Our Ability Jobs

Job Purpose

Great Britain's electricity system is undergoing an ambitious, exciting and vital transformation. Together with industry, we are creating a cleaner, greener system, one that protects the planet and serves generations to come.

Later this year the ESO will transition to become the National Energy System Operator, or NESO for short. NESO will be the independent body responsible for planning Great Britain’s energy infrastructure and operating the electricity system. Our new capabilities will enable us to look across vectors, including electricity, natural gas and hydrogen, and crucially consider the trade-offs between them.

We are seeking two Planning Specialists to form part of a new planning team that will act as an expert across the whole of the ESO/NESO. These roles require expertise in consenting and lands onshore and offshore in order to steer our energy plans to contribute as strongly as possible to accelerating the roll out of energy infrastructure and also review connection customers' consents and lands. This will involve providing leadership and support within the Strategic Energy Planning Directorate where strategic plans will steer the location of future energy infrastructure, and also across the wider ESO/NESO. Our strategic plans on which you will be involved in development and delivery are the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP), Centralised Strategic Network Plan (CSNP), Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESP). You will also be required to assess electricity transmission network connections to ensure projects are progressing and they have the correct land boundary/planning consents in place. This is a relatively new capability for the organisation, and you will be part of a newly established small team to provide high quality and proactive steers.

This role can be based from Warwick, Wokingham 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.

About us

As Great Britain’s electricity system operator (ESO), we sit at the heart of the electricity system, using our outstanding engineering and commercial expertise to balance electricity supply and demand. Ultimately, we keep the electricity flowing directly to where it’s needed, second by second.

Becoming the National Energy System Operator

In Summer of 2024, the ESO will transition to becoming the National Energy System Operator, or NESO for short. Previously denoted as the Future System Operator (or FSO), the new National Energy System Operator will be the independent body responsible for planning Great Britain’s electricity and gas networks and operating the electricity system.

The ESO, including all of its existing roles, will be 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 will be 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 the ESO are today, 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.

The time to deliver is now. As part of our team, you won’t just be touching the lives of almost everyone in Great Britain – you’ll be shaping the way we use and consume energy for generations to come.

Key Accountabilities

For strategic energy planning:

• Steer the development and delivery of strategic energy planning processes to be as beneficial as possible to accelerating subsequent planning and consenting processes across GB.

• Provide expert advice and support to teams across the Directorate and wider ESO/NESO on planning and consenting requirements and processes in England, Scotland and Wales.

• Engage to ensure our approach incorporates best practice and to bring internal and external stakeholders with us on the plans

• Work with the stakeholder engagement team to ensure our engagement strategies and plans appropriately involve planning stakeholders.

• Deliver communications in a way that a wide range of audiences can understand, in line with the wider stakeholder engagement strategy.

For the electricity transmission network connections process:

• Support validation of customers’ consents approval

• Support validation of customers’ land rights and planning consent status

• Provide ad hoc support at the application stage of customer connections

About you

What we do isn’t just important – it’s essential. That’s why we look to recruit experts in their field. In this case, we’re looking for someone who has:

• Ability to see the big picture and think strategically

• Ability to deliver change and mitigate complex risks for the overall benefit of the ESO both internally and with our external stakeholders, in a sometimes uncertain environment

• Demonstrated ability to build efficient working relationships and understand and role model company culture, values and objectives.

• Ability to coach and develop self and direct reports to support the achievement of full potential

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with a proven ability to communicate complex information in a way non-experts can understand

• Proven ability to build high quality relationships both internally and externally and using those to achieve the required outcomes

• Strong organisational skills, able to work to tight deadlines and deliver as promised, ideally with experience of delivering within complex projects and managing consultants to deliver desired outcomes.

And expertise in:

• Relevant statutory processes, drafting and consultation of County Development Plans, Regional Spatial Plans or other regional or national development strategies onshore and/or offshore.

• Strategic environmental planning, corridor route selection, multi-criteria constraints analysis route and site assessment.

• Experience in engaging with statutory stakeholder consultees, statutory and voluntary public consultations, onshore and/or offshore.

• In-depth knowledge of Strategic Planning and consenting processes across England, Scotland and Wales, including NSIP, DCO and Section 36 Scotland.

• Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) and Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRA).

• Some exposure to land liaison and land ownership of linear infrastructure routing.

• Ideally experience of working within the energy industry, for example in the development of electricity or hydrogen generation, storage or transmission infrastructure onshore and/or offshore.

What you'll get

A competitive salary between £44,000 - £60,000 per annum dependent on experience and capability. As well as your base salary, you will receive a bonus of up to 15% of your salary for stretch performance, 28 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%.

As we work towards creating a cleaner, greener, and more affordable future for all, we also work towards creating a place for our teammates to belong, with professional and personal growth and positive well-being.

• Full support and career-development resources to expand your skills, enhance your expertise, and maximise your potential along your career journey.

• A diverse and inclusive community of belonging, where teammates are empowered to bring ideas to the table.

• Generous Total Rewards Plan – comprising of health, finance and wealth, work/life balance, and career benefits.

More Information

This role closes on 15th July 2024 at 23:59, however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary.

We work towards the highest standards in everything we do, including how we support, value and develop our people. Our aim is to encourage and support employees to thrive and be the best they can be. We celebrate the difference people can bring into our organisation (https://jobs.nationalgrid.com/UK/content/Diversity-equity-and-inclusion/?locale=en_GB) , and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and offer flexible and tailored support, at home and in the office.

We're committed to building a workforce that represents the communities we serve, and a working environment in which each individual feels valued, respected, fairly treated, and able to reach their full potential.

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