Head of Projects

National Grid; Weston-super-Mare; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in electricity distribution is seeking a Head of Projects to manage the Primary distribution systems and Major Projects. This senior role involves overseeing capital investment, leading operational teams, and ensuring compliance with high safety and service standards, with a focus on long-term strategic planning.

Qualifications

• Proven leader with experience in project, programme, or portfolio management.
• Subject matter expert in project management methodologies.
• Experience managing large engineering and construction teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of Managers and operational functions.
• Manage all major capital projects/programmes end-to-end.
• Ensure high-quality service to customers in the Distribution Area.

Skills

Leadership

Project Management

Data Analysis

Job description

Job Introduction

An opportunity is available for a Head of Projects.

In this role, you will be responsible for managing the Primary distribution systems and Major Projects within our South West Electricity Distribution area.

You will manage the portfolio of investment and regulated funding across all projects and programmes end-to-end, ensuring deliverables meet or exceed stakeholder expectations. This includes forward planning 10 years ahead, covering all project functions from mobilisation, design, build, commissioning, and benefits realisation. Responsibilities also include operational programmes, such as faults, which need to be developed, operated, and maintained efficiently and effectively, in accordance with legislation, policies, and standards.

As the Head of Projects, you will work closely with the PMO to ensure alignment with project delivery practices and methodologies within the business. Each region has a Major Projects capital spend exceeding 0.5 billion GBP over the next 5 years.

The role's base location is preferably Redruth, Bodmin, Exeter, Weston Super Mare, but Taunton and Bristol are also considered. This will be agreed with the successful candidate.

This role offers a hybrid working approach, combining office and home working, which is subject to business needs and initial training completion.

Main Responsibilities

• Engage, motivate, and lead a team of Managers and operational functions.
• Set objectives, monitor performance, and control primary Distribution activities in the region.
• Ensure high-quality service to customers in the Distribution Area.
• Coordinate formulation of Capital and Revenue Budgets, and monitor expenditure.
• Drive a safety culture.
• Manage all major capital projects/programmes end-to-end, ensuring delivery against time, cost, and quality targets.
• Review, design, sign-off, and implement new operational models.
• Implement best practice governance and controls in partnership with the PMO.
• Translate high-level business plans into operational delivery plans, making decisions on insourcing versus outsourcing.
• Manage project lifecycle, from appointing project leaders to project closure.
• Define Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) and support schedule creation across all programme types.
• Track projects against time, cost, quality, contractual, and regulatory requirements, including forecasting, baseline scheduling, resource loading, estimating costs to complete, and lessons learned.
• Ensure effective Risk, Issue, and Opportunity Management.
• Embed governance, compliance, and performance reporting processes.
• Monitor programme compliance with contractual obligations.
• Champion best practices and consistency across the matrix organization.

Ideal Candidate

• Proven leader with experience in project, programme, or portfolio management, leading teams effectively.
• Subject matter expert in project management methodologies, with experience in planning large capital infrastructure projects, ideally with data analysis skills.
• Experience in the electricity, energy, or regulated industries is advantageous but not essential.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders in matrix and non-matrix environments, including customers, partners, and suppliers.
• Exceptional leadership skills, with experience managing large engineering and construction teams, both insourced and outsourced.

National Grid Electricity Distribution is committed to safeguarding interests and is subject to background checks, including DBS screening, depending on the role.

About Us

We’re National Grid Electricity Distribution, responsible for the electricity systems in the Midlands, Southwest England, and South Wales, serving over 8 million people. Our teams deliver heat, light, and power for homes and businesses.

With over 29,000 employees worldwide, we foster an inclusive workplace that celebrates diversity and aims for a sustainable, affordable energy future, focusing on renewable, low-carbon energy sources to meet growing demand.