Regional Energy Strategic Planning Officer - South East

About the Role

In April 2025 the National Energy System Operator (NESO) took on the exciting new role of being the UK’s Regional Energy Strategic Planner. We are responsible for developing 11 Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs) across nine English regions, plus Scotland and Wales. This role is based in one of the RESP nations and regions - the South East, encompassing Berkshire, Hampshire, Kent, Surrey and Sussex.

https://www.neso.energy/what-we-do/strategic-planning/regional-energy-strategic-planning-resp Our South East team will work with other NESO teams and with organisations at a local level (‘local actors’), including local government and gas and electricity networks, in developing the RESP. The purpose of the South East Strategic Officer is to support aspects of developing the South East RESP, as detailed in the Key Accountabilities below. This role will include a regular team day in our Wokingham office.

Some travel will be expected (e.g., to NESO Warwick Office for team workshops or within the nation or region to meet with key stakeholders). We are open to full time and part time applicants, as well as flexible working arrangements.

This Strategic Officer role will be focused on supporting and gaining input from stakeholders in the nation or region. Having an understanding and lived experience of the South East will be key – as will having complementary energy expertise and experience to allow the South East team to reflect Great Britain’s diverse society, environment and energy planning needs. The role accountabilities will be dependent on the successful candidate’s experience, knowledge and interest.

We need people that will contribute to or lead on the following accountabilities:

• To support the Strategic Leads and Regional Manager to represent RESP at a regional and national level.
• To engage with specific national and regional stakeholders within local government, gas and electricity networks, other local actors and whole energy system stakeholders to understand their views and requirements to ensure that RESP delivers value.
• To support the Strategic Leads and Regional Manager in the design and delivery of workshops and engagement activity with the South East RESP Strategic Board, working groups and other national and regional stakeholders to progress the RESP.
• To support the implementation for relevant parts of the RESP methodology in the South East and contribute to continuous development and consultation.
• To be the subject matter expert in understanding specific aspects of the South East energy system and the interfaces with both internal NESO and external stakeholders.
• To support definition and delivery of work packages; working in a matrix style structure to ensure co‑ordination across other national/regional and hub RESP teams.
• To produce and deliver clear, concise, short reports and slide packs in progressing the RESP.
• Ensure that the key messages are relevant, clear, and pitched appropriately for the audience.
• To understand, engage and gain required and beneficial inputs from stakeholders in developing the RESP to the prescribed methodology; being able to clearly communicate and propose changes where needed to key assumptions.
• To create new ways to analyse and present problems and potential solutions, sometimes building on the work and experience of others to quickly develop sufficient understanding of unfamiliar topics in developing the RESP.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK by the start of employment. Visa sponsorship may not be available for this role and will be considered in line with business requirements.

To deliver RESP requires a diverse team made up of individuals with a wide range of skills and knowledge which are…