Lead Data Steward - NESO

National Grid; Warwick; Hybrid; GBP 48,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

A key player in energy management, located in Warwick, seeks a passionate Lead Data Steward to enhance data governance and management practices. You will engage with various stakeholders to improve data quality, ensure compliance, and support the organization’s data vision. This role offers a competitive salary ranging from £48,000 to £72,000, bonus eligibility, and a flexible hybrid working model.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Bonus based on company performance

26 days annual leave

Contributory pension scheme

Qualifications

• Passionate about data management and delivering customer-focused solutions.
• Excellent communicator with strong interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage senior stakeholders effectively.

Responsibilities

• Engage with data owners for data governance and management.
• Provide guidance on best practices for data handling.
• Drive improvements in data quality and compliance.

Skills

Data management

Interpersonal skills

Stakeholder management

Data governance practices

Cross-functional team collaboration

Job description

About the role

The National Energy System Operator (NESO) is an independent body responsible for planning Great Britain’s electricity and gas networks and operating the electricity system, but that is not all we do.

As the UK moves towards its 2050 net zero target, NESO has a vital part to play. We want to operate a zero‑carbon electricity system some of the time by 2025 and run on clean green electricity all of the time by 2030. It is an ambitious goal and it’s not too far away…

Data is key to achieving this and as a Lead Data Steward you will drive forward our Data Vision to become a Digital Leader to utilise the power of data and innovation, providing internal and external stakeholders with trusted data, centrally held, easy to understand and integrated with our data products and services.

Trusted data allows our business and the industry the means to innovate and exploit this data to create new tools and insight that will enable decarbonisation.

Your passion for educating others on data management practices together with an enthusiasm for driving improvement of our data quality and processes will help create the foundations needed to achieve our ambitious goals, ensuring we keep the lights on for Great Britain’s electricity consumers and forge the path to a sustainable future for everyone.

This role is based in Warwick or Wokingham. We offer hybrid flexible working between the office and home. Candidates are expected to work a minimum of two days a week in the office, and must be willing to travel between our office locations in Great Britain from time to time.

If this role excites you and you do not have all the knowledge or skillsets, please still apply, additional support and/or training will be considered for the right applicant.

Key Accountabilities

• Proactively engage with data owners to be their data partner to ensure compliance around data management, governance, cataloguing, monitoring, sharing, and improving the quality of their data.
• Proactively engage with projects and stakeholders in directorates to understand their key business processes and the flow of data, to identify critical data and how it is used in NESO, as well as provide advice about data best practices in projects and processes.
• Working together in a central team, act as a key contact to provide advice, guidance and training to the business on all our data management policies, controls, and tooling.
• Manage and understand the data within a directorate working across business teams to drive data governance practices throughout the end‑to‑end data journey, identifying continuous improvement activities and monitoring progress.
• Provide ongoing input into the development of data governance practices and tooling to ensure they are fit for purpose for the business to operate. Work with the policy makers, IT, and delivery teams to deliver the solution.
• Develop and undertake the working practices and procedures to proactively manage Data Governance workflows that involve a centralised assessment or triage.
• Assist on the capture, curation, and consumption of metadata for data assets within NESO.
• Assist with data troubleshooting and signposting within the data governance and quality space.
• Represent Data, Digital & Technology (DD&T) directorate at internal and external events to confidently build and manage network of stakeholders.
• Proactively build and manage a network of stakeholders within the organisation.
• Organise and lead sessions with stakeholders to identify and mitigate data risks and upcoming challenges.

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:

• Is passionate about data and providing a solution‑based customer service.
• Can communicate well with excellent interpersonal skills.
• Has experience in senior stakeholder management, demonstrating authority and adaptability.
• Has knowledge of data governance practices and its importance in energy industry.
• Demonstrates solid experience of driving outcomes working with cross‑functional teams and various stakeholders, including data management, analytics, design/user experience, and user enablement.
• Shows the ability to adapt and re‑prioritise, work independently, show initiative, and problem‑solve in a timely manner.
• Demonstrates ability to deal with ambiguity at work.

About what you’ll get

A competitive salary between £48,000 – 72,000 – dependent on experience and capability.

As well as your base salary, you will receive a bonus based on company performance, 26 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%.

You will also have access to a comprehensive benefits package tailored to support your well‑being and professional success. From a competitive salary to flexible work arrangements, we promote your work‑life balance. Enjoy fit for purpose wellbeing and lifestyle offerings, ongoing skill development aligned to our Purpose and Values, and be part of a supportive community that values your individuality and where you can belong.

About us

The creation of National Energy System Operator (NESO) is driven by an urgent need to unify and optimise our approach to energy. A more integrated and coordinated strategy is needed to meet the unprecedented challenges of climate change, ensuring secure energy supply, and keeping costs manageable for consumers.

Join us and empower your potential, energise our team, and be part of something bigger. Your energy, our future, together.

About the National Energy System Operator (NESO) (External)

In Autumn of 2024, the ESO transitioned to National Energy System Operator, or NESO for short. Previously denoted as the Future System Operator (or FSO), the new National Energy System Operator is the independent body responsible for planning Great Britain’s electricity and gas networks and operating the electricity system.

NESO, including all of its existing roles, are now at the heart of the new National Energy System Operator. As NESO, we will build on our existing roles, capabilities, and ways of working significantly to create an organisation the energy system and its users’ need. Our new capabilities will enable us to look across vectors, including electricity, natural gas and hydrogen, and crucially consider the trade‑offs between them.

The organisation is set up as a public corporation with its own Board of independent directors, with complete operational independence from government, the regulator and any and all commercial interest. As was the ESO, NESO will be licenced and regulated by Ofgem through price control agreements and obligated to identify optimal solutions to system operations and planning in the most sustainable, affordable and secure way for all.

The time to deliver is now. As part of our team, you won’t just be touching the lives of almost everyone in Great Britain – you’ll be shaping the way we use and consume energy for generations to come.

More information

This role closes on 14/12/2025 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 work towards the highest standards in everything we do, including how we support, value and develop our people. Our aim is to encourage and support employees to thrive and be the best they can be. We celebrate the difference people can bring into our organisation, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and offer flexible and tailored support, at home and in the office.

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.