Power System Technical Operations and Performance Manager

National Energy System Operator Limited; Wokingham; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible holidays

Birthday day off

Cycle to work

Retail discounts

Gym discounts

Private medical insurance

Critical illness insurance

Personal accident insurance

Job summary

National Energy System Operator Limited is seeking a Power System Operations and Performance Manager to lead a team of around 11 technical experts. You’ll oversee system performance reporting, incident investigations and operational procedures while translating complex technical details for senior decision-makers.

The role emphasises collaboration with NESO and industry bodies, with a digital-first approach to data and tools.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading technical teams.
• Strong understanding of energy sector operations.
• Ability to communicate with senior stakeholders.
• Digital-first mindset focused on data/tools improvement.
• Clear, direct communication and resilience.
• Experience with automation/AI-enabled tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead and motivate a team of 11–12 technical specialists.
• Own the team’s output on system performance reporting and investigations.
• Represent NESO in senior stakeholder discussions, translating technical detail for decisions.
• Build strong relationships across NESO, transmission owners and industry bodies.
• Drive continuous improvement using technology and data in reporting and analysis.
• Ensure reporting obligations meet statutory/regulatory requirements.
• Explore automation/AI opportunities with appropriate governance.

Skills

Team leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Energy systems knowledge

Data & reporting

Automation & AI

Communication

Job description

About the Role

Britain’s energy system is going through the biggest change in its history, and the team you’d be leading sits right at the centre of it — watching how the system actually performs, investigating when things don’t go to plan, and making sure the lessons get fed back into how we operate. As a Power System Operations and Performance Manager, you’d lead a team of around 11 technical experts who provide technical advice and guidance across the operation, capability and connection of transmission assets, investigate operational events, and report on system performance. Your job isn’t to do that work yourself — it’s to give the team clear direction, support and guidance to make sure their insight lands with the people who need to act on it, inside and outside NESO. We’re looking for a leader — someone with a solid grasp of energy sector requirements who’s genuinely curious about the technical detail without needing to have written it themselves, and who knows how to bring a team of specialists together, build their confidence, and get the best out of them. A digital-first mindset matters too: you’ll be thinking about how the team’s tools, data and reporting can keep pace with a system that’s changing fast. Your role is to provide effective leadership and direction, you will be supported to develop the operational detail; rather than being expected to have the same level of technical expertise as your team from day one. This is a newly established Operational Risk & Excellence function, giving you the opportunity to shape how the team operates, build its identity and ways of working, and establish strong relationships across NESO and the wider industry. This role is based in Wokingham, and we continue to offer hybrid working from office and home, with the specific split determined by business needs. 2-3 days a week on site will be required. We are open to full time and part time applicants, as well as flexible working arrangements. This role is designated as requiring a National Security Vetting (NSV) clearance. The level of clearance associated with the role is Security Check (SC). You will usually need to have been a resident in the UK for the last five years to apply for an SC clearance.

Key accountabilities

• Lead, develop and motivate a team of 11–12 technical specialists, setting direction and creating the conditions for them to do their best work
• Own the team’s output on system performance reporting, incident investigation and operational business procedures — checking it’s rigorous, timely, and actually useful to the people who receive it
• Represent NESO on operational matters and system events with senior stakeholders, both internally and externally, translating technical detail into something decision makers can act on
• Build strong working relationships across NESO, transmission owners, generators and industry bodies, acting as a trusted point of contact on operational issues
• Drive continuous improvement in how the team works — including how technology and data are used to make reporting and analysis more efficient
• Ensure the team meets its statutory and regulatory reporting obligations, without letting that become the whole job
• Explore and introduce opportunities to use automation and AI to improve analysis, reporting and team efficiency, while ensuring appropriate governance and oversight
• 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

• Proven experience leading, developing and performance -managing teams, ideally teams of specialists or technical experts — you know how to unite people around a shared purpose and get them performing at their best
• A strong understanding of energy sector— a background in electricity system operation is useful but not essential, and you’ll be fully supported to build technical knowledge on the job
• Comfortable engaging credibly with senior stakeholders and technical experts alike, and confident enough to ask good questions rather than needing to know all the answers yourself
• A digital-first mindset — genuinely interested in how better tools and data can improve how a team works, not just tolerant of change
• Clear, direct communication skills, with the judgement to know what matters and what doesn’t
• Resilient and comfortable operating in a fast-changing environment, where priorities shift as the energy system evolves
• Experience of using, implementing or championing automation and AI-enabled tools to improve processes, reporting or decision‑making — you don’t need to be a technical expert, but you should understand their potential and be confident helping a team adopt them effectively

What You'll Get

A competitive salary of £60,000 - £90,000 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%.

• 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

More Information

This role closes at 23:59, on the date displayed on the top of this advert.

Interviews will be held Interviews are currently planned to take place on 25th September.

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.

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