Head of Converters , Operations and Maintenance - Britned

National Grid; Rochester; On-site; GBP 76,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Share incentive plan

Matched pension contributions

Flexible benefits

Job summary

National Grid's BritNed interconnector is seeking a Head of Converter Operations & Maintenance to lead safety‑critical teams across the UK and the Netherlands. Based on the Isle of Grain, you will shape asset performance, compliance and long‑term reliability of HVDC converter assets.

You will drive operational excellence, manage large budgets and collaborate with regulators, suppliers and JV partners to deliver secure, affordable energy while building a high‑performance culture across

Qualifications

• Significant experience leading large, multi-disciplinary engineering or operational teams.
• Strong experience in critical infrastructure, energy, utilities, transmission or industrial environments.
• Solid understanding of HVDC systems, high-voltage assets, substations and/or subsea cable systems.
• Experience managing high-value contracts, suppliers and strategic stakeholder relationships.
• Demonstrable success leading safety-first cultures and driving operational excellence.
• Strong commercial awareness and experience managing substantial operational budgets.
• Excellent leadership, coaching and people development skills.
• Proven capability in risk management, problem solving, decision-making and organisational leadership.
• The ability to influence at all levels across a complex stakeholder environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead a multi-disciplined team responsible for safety, operations, maintenance, asset management and systems activities.
• Delivering high standards of operational performance, compliance and asset reliability across the BritNed network.
• Ensuring robust asset health strategies and maintenance plans are in place to maximise long-term asset availability.
• Driving a culture of continuous improvement, operational excellence and learning across the business.
• Leading and motivating teams through change, setting clear direction and building a high-performance culture.
• Working closely with colleagues across National Grid Ventures, TenneT and external partners to share best practice and deliver business objectives.
• Overseeing system and cyber investment plans, ensuring compliance with NIS-R, NIS2, CER and Critical National Infrastructure requirements.
• Providing leadership during operational incidents and emergency response situations, undertaking command roles when required.
• Managing significant operational and maintenance budgets while identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
• Building strong relationships with regulators, suppliers, contractors and Joint Venture stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Decision making

People development

Education

HNC or equivalent engineering qualification

Job description

About the role

At National Grid, we're at the heart of the energy transition. Through our interconnectors, we're helping to deliver secure, affordable and sustainable electricity across borders, supporting millions of homes and businesses.

We're looking for an exceptional leader to join BritNed, the 1GW interconnector linking Great Britain and the Netherlands. As a 50:50 Joint Venture between National Grid and TenneT, BritNed operates as a standalone business with an outstanding record for safety, reliability and availability since entering service in 2011.

We're recruiting for a Head of Converter Operations & Maintenance, within this role, you'll play a critical leadership role in ensuring the safe, reliable and efficient operation of our converter station assets across both the UK and the Netherlands. Leading highly skilled operational, maintenance, asset management and systems teams, you'll drive operational excellence while shaping the future performance and capability of one of Europe's most important energy infrastructure assets.

The role will be based onsite our interconnector at the Isle of Grain, so you must live a commutable distance of site to be considered.

What you'll do

Reporting to the Operations Director, you'll provide strategic, operational and people leadership across the Converter Operations & Maintenance function.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading a multi-disciplined team responsible for safety, operations, maintenance, asset management and systems activities.
• Delivering high standards of operational performance, compliance and asset reliability across the BritNed network.
• Ensuring robust asset health strategies and maintenance plans are in place to maximise long-term asset availability.
• Driving a culture of continuous improvement, operational excellence and learning across the business.
• Leading and motivating teams through change, setting clear direction and building a high-performance culture.
• Working closely with colleagues across National Grid Ventures, TenneT and external partners to share best practice and deliver business objectives.
• Overseeing system and cyber investment plans, ensuring compliance with NIS-R, NIS2, CER and Critical National Infrastructure requirements.
• Providing leadership during operational incidents and emergency response situations, undertaking command roles when required.
• Managing significant operational and maintenance budgets while identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
• Building strong relationships with regulators, suppliers, contractors and Joint Venture stakeholders.

What you'll need

We're looking for a proven operational leader with the ability to inspire teams, influence stakeholders and make sound decisions in a technically complex environment.

You’ll ideally have:

• Significant experience leading large, multi-disciplinary engineering or operational teams.
• Minimum HNC or equivalent qualification in an engineering discipline.
• Strong experience operating within critical infrastructure, energy, utilities, transmission or industrial environments.
• A solid understanding of HVDC systems, high-voltage assets, substations and/or subsea cable systems.
• Experience managing high-value contracts, suppliers and strategic stakeholder relationships.
• Demonstrable success leading safety-first cultures and driving operational excellence.
• Strong commercial awareness and experience managing substantial operational budgets.
• Excellent leadership, coaching and people development skills.
• Proven capability in risk management, problem solving, decision-making and organisational leadership.
• The ability to influence at all levels across a complex stakeholder environment.

What you’ll get

A competitive salary between £76,000 - £95,000 per annum - dependent on capability.

As well as your base salary, you will receive a bonus based on personal and company performance and a competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%. You will also have access to a number of flexible benefits such as a share incentive plan, salary sacrifice car and technology schemes, support via employee assistance lines and matched charity giving to name a few.

More Information

This role closes on 29th October 2026 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.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for all. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates - we make appointments purely on merit, assessed against objective selection criteria. We support flexible working and will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process should you have any physical or mental impairment which may affect your ability to participate in the process.

Please note that in most cases, National Grid is unable to offer sponsorship for employment under the UK points-based immigration system. As such, applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship now or in the future under the UK points-based immigration system. However, in exceptional circumstances where there is a clear and demonstrable need for specialist skills that cannot be sourced from the local labour market, National Grid may consider offering sponsorship. All applications are welcome from candidates who meet these requirements, regardless of race, nationality, or ethnic origin.