Engagement Manager

National Energy System Operator Limited; Wokingham; Hybrid; GBP 67,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus up to 15%

Pension scheme (double match)

28 days leave

Flexible benefits

Job summary

National Energy System Operator (NESO) is seeking an Engagement Manager to shape and deliver technology requirements for evolving workplaces and operations. You will bridge Digital & Technology with business functions, lead planning, and coordinate multiple teams and suppliers for office openings, relocations and refurbishments.

The role focuses on building relationships, guiding delivery, and ensuring requirements align across stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Strong project and programme management experience within a complex organisation.
• Experience managing cross-functional initiatives involving multiple business areas and third-party suppliers.
• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• The ability to influence and drive progress without direct authority.
• A structured and organised approach to planning, governance and risk management.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to tailor messages for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience working with procurement, commercial, legal and facilities functions.
• Degree-level qualification or equivalent professional experience.
• PRINCE2, PMP, Agile, MSP or equivalent project management qualification.

Responsibilities

• Leading the end-to-end delivery of workplace and technology initiatives, including new office openings, relocations and major office refurbishments.
• Developing and managing project plans, milestones, dependencies, risks and budgets.
• Acting as the key point of coordination between Technology, Procurement, Facilities, Legal, Security, Finance, HR and external suppliers.
• Ensuring technology requirements are incorporated into wider business and property programmes from the earliest stages.
• Managing multiple workstreams simultaneously and providing clear progress updates to stakeholders and leadership teams.
• Identifying and removing delivery blockers while maintaining momentum across complex programmes.
• Coordinating supplier activities, commercial agreements, contract reviews and procurement activities to support successful delivery.
• Supporting governance forums, steering groups and project boards with accurate reporting and decision-making materials.
• Ensuring operational readiness through effective handover, training, documentation and transition into business-as-usual support.
• Driving continuous improvement across delivery processes, stakeholder engagement and programme governance.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Education

Degree-level qualification or equivalent professional experience

PRINCE2 / PMP / Agile / MSP or equivalent qualification

Job description

About the Role

We're looking for an experienced Engagement Manager to help shape and deliver the technology requirements that support NESO's evolving workplace and operational environments. This is a highly collaborative role, acting as the bridge between Digital & Technology teams and key business functions across NESO. You'll lead the planning and coordination of technology activities associated with new office establishments, office relocations, workplace improvements and other strategic business initiatives. Success in this role will come from your ability to build strong relationships, bring people together around a shared outcome, and drive delivery across multiple teams and suppliers. You'll be comfortable managing complex projects, navigating competing priorities and ensuring that business, technology and operational requirements come together seamlessly. 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.

Key Accountabilities

• Leading the end-to-end delivery of workplace and technology initiatives, including new office openings, relocations and major office refurbishments.
• Developing and managing project plans, milestones, dependencies, risks and budgets.
• Acting as the key point of coordination between Technology, Procurement, Facilities, Legal, Security, Finance, HR and external suppliers.
• Ensuring technology requirements are incorporated into wider business and property programmes from the earliest stages.
• Managing multiple workstreams simultaneously and providing clear progress updates to stakeholders and leadership teams.
• Identifying and removing delivery blockers while maintaining momentum across complex programmes.
• Coordinating supplier activities, commercial agreements, contract reviews and procurement activities to support successful delivery.
• Supporting governance forums, steering groups and project boards with accurate reporting and decision-making materials.
• Ensuring operational readiness through effective handover, training, documentation and transition into business-as-usual support.
• Driving continuous improvement across delivery processes, stakeholder engagement and programme governance.

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

You'll be someone who enjoys bringing people together to solve problems and deliver outcomes. You will be equally comfortable discussing strategic priorities with senior leaders as you are coordinating detailed delivery plans with project teams and suppliers. We're particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate:

• Strong project and programme management experience within a complex organisation.
• Experience managing cross-functional initiatives involving multiple business areas and third-party suppliers.
• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• The ability to influence and drive progress without direct authority.
• A structured and organised approach to planning, governance and risk management.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to tailor messages for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience working across procurement, commercial, legal and facilities functions.
• A customer and service-focused mindset with a passion for delivering positive business outcomes.
• The ability to work at pace, prioritise effectively and manage competing demands.

Essential

• Demonstrable experience delivering complex business or technology projects.
• Strong project management and governance experience.
• Experience managing project risks, dependencies, budgets and reporting.
• Proven ability to coordinate diverse stakeholder groups to achieve shared objectives.
• Experience working with external suppliers and service partners.
• Excellent written, verbal and presentation skills.
• Degree-level qualification or equivalent professional experience.
• PRINCE2, PMP, Agile, MSP or equivalent project management qualification.

Desirable

• Experience delivering workplace technology, infrastructure or office transformation programmes.
• Knowledge of Digital Workplace technologies, collaboration platforms and enterprise IT services.
• Experience within regulated or critical infrastructure environments.
• Familiarity with Service Management principles and operational readiness activities.
• ITIL Foundation or higher.
• Change Management certification (Prosci or equivalent).

What You'll Get

A competitive salary of circa £67,000 - £75,000 dependent on experience and capabilityAs 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%.

NESO's flexible benefits programme provides you with more flexibility around your health, lifestyle and protection benefits, here's just a few available:

• 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 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.

More Information

This role closes at 23:59, on the day before date shown above, however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary. Research shows that some people may hesitate to apply unless they meet every single requirement. At NESO, we believe potential comes in many forms and we're committed to a fair, inclusive recruitment 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. If this role sparks your interest but you're not sure you tick every box, we still want to hear from you. process where everyone has the opportunity to show their talents. We celebrate the difference people can bring into our organisation, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds. At the National Energy System Operator (NESO), we play a vital role in tackling climate change and securing Great Britains'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 actin 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