Job Purpose
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.
It’s not every day that you have an opportunity to be the first to establish an energy team in South West. We are looking for our first South West Energy Strategic Planning Coordinator to join the growing team. This role will be home based in Southwest England until a suitable hub opens and we continue to offer hybrid working from office and home.
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) is taking on the exciting new role of being the Regional Energy Strategic Planner. We will be responsible for developing Regional Energy Strategic Plans (RESPs) for 11 regions across Great Britain, empowered through recent Ofgem decisions and an ongoing consultation.
The South West RESP will need to reflect regional characteristics, driving whole energy considerations across all energy vectors. Think renewables, heat decarbonisation, hydrogen, energy networks, transport and flexibility! And how each region’s needs differ yet come together in forming the Great British energy plan. To achieve this, we need a South West based team – to work alongside our other regional and central teams in forming the hub and spokes needed for energy planning to benefit from and reflect local inputs.
The purpose of this job is to ensure engagement with local actors and other regional and central NESO teams is coordinated. This is the first time we will have a regional presence. Alongside your regional manager, you will be amongst the first to establish and coordinate energy planning work within your region. Regional teams will continue growing in 2025.
Having an understanding and lived experience of the South West will be key.
Our focus in the immediate term is to build trust with our stakeholders, establish our process and methodology, and grow our capability in whole energy systems to best support local actors and industry stakeholders in developing credible plans to support net zero.
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
As the South West Energy Strategic Planning Coordinator, you will be responsible for coordinating the development and delivery of your region’s engagement strategy. You will be supported both by your regional team, the central stakeholder engagement team and wider ESO. You will work closely with them to:
1. Coordinate engagement with stakeholders within the region and NESO colleagues including in central hub and other regional teams; as well as with Strategic Energy Planning teams, Corporate Affairs, Future Energy Scenarios and others
2. Ensure regional stakeholders and their views are captured in both NESO’s Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system and the drafting of your regional RESP engagement materials
3. Ensure your region has an up-to-date plan for engagement and communication activities
4. Design and support workshops and engagement activity with the Regional Strategic Board, working groups and other regional stakeholders to progress the RESP
5. Draft clear, concise, short reports and slide packs relating to stakeholder engagement in progressing the RESP. Ensure that the key messages are relevant, clear, and pitched appropriately for the audience.
6. Ensure your region’s engagement planning and delivery is coordinated with other regional and central RESP teams
7. Have a good understanding of NESO and our regional energy planning function when engaging local actors
About you
What we do isn’t just important – it’s essential. That’s why we look to recruit experts in their field. In this case, we’re looking for someone who:
8. Coordination and planning skills to ensure that deadlines are met, governance is adhered to, stakeholders are effectively engaged and high quality process and outputs are achieved
9. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
10. Experience of communicating with, and influencing, internal and external stakeholders at a range of levels
11. Experience of working with or within large, complex organisations – ideally in your region, and in or with the energy and/or local government sectors
12. Experience of using customer relationship management tools and databases to record activities, and identify insights and actions
13. Strong organisational and administration skills with a proactive approach to flexibility and engaging others
14. An inquisitive mind with the ability to join the dots and a willingness to learn about new areas of work
What you'll get
A competitive salary between £39,000 - £43,000 per annum – 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.
15. Full support and career-development resources to expand your skills, enhance your expertise, and maximise your potential along your career journey.
16. A diverse and inclusive community of belonging, where teammates are empowered to bring ideas to the table.
17. Generous Total Rewards Plan – comprising of health, finance and wealth, work/life balance, and career benefits.
More Information
This role closes on 29th September 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., 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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