Strategic Lead (South West) - Regional Energy Strategic Planning

About The Role

National Energy System Operator (NESO) recognises the potential of bright and talented individuals, and we encourage you to join us as Great Britain’s energy system undergoes an ambitious, exciting, and vital transformation. Together with industry, we are creating a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.

What We Do

In April 2025, NESO has taken on the exciting new role of being the Regional Energy Strategic Planner. We will be responsible for developing 11 Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs) across Great Britain. Our South West based team will work with other NESO teams and organisations at a local level (‘local actors’), including local government and gas and electricity networks, in developing the RESP. Having an understanding and lived experience of the South West will be key – as will having complementary energy expertise and experience to allow the South West team to reflect the region’s diverse society, environment and energy planning needs.

Key Accountabilities

• To develop, consult and then implement relevant parts of the RESP methodology to your region
• To be the subject matter expert in understanding specific aspects of your region’s energy system planning and the interfaces with both internal NESO and external stakeholders
• To define and lead on regional energy strategic planning work packages; working in a matrix style structure to ensure work your leading upon is coordinated with other regional and central RESP teams
• To represent NESO’s regional energy planning function at strategic level and deputise for the regional manager
• To engage with specific key regional stakeholders within local government, gas and electricity networks, other local actors and whole energy system stakeholders to understand their views and requirements to ensure that RESP delivers value
• To design, support and run workshops and engagement activity with the Regional Board, working groups and other regional stakeholders to progress the RESP
• To produce and deliver clear, concise, short reports and slide packs in progressing the RESP. Ensure that the key messages are relevant, clear, and pitched appropriately for the audience
• To understand, engage and gain required and beneficial inputs from stakeholders in developing the RESP to the prescribed methodology; being able to clearly communicate and propose changes where needed to key assumptions
• To create new ways to analyse and present problems and potential solutions, sometimes building on the work and experience of others to quickly develop sufficient understanding of unfamiliar topics in developing the RESP

About You

• Experience within the energy sector, including technical energy knowledge
• Knowledge of energy project development lifecycles and the ‘whole energy’ system – with advanced experience in at least one of the energy vectors (gas and/or electricity networks, heat decarbonisation, hydrogen, transport decarbonisation, etc)
• Experience of working with or within Local Authorities and/or energy distribution companies, ideally relevant to the region you seek to work within
• Knowledge and ideally experience of working in and/or managing others in newly formed teams
• Ability to translate complex and technical information into easily understandable messaging for non-technical audiences, in both reports and presentations
• Knowledge and experience of strategic critical thinking with ability to consider strategic frameworks and concepts, and how changes to these will drive RESP design and implementation
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Benefits

• A competitive salary of £56,000 - £65,000 dependent on experience and capability
• Core benefits include 26 days annual leave as standard, a competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%, and an annual enrollment to NESO Savings Plan, when you save between £20- £500 a month from your take-home pay, we will pay a 50% matching contribution.
• Benefits also include Flexible Bank Holidays & Holiday Trading, Additional Birthday Day Off, Cycle to Work Scheme, Retail & Gym Discounts, Private Medical Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance & Personal Accident Insurance.

About Us

At the National Energy System Operator (NESO), we play a vital role in tackling climate change and securing Great Britain’s energy future. We already operate the world's fastest decarbonising electricity system and are working towards our ambition to run it carbon-free for a short period this year - provided the market supplies electricity exclusively from renewable sources. Alongside this, we provide expert advice to government on how to deliver a clean power system by 2030. In autumn 2024, the Electricity System Operator (ESO) transitioned to become NESO - an independent, expert public corporation with a whole-system view across electricity, gas, and hydrogen. NESO operates independently and transparently, always acting in the best interests of all energy users. Licensed and regulated by Ofgem, we make impartial decisions that balance sustainability, affordability and security. Our organisation is fully independent from government, the regulator and all commercial interests, with a clear focus on system-wide benefit, long-term thinking and public value.

Research

Research shows that some people may hesitate to apply unless they meet every single requirement. At NESO, we believe potential comes in many forms and we're committed to a fair, inclusive recruitment process where everyone has the opportunity to show their talents. We celebrate the difference people can bring into our organisation, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds.