About us

National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED) is the regional electricity distribution division of National Grid.

We are the largest UK Electricity Distribution company, providing services and energy to over 25 million customers, through 8 million connections in our four regions across South Wales, the South-West, West Midlands, and East Midlands. Over the next five years we need to invest in over £7.5bn of infrastructure to fulfil the UK’s ambition, enabling capacity for more than 1.5 million Electric Vehicles and 600,000 heat pumps and ensuring our customers can connect to our network when they want and how they want.

About the role

The GB energy system is rapidly transforming as we target Clean Power by 2030 and NetZero by 2050. The distribution network is vital in this transformation as we look to accommodate thousands of electric vehicles and heat pumps in people’s homes and connect large volumes of solar and wind. This will require us building out our network at a rate we have not seen this century. And, as one of the Distribution Network Operators, we have a key role to play in the Great Grid Upgrade – it’s an essential part in enabling the accelerated strategic Transmission Investment (ASTI) projects across England and Wales.

An exciting opportunity is available for a Head of Delivery within the newly formed ASTI Projects team in Field Operations.

Reporting into the Director NGED ASTI Projects, you will be responsible for the Consenting, development and delivery of strategically critical, high value complex project(s) or programmes; safely, to time, quality and within budget while maintaining or enhancing the reputation of National Grid in the Electricity Distribution market. You’ll also have ownership of the programme and project management framework, performance assurance and portfolio reporting across NGED ASTI.

Ideally the successful candidate will be based in the East Midlands but we can be flexible and consider candidates in our licence areas of the South West, West Midlands or Wales. This will be agreed with the successful candidate.

As part of our hybrid working approach this role offers a mix of office and home working. Travel and regular site-attendance will be required.

What you'll be responsible for

• Full accountability for the definition, delivery and successful completion of high value, complex Infrastructure projects, safely to time, budget and quality.
• Drive a safety culture to achieve and uphold the highest levels of Health & Safety.
• Undertake complex consenting to enable Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, and gain Parliamentary approval where required.
• Develop, administer and manage intricate, multi-faceted budgets and investment plans while undertaking regular cost and productivity analysis to track and evaluate performance.
• Ensure full cost recovery of actual costs incurred from NGET, providing a forward forecast of costs ensuring no impact on group wide financial performance.
• Recruit, develop and lead diverse multi-disciplined teams across multiple projects and locations.
• Provide coaching, guidance, direction, and leadership to the project team while ensuring resources meet budget and business plan objectives.
• Negotiate funding as required, full cost recovery and regulatory arrangements for a portfolio. Oversee, influence and deliver regulatory outcomes with outperformance opportunities (for price control periods, re-openers and relevant need case and approval processes. Aligning these outcomes and processes to internal investment decisions and sanction processes.
• The implementation of opportunities and the management of risk to deliver all agreed outputs within the appropriate regulatory framework.
• Operate as the key interface and establish collaborative communication channels with all high influence stakeholders, including Electricity Transmission, Joint Venture partners, Contractors and Local and Parliamentary Authorities.
• Ensure project milestones are achieved or out-performed.
• Drive continuous improvements across Electricity Distribution ensuring learning across all infrastructure projects are realised
• Directs and integrates the activities of multiple, major project operations; ensuring that projects are delivered in line with National Grids vision, goals, and strategic plan.
• Own and continuously improve the NGED ASTI project and programme management framework, ensuring consistent application of governance, controls, reporting and assurance across the portfolio.
• Provide integrated portfolio-level insight on schedule, cost, risk and benefits, enabling effective investment decisions, regulatory engagement and executive assurance.
• Establish proportionate assurance and intervention mechanisms, ensuring underperforming projects are identified early and corrective action is taken

About you

• Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline with a considerable breadth and depth of proven experience in construction project / programme and contract management.
• Significant experience working at a senior level within a construction, network or project management business, with ideally good knowledge of electricity transmission at 132kV or above.
• Leadership experience leading large, complex programmes of work, enabling project teams to operate innovatively, effectively and efficiently.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, capable of leading and influencing large geographically based teams, and gaining support and commitment from a wider operational group.
• Customer management experience, able to influence customers and partner organisations.
• Relationship management experience, driving commercial value and performance through major contracts.
• Experience of leading change and business improvement within a complex organisation/programme or project.
• Managing complex commercial arrangements, including setting up, negotiating, and managing large contracts.

What we can offer you

A competitive salary of up to £101,000 depending on experience.

Plus:

• An electric company car or car cash allowance
• Up to 40% Annual Bonus (based on personal and company performance)
• 28 days annual leave, plus eight statutory days in addition to the option to buy additional or sell holiday days every year
• Private medical insurance
• A generous contributory pension scheme - we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%
• Life Insurance 10 x base salary
• Financial support to help cover the cost of professional membership subscriptions.
• Family care benefits including a back-up care service for when your usual care arrangements fall through (six paid days each year as standard with the option to purchase further days).
• Access to apps which support health, fitness, and wellbeing.
• Career development, ongoing training and support, career progression and plenty of opportunity to progress!

Further information

This role closes on 06 April 2026, however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary.

National Grid’s recruitment periods can and may vary. We reserve the right to remove this advert or close it to further applications at any point during the recruitment process.

Please note that in most cases, National Grid is unable to offer sponsorship for employment under the UK points-based immigration system. As such, applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship now or in the future under the UK points-based immigration system. However, in exceptional circumstances where there is a clear and demonstrable need for specialist skills that cannot be sourced from the local labour market, National Grid may consider offering sponsorship. All applications are welcome from candidates who meet these requirements, regardless of race, nationality, or ethnic origin.

At National Grid, 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.

Our goal is to drive, develop and operate our business in a way that results in a more inclusive culture. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, the innovation from diverse teams & perspectives and business need. We are committed to building a workforce so we can represent the communities we serve and have a working environment in which each individual feels valued, respected, fairly treated, and able to reach their full potential. #LI-SC1 #LI-HYBRID