Electricity Network Design Solutions Manager

National Energy System Operator; Warwick; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible holidays

Birthday day off

Cycle to work

Private medical insurance

Job summary

National Energy System Operator (NESO) seeks a Design Solutions Manager to lead the Electricity Network Design and Delivery team. You will drive offshore and onshore network designs, ensuring alignment with system requirements and policy.

The role requires guiding consultants, managing design options, and delivering technically robust solutions that support the UK Net Zero agenda. You will collaborate with BEIS, Ofgem and external stakeholders, oversee design standards, and mentor your team to

Qualifications

• Experience of leading technical teams in electricity transmission or similar regulated infrastructure.
• Experience engaging BEIS, Ofgem and industry bodies; contributing to public consultations and regulatory processes.
• Solid experience using network design rules and technical standards for planning and design; ability to communicate complex concepts to non-engineers.

Responsibilities

• Lead the coordination and implementation of low-level technical design options for offshore and onshore networks.
• Oversee appraisal of network design solutions ensuring deliverability and compliance.
• Provide strategic direction for offshore network design rules and policy development.
• Coordinate teams to provide technical insights for public consultations and regulatory processes.
• Act as senior technical advisor to NESO teams and project development decisions.
• Engage with BEIS, Ofgem and external stakeholders to present technical information clearly.

Skills

Leadership of technical teams

Stakeholder engagement

Regulatory engagement

Communication of technical information

Electricity transmission knowledge

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.

National Energy System Operator (NESO) are now looking for a Design Solutions Manager to be a part of our Electricity Network Design and Delivery team within the Strategic Energy Planning directorate. The Design Solutions team will be responsible for developing technically robust, efficient, and future-ready offshore and onshore electricity transmission network designs. You will lead your team and consultants to deliver agreed parts of their scope to develop a holistic network design (across the onshore and offshore networks). The role ensures alignment with strategic system requirements, supports regulatory and stakeholder engagement, and drives continuous improvement in design standards, tools, and practices. Through expert leadership and collaboration, you will enable the delivery of innovative, operable, and policy-compliant network solutions that support the UK’s Net Zero ambitions. This role can be based from Wokingham, Warwick or Glasgow, and we continue to offer hybrid working from office and home.

Key Accountabilities

• Create a high performing culture where every team member is fully engaged and knows the value they create for the organisation.
• Contribute to the development and progression of the Electricity Network Strategy function by being a fully active member of the Electricity Network Strategy leadership team.
• Create a strong and close relationship with all relevant stakeholders and customers (internal and external).
• Develop your team members to drive performance and to create a strong career path and progression.

Lead a Team That Is Accountable For

• Lead the coordination and implementation of low-level technical design options for both offshore and onshore electricity transmission networks, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and system requirements.
• Oversee the appraisal of network design solutions in alignment with the network design rules and objectives ensuring deliverability, operability, and compliance with system requirements.
• Input in the third-party initiatives on offshore asset and equipment policy as well as its implementation.
• Provide strategic direction and oversight for the development of offshore network design rules, asset and equipment policies, and technical standards in line with SQSS, Grid Code, and STC provisions.
• Coordinate teams to provide technical insights and recommendation to support public consultations
• Act as a senior technical advisor, offering expert engineering guidance to internal NESO teams and acting as a sounding board during project development and decision-making.
• Engage on your team's remit with BEIS, Ofgem and other external stakeholders, ensuring that technical information is presented and explained in a way that non-engineers can understand.
• Contribute to the development and progression of the Electricity Network Design and Delivery by being a fully active member of the Strategic Network Development (SND).

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK by the start of employment. Visa sponsorship may not be available for this role and will be considered in line with business requirements.

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 has:

• Passionate about the UK’s energy transition and the role of electricity networks in achieving net-zero, engineering excellence and innovation in network design, developing people and fostering a high-performance culture.
• Experience of leading technical teams in electricity transmission or a similar regulated infrastructure environment, engaging with external stakeholders such as BEIS, Ofgem, and industry bodies, contributing to public consultations and regulatory processes.
• Solid experience of using Network design rules and technical standards, engineering tools and methodologies for network planning and design, communication strategies to convey technical information to non-engineers.

What You'll Get

A competitive salary of £60,000 - £76,000 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%.

Benefits

• Flexible Bank Holidays & Holiday Trading
• Additional Birthday Day Off
• Cycle to Work Scheme, Retail & Gym Discounts
• Private Medical Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance & Personal Accident Insurance

About Us

At the National Energy System Operator (NESO), we play a vital role in tackling climate change and securing Great Britain's energy future. We already operate the world's fastest decarbonising electricity system and are working towards our ambition to run it carbon-free for a short period this year - provided the market supplies electricity exclusively from renewable sources. Alongside this, we provide expert advice to government on how to deliver a clean power system by 2030. In autumn 2024, the Electricity System Operator (ESO) transitioned to become NESO - an independent, expert public corporation with a whole-system view across electricity, gas, and hydrogen. NESO operates independently and transparently, always acting in the best interests of all energy users. Licensed and regulated by Ofgem, we make impartial decisions that balance sustainability, affordability and security. Our organisation is fully independent from government, the regulator and all commercial interests, with a clear focus on system-wide benefit, long term thing and public value. The time to deliver is now. Join the energy transformation and help shape the future. Your energy. Our future. Together.

Equal Opportunity

We are 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. If this role sparks your interest but you're not sure you tick every box, we still want to hear from you. We celebrate the difference people can bring into our organisation, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds.