Connections Manager

Connected Kerb; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading Electric Vehicle Charging Solutions provider is seeking a Connections Manager in Westminster. This role involves overseeing the connections and metering works for electric vehicle charging projects. The ideal candidate should have strong project management and stakeholder management skills. Responsibilities include managing budgets, coordinating with utility companies, and ensuring project delivery aligns with regulations. This position offers opportunities for growth in the burgeoning EV sector, while promoting sustainable practices.

Benefits

Opportunities for advancement

Contribute to sustainable transport solutions

Qualifications

• Experience in managing electricity connection projects, especially for EV charging stations.
• Proven ability to coordinate with utilities and regulatory bodies.
• Strong leadership skills in supervising teams and managing stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the e2e connections programme delivery within budget and schedule.
• Oversee installation and maintenance of metering equipment at EV sites.
• Manage external and internal stakeholder relationships effectively.

Skills

Project Management

Stakeholder Management

Budget Management

Job description

The Connections Manager reports directly to the Head of Power Connections. It is a critical role within Connected Kerbâs delivery team, accountable for leading the e2e connections and metering works supporting the large EVCP LA concession contracts Connected Kerb has won. This role is accountable for leading the development of the programme from initiating the connection requests, securing supplier costs, managing partners’s designs and approvals, overseeing the works themselves and then managing the metering programme. This is an exciting and demanding role that will offer unique challenges and ability to grow with opportunities for advancement in the fast-growing EV sector.

• Health, Safety & Environment across all aspects of connections works including assurance of CDM and all connection related activities and embedding Connected Kerbâs Zero Harm approach.
• Ownership of delivery targets: doing what it takes to drive connections through the programme delivery lifecycle.
• Leading the e2e connections programme delivery to defined scope, time and cost using Connected Kerbâs Programme Way, based on the APM methodology to develop coherent and robust delivery programmes.
• Overseeing the development of the Project Budget Sheet of estimated costs for approval by Commercial Finance within the contract Target Price and then delivery of programme to budget along with verification/certification of payments to ICPs in line with their contracts.
• Design Management and quality of the connections works in accordance with NERS regulations, Connected Kerbâs Engineering Standards and Installation Guidelines and signing off the Practical Completion with As Builts and NRSWA audits using Connected Kerbâs Quality 3 Lines of Defence.
• Active Stakeholder Management of all parties with interest in the programme both internally across CK, the delivery Partners, (IP & ICP), LAs and residents where connections works take place.
• All Risk Management across the Programme to identify, categorise, assess, and mitigate all risks to delivery and escalating to the PMO where appropriate.
• Management of Connected Kerbâs MSA Contract and the production of the Service Order to ensure contractual coverage for scope, delivery and cost along with active Change Control when required.
• Accuracy and timely reporting of programme delivery progress, costs and risks & issues to both the PMO, SDMs and the clients (where required) on a weekly basis.
• Promoting true collaboration between Connected Kerb and our IPs and ICPs through regular dialogue, monthly SRMs to discuss collective performance against Connected Kerbâs 5 CPIs (Safety, Delivery, Quality, Cost & Reputation).
• Leadership and continual development for Connections Lead with clear objectives/ defined delivery targets to ensure development of a high performing team.
• Establish external and internal benchmarks and appropriate KPIs as the basis for demonstrating the quality of connections delivery.

Key competencies/behaviours:

Connections:

• Manage Connection Projects: Oversee the planning, execution, and completion of electricity connection projects for new EV charging stations.
• Coordinate with Utilities: Liaise with utility companies to secure grid connections, negotiate terms, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Site Assessments: Conduct site assessments to determine the feasibility of electricity connections and identify the necessary infrastructure upgrades.
• Permit and Approval Management: Obtain necessary permits and approvals from local authorities and regulatory bodies.
• Cost Management: Monitor and manage budgets for electricity connection projects, ensuring cost-effectiveness and efficiency.

Metering Management:

• Meter Installation and Maintenance: Oversee the installation, and maintenance of metering equipment at EV charging sites.
• Data Accuracy: Ensure the accuracy and reliability of metering data for billing and reporting purposes.
• Compliance: Ensure all metering equipment and processes comply with industry standards and regulatory requirements.

Team Leadership:

• Supervise Teams: Lead and supervise ICPs involved in connection and metering projects.
• Training and Development: Provide training and development opportunities to team members to enhance their skills and knowledge.
• Performance Management: Set performance goals, conduct regular reviews, and implement improvement plans as needed.

Stakeholder Management:

• Client Interaction: Serve as the primary point of contact for clients regarding electricity connections and metering issues.
• ICP, DNO & IDNO: Ability to build strong relationships across the electrical ecosystem.
• Vendor Management: Manage relationships with equipment suppliers and service providers to ensure quality and timely delivery of services.

Reporting and Documentation:

• Progress Reporting: Prepare and present regular reports on project status, budget, and performance metrics to senior management.
• Documentation: Maintain detailed records of all connection and metering projects, including technical specifications, permits, and correspondence.

In addition, Connected Kerb has 3 behaviours; it is the Values + Behaviours x Consistency that delivers the unique culture and behaviours expected are as follows:

• Accountability & Ownership of targets, issues and situations
• Building strong teamplay both internally and externally
• Continuous Improvement in everything we do, Client focused and able to manage counterparties at the heart of everything we do
• Commitment to collective decisions and team player mindset
• Has confidence, authority and responsibility for all aspects of a significant area of work, including policy formation and application.

Performance and Development

• Sets and communicates contribution expectations, metrics and outcomes for the team
• Delegates appropriately - monitors progress and provides support, resources and cover
• Drives improvement across supplier landscape through regular provision and review of performance data

Execution and Results

• Reinforces the Company’s purpose and values; inspiring others to follow suit
• Focuses on identifying and championing integrated solutions for clients and stakeholders
• Involves colleagues with the right expertise to optimise decision making

Engineering & Innovation

• Proven value engineering to overcome delivery issues
• Thinks strategically to anticipate future trends and changing client needs
• Adopts a learning mindset; systematises and continuously improves processes as we grow

Connected Kerb is a privately owned company and the UK’s largest Charge Point Operators delivering On-Street Electric Vehicle solutions for many of the UK’s largest Local Authorities (LA) with over 10,000 deployed and in operation. Connected Kerbâs vision is to support the democratisation of the EV experience by providing the off‑street charging experience on‑street and to build, operate and maintain >100,000 Electric Vehicle Charging Points (EVCP) by 2030 in support of the UK’s Net Zero Programme run by OZEV. Connected Kerb has won a significant portion of the LA Low Emission Vehicle Initiative (LEVI) tenders and is building a new delivery team to deliver this commitment across the UK.