Programme Manager

## Programme Manager Apply locations:
Wokingham, RG41 5BN
time type:
Full time posted on:
Posted Yesterday time left to apply:
End Date:
June 22, 2026 (11 days left to apply) job requisition :
JR100363
** About the Role
**** This is a Secondment / Fixed-Term opportunity - circa 12mo
** The Volta Programme Manager leads NESO’s flagship transformation programme for AI‐enabled system operation, shaping an integrated portfolio of optimisation and decision‐support innovations for the future control room. The role combines strategic roadmap ownership, deep technical and operational stewardship, cross‐directorate coordination, and external partner management, ensuring Volta delivers credible, validated solutions that can transition from innovation into business‐as‐usual operations.

They will be accountable for the end‐to‐end leadership and delivery of the Volta programme, translating NESO’s long‐term system operation needs into an integrated innovation portfolio, and steer that portfolio from discovery through validation and towards production‐ready pathways, while maintaining strong operational, technical and governance alignment.
* This role can be based from Wokingham or Warwick and we continue to offer hybrid working from office and home. There will be an expectation to visit the Wokingham office on at least a weekly basis, to work closely with existing team & key stakeholders. We are open to flexible working arrangements.
*** Key Accountabilities
**** Building and Leading a High‐Performance Innovation Function
** Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team that underpins NESO’s operational innovation portfolio. Provide technical direction, set delivery standards, and shape the capability needed to design, test, and deploy advanced optimisation, AI, and decision‐support tools for the control room of the future.
** Strategic System Transformation & Roadmap Architecture
** Lead the development of NESO’s cross‐directorate roadmap for delivering an AI‐enabled, data‐driven control room. Translate long‐term system needs into a coherent portfolio of innovation projects covering modelling, optimisation, situational awareness, predictive analytics, and operator‐support tooling. Define milestones, dependencies, and resource strategies to ensure system‐level integration and regulatory alignment.
** Cross‐Functional and Cross‐Industry Collaboration
** Work across System Operations, Networks, Markets, Digital, and Major Projects directorates to ensure innovation outputs are technically aligned with operational constraints and implementation pathways. Drive collaboration with global grid operators, and technology partners to import best‐practice intelligence into NESO’s design processes and strengthen internal technical maturity.
** Technical Leadership of Complex Innovation Projects
** Lead the design and execution of complex projects across the Volta portfolio, including adaptive modelling, advanced scheduling, real‐time optimisation, and scenario‐based situational awareness. Oversee formulation development, algorithmic testing, and architectural validation. Guide teams through proof‐of‐concept phases, ensuring solutions meet operational realism, computational requirements, and scalability thresholds.
** Rigorous Validation, Assurance, and Transition to Delivery
** Set validation criteria, test strategies, and acceptance thresholds for all Volta innovations. Ensure proofs‐of‐concept undergo structured evaluation, stress‐testing, sensitivity analysis, performance benchmarking, before transitioning to delivery teams. Provide technical support through handover to ensure designs are fully understood, implementable, and integration‐ready.
** Continuous Improvement, System Learning, and Innovation Culture
** Embed a culture of scientific rigour, experimentation, and continuous improvement across the innovation programme. Use insights from previous projects, assurance reviews, and operator feedback to refine methodologies, strengthen modelling capabilities, and evolve the roadmap. Champion emerging technologies, novel optimisation strategies, and industry best practice to keep NESO at the forefront of global system‐operation innovation.
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