Innovation Strategy Senior Lead - 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. Innovation is critical to helping us meet the challenges of transitioning to a net zero future. At NESO, we work with partners from across the energy industry to harness new technologies, markets and ways of working to support the energy transition.

The Innovation Strategy & Insights team identify where innovation is required across the energy system. We set the direction of NESO’s innovation portfolio, as well as working with the wider sector on where innovation can address some of energy’s biggest challenges. The Innovation Strategy Senior Lead will be driving the development of our Innovation Strategy. Working with external and internal stakeholders to shape our future innovation priorities.

The role will be crucial to shaping how we should innovate too. Working with other NESO teams to identify challenges, potential solutions, and new ways of working that can ensure the delivery of high impact projects. This role can be based from Wokingham, Warwick or Glasgow, and we continue to offer hybrid working from office and home.

• Manage the evolution and delivery of our innovation strategy publications
• Create clear and engaging content to communicate our innovation strategy to external audiences
• Work with external stakeholders to understand the broader challenges facing the energy system and where innovation is required
• Design and lead internal workshops to elicit inputs to the innovation strategy from senior leaders and the executive team
• Collaborate with internal subject matter experts to articulate and analyse the strategic innovation challenges that NESO needs to address through innovation
• Support the development of NESO’s innovation ecosystem and external partnerships. Including the development of open calls for innovation, external workshops, and other ideation events.
• Set up and maintain insights that will inform the innovation strategy including external factors, customer needs and organisational strategy, through maintaining relationships with colleagues and your own research
• Design decision‑making tools and frameworks for the wider innovation team, that will aid the implementation of our innovation strategy into portfolio decision‑making and reporting.

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 is:

• Passionate about the energy transition and striving to find ways of delivering more value for our customers
• An innovation mindset, including the willingness to experiment with new ideas and ways of working.
• Experience in strategy development and/or innovation delivery
• Good knowledge of the UK energy system and the decarbonisation challenge
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills – especially with Government and external stakeholders
• Strong research and analytical experience
• Ability to work of your own volition and in a complex & ever changing environment

A competitive salary between £55,000 & 65,000 – dependent on experience and capability. As well as your base salary, you will receive a bonus based on company performance, 26 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 flexible work arrangements, we promote your work‑life balance. Enjoy fit for purpose wellbeing and lifestyle offerings, ongoing skill development aligned to our Purpose and Values, and be part of a supportive community that values your individuality and where you can belong.

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