About us
At National Grid, we keep people connected and society moving. But it’s so much more than that. National Grid supplies us with the environment to make it happen. As we generate momentum in the energy transition for all, we don’t plan on leaving any of our customers in the dark. So, join us as a Senior External Affairs Manager and find your superpower.
National Grid is hiring a Senior External Affairs Manager - This position can be based from any of our ED Sites - Cardiff, Bristol or Derby.
Job Purpose
National Grid’s Distribution System Operator (DSO) is responsible for system and network planning, operation, and flexibility market development across NGED’s license areas, serving 8 million homes and businesses in a quarter of the UK.
Reporting to the Managing Director of the DSO, this role coordinates strategic planning, business performance, governance, and stakeholder engagement. The role holder will also develop and execute the strategy for the DSO incentive, which has a potential reward of approximately £15 million per year.
As the influence of the DSO grows, the role holder will establish and maintain positive relationships with key stakeholders to gather insights for the future regulatory proposition of the DSO. This insight will inform the DSO strategy and guide future products, services, and network investments in collaboration with the NGED Executive team.
Additionally, the role holder will ensure alignment of DSO interactions across NGED, the wider National Grid group, and the DSO independent panel, while shaping internal and external messaging for the DSO.
To develop a customer and stakeholder strategy defining our approach and commitment to our customers and stakeholders and to support the business to deliver against these strategies.
What you'll do
* Accountable for delivery of the DSO incentive annual report and assessment, and the annual DSO stakeholder survey, working alongside DSO SMEs to achieve incentive outperformance
* Develop and implement internal and external business reporting methods to provide transparency on DSO performance which align to NGED and Group level reporting standards
* Oversee the effective integration and operation of the independent DSO Panel, ensuring the voice of the Panel is heard and actioned to improve business performance
* Accountable for setting the direction and implementation of DSO policy frameworks so actual or perceived conflicts of interest are managed effectively between DSO and DNO teams
* Define the strategic direction of DSO stakeholder engagement and how it evolves to become a thought leader in the delivery of local net zero
* Develop and execute comprehensive stakeholder engagement strategies that provide insight for the DSO to build a long-term view of how and where to invest - ensuring the DSO develops smart and coordinated investment decisions to meet future demand
* Cultivate a collaborative and supportive relationship with the regulator (Ofgem) across existing DSO activities and priorities, whilst supporting the development of future DSO regulation e.g. future price controls and incentives
* Collaborate with NGED stakeholder and communication teams to achieve alignment in messaging, creating a clear and consistent narrative for DSO
* Monitor and evaluate stakeholder satisfaction and engagement levels, aspiring to develop industry leading engagement standards
* Conduct horizon scanning to identify emerging trends and collaboration opportunities in the DSO market, maintaining effective working relationships with NESO and other DSOs.
About you
We are seeking a candidate with excellent communication and interpersonal skills, strong analytical abilities, and a proven track record in stakeholder management. The ideal candidate will effectively convey complex strategic ideas to diverse audiences and possess a solid understanding of regulation in monopoly networks.
Key qualifications include:
* Expert knowledge of stakeholder management principles and best practices.
* Strong organizational skills to manage multiple stakeholders and projects.
* Experience in leading high-performing teams and working in dynamic environments.
* Ability to set ambitious goals, identify new opportunities, and drive results.
* Strategic mindset with the ability to influence at all organizational levels.
* Proven ability to communicate compelling business cases for change and adapt strategies accordingly.
* Strong collaboration skills to build networks and act as a role model for performance culture.
* Commercial acumen to implement best practices and develop financially sound analyses.
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 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 number of flexible benefits such as a share incentive plan, a salary sacrifice technology scheme, support via the employee assistance line and matched charity giving to name a few.
More Information
The closing date for this vacancy is 29th December. However, we encourage candidates to submit their applications as early as possible and not to wait until the published closing date. 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.
DE & I statement
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.
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