Authorisation Officer - Operational Safety

SSE PLC; Aberdeen City; Hybrid; GBP 51,000 - 61,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discounts on private healthcare

Gym memberships

Cycle to Work scheme

Maternity and adoption pay

Paternity leave

Job summary

SSEN Transmission is seeking experienced Authorisation Officers to uphold operational safety across the transmission network. You will assess competence, conduct interviews and manage authorisations within the TOSR framework.

Base location is in Scotland with 50% on-site in Inverness, Aberdeen or Perth, and a salary of £50,964 - £60,899 plus benefits. This full-time, permanent role offers flexible first options and a strong focus on safety and governance.

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of Transmission Operational Safety Rules (TOSR) and procedures.
• Experience in operational authorisation frameworks and risk assessment.
• Ability to make independent, safety-critical decisions in complex environments.
• Excellent communication and interviewing skills with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Assess competence and grant authorisations using evidence and judgement.
• Conduct Authorisation Officer interviews and review portfolios.
• Approve, amend, suspend or remove authorisations as needed.
• Collaborate with managers, training teams and partners to ensure TOSR compliance.
• Identify trends and improve the authorisation framework for safety standards.

Skills

Authorisation decisions

Interviewing skills

Portfolio review

Stakeholder influence

Operational safety

Job description

Base Location:For this role, we require successful applicants to be based from one of our Scottish locations and you'll be expected to spend 50% of your working week in the office - Inverness, Aberdeen, or Perth.

Salary: £50,964 - £60,899 + a range of benefits to support your finances, wellbeing and family.

Working Pattern: Permanent | Full Time | Flexible First options available

The role

At SSEN Transmission, safety is at the heart of everything we do. As we continue to develop our Operational Safety function, we are seeking experienced and credible Authorisation Officers to play a key role in ensuring only competent and capable individuals are authorised to operate safely on or near the transmission network.

This is a unique opportunity to become part of a specialist Operational Safety team that provides independent assurance, governance and leadership for operational safety across SSEN Transmission. Working within the Safety, Health and Wellbeing function, you will act as a critical control point within our operational safety framework, ensuring authorisation decisions are robust, objective and aligned to operational risk.

You will

• Assess the competence and capability of individuals seeking Operational Authorisations, using evidence, structured assessment and professional judgement to make independent authorisation decisions.
• Conduct Authorisation Officer interviews and review operational portfolios, ensuring individuals understand their responsibilities, authority levels and associated operational risks.
• Approve, amend, suspend or remove Operational Authorisations where required, maintaining the integrity and effectiveness of the authorisation framework.
• Work closely with operational managers, training teams, contract partners and authorised persons to ensure compliance with the Transmission Operational Safety Rules (TOSR) and associated procedures.
• Support the continuous improvement of the Operational Authorisation framework by identifying trends, enhancing processes and promoting the highest standards of operational safety and competence.

We're seeking individuals with significant operational experience within electricity transmission, generation or a comparable high-hazard industry, together with an in-depth understanding of operational safety management and safe systems of work.

You have

• A strong understanding of the Transmission Operational Safety Rules (TOSR), Operational Safety Manual and associated operational safety procedures.
• Experience working within or managing operational authorisation frameworks, with the ability to assess competence, capability and operational risk objectively.
• The confidence and professional judgement to make independent, safety-critical decisions in a complex operational environment.
• Excellent communication and interviewing skills, with the ability to challenge constructively, provide feedback and influence stakeholders effectively.
• High levels of integrity, credibility and personal accountability, with a passion for maintaining the highest standards of operational safety and competence.

Why this matters:

Authorisation Officers are entrusted with one of the most important responsibilities within SSEN Transmission's operational safety framework: determining whether an individual is competent and suitable to undertake safety-critical activities on the network.

Your decisions will directly support the safe operation, maintenance and development of the transmission system, helping to protect our people, our contractors, our customers and the communities we serve.

This is an opportunity to be part of a modern Operational Safety function that is strengthening governance, raising standards and supporting the safe delivery of a critical national infrastructure programme

About SSE

SSE's purpose is to be restless every day until we make electricity clean, affordable and available for all.

We do this by developing, building, operating and investing in electricity infrastructure and businesses needed in the energy transition. This includes electricity transmission and distribution networks, onshore and offshore wind farms, hydro-electric power and flexible thermal generation. We also provide products and services for businesses and other customers.

Our investment plan will see SSE invest £33bn in critical electricity infrastructure to 2030.

SSEN Transmission own and operate the electricity transmission network across the north of Scotland. We transport electricity from where it is generated to where it is needed, ensuring a safe and reliable electricity supply for the communities we serve. But that's not all - we're upgrading the grid to deliver cleaner, homegrown power for the future and building the infrastructure needed for a cleaner electricity system to create secure power for generations to come.

Flexible benefits to fit your life

Enjoy discounts on private healthcare and gym memberships. Wellbeing benefits like a free online GP and 24/7 counselling service. Interest-free loans on tech and transport season tickets, or a new bike with our Cycle to Work scheme. As well as generous family entitlements such as maternity and adoption pay, and paternity leave.

Work with an equal opportunity employer

SSE will make any reasonable adjustments you need to ensure that your application and experience with us is positive. Please contact Stephanie at [e-mail] / 01738 342963 to discuss how we can support you.

We're dedicated to fostering an open and inclusive workplace where people from all backgrounds can thrive. We create equal opportunities for everyone to succeed and especially welcome applications from those who may not be well represented in our workforce or industry.