Senior Policy and Officer - NESO

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.

The GB Connections process is undergoing significant transformation to enable the government’s Clean Power by 2030 target. In December 2024, NESO published policy proposals that would revolutionise how customers connect to the grid.

The Policy & Change team is responsible for turning the new design into operational reality. Sitting between Strategy, Change Delivery, Operational Teams and IT, we translate policy and strategic frameworks into robust processes that can be easily understood and used by our customers and operational colleagues. We work with Networks partners (Transmission & Distribution) and ensure NESO’s customers are engaged throughout the process.

As a Connections Senior Policy & Change Lead
, you’ll be based within the Transmission Policy Change team within the Connections Directorate that manages the connection of generation and demand to GB’s high voltage electricity network. You’ll therefore be at the forefront of accelerating the energy transition to net zero.

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.

National Energy System Operator (NESO) has a key role to play in tackling climate change by transitioning GB’s electricity system to net zero. We already operate the fastest decarbonising electricity system in the world, with an ambition for zero carbon power operation by 2030 when there is sufficient renewable generation. We are also providing advice to the Government on achieving a decarbonised power system by 2030.

So, join the energy transformation and help shape the future.

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.

NESO, 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.

• Identify and develop the tactical policy changes needed to facilitate Connections Reform and CP30.
• Work closely with internal and external stakeholders; lead on planning, coordinating and implementing these tactical changes.
• Lead and embed the agreed principles to carry out readiness checks, land rights and planning status checks as set out the Gate 2 criteria of the Connections Design Methodology.
• Collaborate across the program with a wide and diverse team to deliver the reform agenda and embed continuous improvement.
• Train, support and facilitate learning across the policy team to embed best practice in delivering readiness checks.
• Draft internal materials such as SOPs, guidance notes, training material, and external materials such as customer webinar packs, inputs into customer newsletters and guidance to support customers through their…