lies in our people. Together, we’re shaping the future where clean, affordable energy is accessible for all. Every day is an opportunity to make a real difference, accelerating the progress of sustainable GB energy, keeping people connected and society thriving as we create a brighter tomorrow.

By working closely with government, the regulator and industry, NESO will play a vital and central role in advising on energy policy and strategy to ensure that it is not only optimal and deliverable but that it drives effective action and delivery plans across all industry vectors. NESO will also use its experience and expertise across the whole energy system to provide independent energy insights, supporting industry with optimal decision making and strategic direction.

The Horizon Scanning Manager is a strategically important role that ensures NESO remains forward‑looking, informed, and ready to respond to opportunities and risks across the whole energy landscape. Leading a specialist team, you will build and embed NESO’s horizon scanning capability, gathering intelligence on policy, technology, markets, and innovation to support strategic advice, business planning, and the development of whole system insights.

This role can be based from Wokingham or Warwick and we continue to offer hybrid working from office and home.

• Lead and develop NESO’s horizon scanning function, providing credible, future‑focused intelligence that informs strategic decision‑making.
• Maintain awareness of emerging trends, innovations, disruptions, and regulatory or political developments across the whole energy system.
• Support the embedding of horizon scanning into NESO’s corporate frameworks, working with business performance, enterprise risk, and strategy teams to shape how futures, indicators, trends and signposts are incorporated.
• Design horizon scanning inputs into strategy workshops, ensuring senior leaders are equipped with forward looking intelligence that tests assumptions and informs strategic prioritisation.
• Develop and embed best‑practice approaches and channels for horizon scanning, ensuring information is coordinated, accessible, and consistently used across NESO.
• Expand the use of tools, technologies, and repositories to deliver high‑quality, timely insight and anticipate system‑wide change.
• Provide line management, coaching, and strategic direction to analysts, fostering a high‑performing and collaborative team environment.

• Proven experience in horizon scanning, strategic intelligence, or market research roles, with a track record of shaping organisational awareness of future risks and opportunities.
• Experience working in the energy sector, with an understanding of industry structures, regulatory frameworks, and long‑term strategic challenges.
• Recognised for your ability to synthesise complex information and form strategic viewpoints that support senior‑level decision‑making.
• Experienced in leading teams in future‑focused environments.
• Degree‑level qualification or equivalent professional experience.

• Excellent written and verbal communicator, capable of connecting the dots across complex themes for senior audiences. Skilled at creating order out of complexity.
• Strong visual judgement with a keen eye for how information is presented, producing materials that are accurate, intuitive and easy to engage with.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to anticipate and interpret emerging challenges and opportunities.
• Effective task and line management, supporting the growth and development of high‑performing teams.

A competitive salary between £60,000 – 78,000 – dependent on experience and capability. As well as your base salary, you will receive a bonus of up to 15% of your salary for stretch performance, 28 days annual leave as standard, 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 comprehensive benefits package tailored to support your well‑being and professional success.

From a competitive salary to…