Job Information
National Grid Resilience Engineer - ESO in Wokingham, United Kingdom
About the role
If you are passionate about net zero, enthusiastic about making a real difference to society and enjoy working in a talented and collaborative environment then please consider applying for a role with the Electricity System Operator (ESO) as it transforms to become the Future System Operator (FSO) for GB. The FSO is an independent and expert whole energy organisation on a mission to accelerate our energy transition.
To build and develop our resilience capabilities, we are recruiting into our Resilience and Readiness teams who will work across industry and energy vectors to recommend improvements that deliver a resilient energy network in GB. This role will be looking across short, medium and long term risks that may impact the resilience of the whole energy system, including, and proposing mitigations that yield the greatest benefit to the UK customer.
The Office of Energy Resilience and Emergency Management role will be a significant and core activity within the FSO. It will be focused on understanding and planning system resilience across electricity and gas and the interactions between them. The key purpose of this will be to provide whole system coordination and analysis, allowing delivery of independent, expert advice and information to government and the regulator, alongside strategic coordination and preparation for emergencies across energy vectors.
This role can be based from Wokingham or Warwick (with some travel to other offices), and we continue to offer hybrid working (https://jobs.nationalgrid.com/UK/content/Our-culture/?locale=en_GB) from office and home. We are open to full time and part time applicants, as well as flexible working arrangements.
About us
At National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO), we’re aiming to operate a zero-carbon electricity system for Great Britain by 2025. This means using wind, solar and hydropower - without relying on any carbon-based generators to balance the grid.
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
Lead and support on:
Conducting whole energy system seasonal readiness assessments, through issuing surveys, reviewing and analysing responses, whilst identifying any trends, gaps or key themes.
Carrying out emergency process assessments, providing recommendations for improvement against best practice. This will also include activities to establish processes and procedures to deliver.
Be able to support engagement with stakeholders across the UK’s energy system, including Government and our Regulator, promoting and advancing industry wide discussion and understanding on GB emergency processes and readiness. Facilitate in-person and online industry discussion and engagement in support of transparent, positive and collaborative improvements.
Analyse quantitative and qualitative data received from industry to form a view of the readiness of industry both for upcoming winter and summer seasons, and in their procedures to prepare for and mitigate the impact of emergencies, assess these against best practice, and develop recommended improvements.
Demonstrate a keen interest in resolving key issues facing the UK energy system.
Stay abreast of emergency processes, crisis management, industry readiness trends and best practices – nationally and internationally and draw on lessons learned to continually improve and refine how the NESO undertakes its obligation to ensure energy industry readiness and preparedness.
Be able to translate large, complex, and often disparate pools of data into a compelling narrative.
Lead on key work assignments related to resilience and emergency management – keep senior colleagues informed on progress, reporting findings as necessary, and translating such work into meaningful insights that shape future decision-making and guidance.
Undertake scenario planning and set scenarios to determine actual readiness and identify, diagnose and make recommendations where gaps or weaknesses are identified.
Lead on and support the development of industry protocols to ensure whole energy coordination and engagement.
Provide expertise in any other areas regarding whole energy industry readiness and emergency processes.
If you have a strong analytical background and a genuine interest in the energy sector but may not have all the above experience we would still like to hear from you.
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:
Experience of the gas industry or distribution network are of particular interest
Ability to balance a strong, methodical, analytical skillset with engagement and building of relationships and the FSO’s reputation with regulator and industry.
Understanding of the energy sector – knowledge of the structure, regulatory environment and the short- and long-term issues affecting the industry.
Effective interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate articulately at a senior level, and with a broad external audience.
Knowledge of risk and control frameworks and resilience risks relating to system operations, ideally with previous involvement in crisis and recovery during significant events or operational outages either in an energy context or in other sectors.
Ability to think holistically and bring together discrete expertise to facilitate a whole system approach.
Ability to assemble complex ideas, issues, and observations into clear and simple explanations that inform decision making and action.
What you'll get
A competitive salary between £45,000 - £65,000 pa – dependent on 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%.
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 the 28th June 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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