Senior Operability Lead - NESO

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.

The Zero Carbon Operation team is an exciting area of NESO’s Strategic Energy Planning directorate, playing a critical role in identifying and resolving potential operational issues as the GB electricity system decarbonises. We are going through some exciting growth at the moment, and we are looking for two people to join the CP30 Implementation team to lead specifically on assessment of operability challenges associated with the move to a clean power system by 2030.

CP30 is both a huge challenge and an exciting and fast‑moving area to work in. It puts GB, and NESO, at the forefront of electricity system operation as many of the issues we are dealing with are newly emerging and the associated solutions ground‑breaking.

The role will include collaborating with other NESO colleagues on their analysis, developing new ways to identify, understand and explain complex issues associated with CP30, supporting NESO to make decisions and prioritise efforts, and working with external stakeholders.

This role can be based from Wokingham, Warwick or Glasgow, and we continue to offer hybrid working from office and home. We are open to full time and part time applicants, as well as flexible working arrangements.

• You will lead cross‑functional NESO virtual teams to understand, define, and mitigate future operability challenges posed by CP30, in new areas without established methods, both in GB and globally.
• You will evaluate the CP30 operability context for NESO, identifying where our future operability issues may exist and help identify the solutions needed to resolve them.
• You will provide insight into the changes affecting the future energy landscape that is the basis of our strategy, decision making and policy development.
• You will identify trends, deliver papers and briefing notes for senior NESO decision‑makers.
• Throughout the year, you will support external engagement articulating the future challenges in operating a clean power system and the actions needed to meet those challenges.
• You will be curious, able to join up the dots, understand operational impacts, have good stakeholder skills and be able to think strategically.

We’re forging the path, and we know we can’t do it alone. That’s why we need visionary minds like yours to join us on this transformative journey. In this case, we’re looking for someone who:

• Passionate about understanding technical and commercial fundamentals of electricity system planning and operation.
• Passionate about enabling NESO to be a world leader in operating a clean power electricity system.
• A self‑starter with experience of dealing with ambiguity, and the ability to be flexible and agile to plan and project‑manage a wide range of issues at the same time, and to refocus rapidly when priorities change.
• Strong networking and relationship building skills, especially for within NESO and externally with DESNZ, Ofgem and other key stakeholders.
• Well‑developed critical thinking skills – able to understand current state and recommend strategic and technical solutions to achieve desired state.
• Experience in managing internal stakeholders to develop and deliver new understanding, products and services.
• Strong communicator with excellent writing skills and an ability to analyse and present complex issues to a range of audiences.

Essential:
Degree (or equivalent) in engineering, commercial or business discipline, or equivalent experience.

Desirable:

• Knowledge of the energy industry with relevant experience.
• Interest in learning about energy and a passion for decarbonising the energy system.
• Experience in academic or operational research.
• Demonstrable knowledge of the principles of power system planning and operation and the meaning of system security.

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