Balancing Workstream Manager - NESO

National Grid; Warwick; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading energy operator in the UK seeks a Project Coordinator to spearhead strategic balancing reforms in the energy sector. You will work collaboratively across teams, manage complex projects, and engage with senior stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership qualities, project delivery experience in the energy sector, and a keen understanding of electricity markets. This role offers a competitive salary, flexible working arrangements, and opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits

Bonus up to 15%

28 days annual leave

Contributory pension scheme

Qualifications

• Proven track record of leading diverse and high-performing teams.
• Ability to think strategically and set direction for your team and peers.
• Strong understanding of electricity markets, market design, and industry systems.

Responsibilities

• Oversee strategic direction and delivery of Balancing workstream.
• Manage budgets, resources, and timelines effectively.
• Coordinate with teams to ensure reform proposals are coherent and valuable.

Skills

Leadership qualities

Excellent communication skills

Strategic thinking

Project delivery in the energy sector

Understanding of electricity markets

Job description

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.

This role will coordinate and be accountable for the delivery of this workstream, from design of the optimal package of balancing reforms to delivering them into the organisation and across the industry.

The role will need to work in a highly collaborative fashion with colleagues who are accountable for market design; business change; and digital, data & technology delivery. The workstream that you will lead will consist of a virtual team from these areas, as well as project management and PMO resource, and a number of subject matter experts from across the organisation. The role will also be highly collaborative with industry.

This role can be based from Wokingham or Warwick, and we continue to offer hybrid working from office and home. We are open to full time and part time applicants, as well as flexible working arrangements.

About us

National Energy System Operator’s (NESO) mission is to facilitate the decarbonisation of Great Britain’s energy network and ensure the delivery of reliable, affordable, and clean electricity for consumers. We work with stakeholders across the whole energy industry to plan for future network needs, using a wider adoption of technology and changes in consumer behaviour, as well as ensuring we have the right markets, networks, and frameworks in place, to transform the way we operate tomorrow.

Join us, and let’s energise progress.

energy, our future, together.

About the National Energy System Operator (NESO)

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.

Key Accountabilities

• Strategic direction and oversight of the Balancing workstream – setting objectives, scope and plans
• Overall workstream delivery against objectives and plans
• Decision maker at workstream level – budget, resource and timelines
• Coordinating with Future Market Design team to ensure the package of market reforms proposed is coherent and represents clear value to the electricity system and consumers
• Coordinating with Business Change team to ensure NESO is prepared to, and subsequently delivers these reforms on time, to budget and to quality standards, and that benefits are identified and realised
• Develop and own relationships with equivalent leaders at DESNZ, Ofgem and Elexon
• Develop and own relationships with senior industry stakeholders and partners
• Risk, issue and dependency management for the workstream
• Ownership of products and deliverables – setting key performance and quality metrics and ensuring achievement of them

About you

We’re forging the path, and we know we can’t do it alone. That’s why we need visionary minds like yours to join us on this transformative journey. In this case, we’re looking for someone who:

• Strong leadership qualities – proven track record of leading diverse and high-performing teams
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills, at senior level
• Ability to think strategically and set direction for your team and peers
• A proven track record of delivery of complex projects or programmes in the energy sector
• Strong understanding of electricity markets, market design, and electricity industry systems and processes is a strong advantage

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

What you'll get

A competitive salary between £70,000 - £80,000pa – dependent on experience and capability.

As well as your base salary, you will receive a bonus of up to 15% of your salary for stretch performance, 28 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 28th December 2025 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. Interviews will be held in January 2026.

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.

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