About the role

This is the time for action – we need to move at pace and reform our energy system – to deliver energy security, to tackle climate change and to protect our people.

The Head of Corporate Strategy is a vital role that will help NESO accomplish its purpose, vision and values by creating a corporate strategy that guides the organisation's long term future. You will assist the organisation in determining its strategic direction, considering a fast changing dynamic environment and finding strategies that will seize opportunities, foresee and mitigate risks and recognise the resources, capabilities and transformation required to make NESO successful.

Through fulfilling this role you will work closely with the Executive Committee and senior leadership teams – and across the wider organisation - working on the highest priority issues. You will become part of a high calibre, curious, motivated, inclusive directorate, that can lead to excellent onward career opportunities.

This role can be based from Wokingham or Warwick, and we continue to offer hybrid working from office and home.

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

• Strategic direction – shape the strategic direction for NESO in line with is stated purpose and vision
• Leadership – Provide high-quality intellectual leadership and direction within the organisation, enabling NESO to understand what it needs to do to be successful
• Energy transition - Establish NESO as the front runner in accelerating progress in decarbonisation by building strategies that allow the organisation to deliver its purpose and vision
• Research - Stay abreast of latest developments within the sector, by establishing / utilising your own extensive professional network
• Insights & Recommendations – Leveraging deep expertise and technical know-how across and outside the organisation, translate findings into meaningful implications for the organisation to enable decisions to be made on key strategic issues
• Partnering - Act as a credible partner to internal and stakeholders to evaluate the impact of the insights and recommendations; feed into strategic business planning
• Ways of Working – Challenge established thinking and role-modelling a curious mindset
• Performance Management - Manage and report on the performance of the corporate strategy in delivering its projects with the objective of accelerating progress
• Team Leadership - Lead a highly motivated, innovative, inclusive and focused team, developing a talent and performance management culture that drives value through a highly engaged team.

About you

• An experienced leader who can coach, motivate, support and inspire a highly capable team and create an inclusive and welcoming environment
• An exceptional communicator who can distil complex topics and issues into a compelling narrative
• Experience in strategy development at a senior level in corporate or public sector environments, with a proven ability to apply a broad set of strategic frameworks to solve real issues
• The ability to work with and influence executive level and senior leaders within an organisation and engage effectively at multiple levels across an organisation
• A broad understanding of the whole energy sector, energy- and climate-related public policy and the wider decarbonisation agenda
• The ability to lead and deliver high priority projects at pace with a focus on accelerating progress
• A strong track record of developing effective collaborations and partnerships, building a relationship of trust with customers and stakeholders
• Innovative thinker who fosters an environment of embracing curiosity showing an aptitude to work with ambiguity and the ability to navigate complex challenges
  

Key Accountabilities

• Influence senior decision makers within the business at both corporate and business unit levels to ensure that the company makes the best possible strategic choices through fully understanding the range of possible outcomes and potential risks.
• Lead cross-functional teams to ensure successful delivery of key projects.
• Use commercial awareness to identify better ways that National Grid can approach strategic issues, anticipate future needs and identify what is the right course of action for the company to pursue.
• Leverage experience to clearly frame the problems that the company faces and provide structured solutions to address them that can be explained at both senior and middle management levels.
• Manage a diverse range of internal and external stakeholders to ensure that the required inputs into strategic projects are obtained and that the strategy team and National Grid is shown in the best possible light.
• Shaping the team’s Strategic tools and techniques and building relationships both within the business and the team itself, to ensure that everybody benefits from your specialist skill set.

What you’ll get

A competitive salary dependent on capability.

As well as your base salary, you will receive a company car or allowance, a bonus of up to 20% of your salary for stretch performance, private medical insurance, 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%.

You will also have access to a comprehensive benefits package tailored to support your well-being and professional success. From a competitive salary to flexible work arrangements, we promote your work-life balance. Enjoy fit for purpose wellbeing and lifestyle offerings, ongoing skill development aligned to our Purpose and Values, and be part of a supportive community that values your individuality and where you can belong.

More information

This role closes on 22/07/2024 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.

#LI-SP1