Strategist - ESO

About the role

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.

In 2021, government and Ofgem jointly consulted on proposals for an expert, impartial Future System Operator (FSO) with responsibilities across both the electricity and gas systems, to drive progress towards net zero while maintaining energy security and minimising costs for consumers. In October 2023, the Energy Act 2023 was passed, legislating for this Future System Operator to be created.

The ESO, including all of its existing roles, will be at the heart of the new Future System Operator. We will be taking on additional roles across vectors and sectors to create an organisation with a whole energy system mindset; enabling us to identify solutions to our energy system that are more sustainable, secure, and affordable for all.

The FSO will be set up as a public corporation with operational independence from government – bringing parties together to support optimised decision making and action. As now, it will be licenced and regulated by Ofgem through price control agreements. It is anticipated that the new organisation will be up and running in 2024.

This role can be based from Wokingham or Warwick, 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

At National Grid ESO, our mission is to meet the challenges of the future and deliver cleaner, affordable electricity. We constantly strive to do this better by using technology and innovation to transform the way we work.

Becoming the Future System Operator

In 2021, government and Ofgem jointly consulted on proposals for an expert, impartial Future System Operator (FSO) with responsibilities across both the electricity and gas systems, to drive progress towards net zero while maintaining energy security and minimising costs for consumers. In October 2023, the Energy Act 2023 was passed, legislating for this Future System Operator to be created.

The ESO, including all of its existing roles, will be at the heart of the new Future System Operator. We will be taking on additional roles across vectors and sectors to create an organisation with a whole energy system mindset; enabling us to identify solutions to our energy system that are more sustainable, secure, and affordable for all.

The FSO will be set up as a public corporation with operational independence from government – bringing parties together to support optimised decision making and action. As now, it will be licenced and regulated by Ofgem through price control agreements. It is anticipated that the new organisation will be up and running in 2024.

The time to act on climate change 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

• Stakeholder management & engagement: You will develop trusted relationships with leaders and managers from across the organisation, which you will use to investigate, understand and define their challenges and opportunities.
• Strategic initiative development: You will ideate, develop and recommend proposals for strategic initiatives aligned to the corporate strategy, to business challenges/opportunities, or to the needs of senior managers and leaders.
• Strategy content: You will lead, or support, the development of content for the corporate strategy, for the strategies of other teams/departments, and for strategic initiatives being incubated by the team. This may include content writing and/or synthesis of input from subject matter experts.
• Strategy facilitation: You will lead, or support, on convening and facilitating multi-team or multi-stakeholder collaboration across the organisation. This could include the design and running of co-creation, problem solving or mediation sessions.
• Strategic thinking: You will lead, or support, complex problem solving that develops solutions to the root causes of problems within an operational business. This could include leveraging tools like holistic thinking, design thinking and/or systems thinking.
• Outputs and deliverables: You will lead, or support, on creating compelling, narrative-driven strategies and presentations targeted at general/public, technical, Government and/or executive audiences.
• Delivery management: You will structure and manage your own delivery, with support and oversight from the team’s Strategy Managers. You will report on delivery progress, risks, and issues to the rest of the team and the Head of Strategy on a regular basis.

About you

Knowledge and Experience

We are interested in candidates with experience as a business analyst, commercial analyst, strategist and/or consultant, or other roles with comparable skillsets.

We value having a diversity of skills and backgrounds within the team, so whether you have a background within the energy sector, or bring expertise from other domains, we would value your unique perspective.

We are seeking candidates with these skills:

• Strategy: You can think holistically about challenges and opportunities facing the organisation or energy sector, which you can distil into systematic frameworks that support critical decision-making.
• Commercial: You understand how businesses operate, how the strategy cycle drives an organisation, and how strategic initiatives enable proactive change.
• Problem Solving: You are able to identify the root causes for complex problems and be creative in developing solutions that provide value to the organisation.
• Communication: You are able to influence and inform at all levels of seniority within the organisation, conveying concise and compelling oral, written and visual narratives.
• Stakeholders: You are able to build and manage trusted relationships with key managers and leaders, who will know they are able to come to you for support around strategy and problem solving.
• Organisation: You can plan and manage your own time effectively, ensuring you meet your commitments, can respond to urgent requirements, and are available to your stakeholders.
• Project Management: You can plan, delivery manage, risk manage, report and evaluate projects and/or strategic initiatives, ensuring delivery to time, cost and quality.

What you'll get

A competitive salary between £52,000 - £60,000pa – 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%.

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 25th February 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, 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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