SSEP Strategist - NESO

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.

The Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) will accelerate and optimise the national energy transition to clean, affordable and secure energy. It is the first GB-wide spatial energy plan that will assess the optimal locations, quantities and types of energy infrastructure required, across a range of plausible futures, to meet our future energy demand with the supply that we need. The SSEP will take account of financial, environmental, societal, technological and spatial factors.

The SSEP Strategy team sits within the Strategic Energy Planning Directorate, with responsibility for ensuring the strategic development and delivery of the SSEP methodology and its coordination and integration with other key departments and NESO strategic plans. We will directly shape NESO’s approach to Strategic Spatial Energy Planning by providing reliable insight to inform internal decision making and direction.

As a Strategist who is part of a high performing multi-disciplinary team you will work closely with the Strategy Manager and your immediate colleagues to support effective development of GB’s first SSEP methodology and the subsequent insights it delivers. You will also work closely with other SSEP teams, external partners and senior management to create robust understanding and cohesion, and you will identify and address key strategic challenges and opportunities that will impact NESO’s delivery of the SSEP.

In fulfilling the role, you will be able to grow your skills in strategic thinking, critical problem solving, commercial acumen, design thinking and consultancy skills.

The role can be based out of Warwick or Wokingham offices, and we have team members and managers regularly attending each of those sites. We continue to offer hybrid working from the office and home, support flexible working arrangements, and are open to full time and part time applicants.

About Us

In Autumn of 2024, the ESO transitioned to National Energy System Operator, or NESO for short. Previously denoted as the Future System Operator (or FSO), the new National Energy System Operator is 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, are now 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 is 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 was the ESO, 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

• Stakeholder management & engagement : You will develop trusted relationships within the immediate SSEP team, wider directorate and across the organisation, which you will use to support development of the SSEP ensuring cohesion across all key stakeholders.
• Strategy facilitation : You will support on convening and facilitating multi-team or multi-stakeholder collaboration across the SSEP, with external consultations and wider directorate teams. This could include the design and running of co-creation/problem solving sessions, the documentation and collation of meeting insights, and the essential administration of session planning and coordination.
• Strategic initiative development : You will ideate, develop and support with recommending proposals that seek to answer key strategy questions required to deliver a successful SSEP.
• Strategy content : You will support and/or lead the development of content for the SSEP strategy team. This may include content writing and/or synthesis of input from subject matter experts and support the development of key external publications.
• Strategic thinking : You will support and/or lead complex problem solving that develops solutions to the root causes of problems pertinent to the development of the SSEP.
• Outputs and deliverables : You will support and/or lead on creating compelling, narrative-driven content and presentations targeted at general/public, technical, Government and/or executive audiences.
• Delivery management : You will structure and manage your own delivery, with support and oversight from the team’s Strategy Manager. You will report on delivery progress, risks, and issues to the rest of the team on a regular basis.
  
  
  

About You

We are interested in candidates with recent experience as a business analyst, commercial analyst, strategist and/or consultant, or other roles with comparable skillsets. We value having a diversity of skills and backgrounds within the team, so whether you have a background within the energy sector, or bring expertise from other domains, we would value your unique perspective.

We are seeking candidates with these skills:

• Strategy: You can think holistically about challenges and opportunities facing the organisation or energy sector, which you can distil into systematic frameworks that support critical decision-making.
• Problem Solving: You are able to identify the root causes for complex problems and be creative in developing solutions that provide value to the organisation.
• Communication: You are able to influence and inform at multiple levels within the organisation, conveying concise and compelling oral, written and visual narratives.
• Stakeholders: You are able to build and manage trusted relationships with key managers and leaders, who will know they are able to come to you for support around strategy and problem solving.
• Organisation : You can plan and manage your own time effectively, ensuring you meet your commitments, can respond to urgent requirements, and are available to your stakeholders.
• Project Management : You can plan, delivery manage, risk manage, report and evaluate projects and/or strategic initiatives, ensuring delivery to time, cost and quality.
  
  
  

What You'll Get

A competitive salary between £45,000 - £61,000 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.

• Full support and career-development resources to expand your skills, enhance your expertise, and maximise your potential along your career journey.
• A diverse and inclusive community of belonging, where teammates are empowered to bring ideas to the table.
• Generous Total Rewards Plan – comprising of health, finance and wealth, work/life balance, and career benefits.
  
  
  

More Information

This role closes on 13th October 2024at 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.