Senior Manager- Demand Connections

National Energy System Operator; Warwick; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits allowance

Bonus up to 20% of salary

Private medical insurance

28 days annual leave

Pension – double match up to 12%

Job summary

National Energy System Operator (NESO) seeks a Senior Manager- Demand Connections to lead the UK demand connections portfolio, coordinate with DNOs, TOs and government bodies, and drive reforms to accelerate connections.

This role focuses on delivering the CP30 agenda, cross‑functional leadership, risk management, and building an inclusive, high‑performing team, with a competitive salary and benefits.

Qualifications

• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and think strategically.
• Proven track record of building diverse, inclusive, high-performing teams.
• Ability to navigate complex stakeholder landscapes and diff views.
• Experience in driving continuous improvement and change management.
• Influence with senior stakeholders and customers.

Responsibilities

• Deliver UK demand connections portfolio across lifecycle.
• Support CP30 and government priorities through operational plans.
• Lead engagement with DESNZ, Ofgem, TOs and DNOs.
• Manage risk across demand connections including constraints.
• Build and lead a high-performing team.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Change management

Team leadership

Energy market knowledge

Job description

About The Role

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.

Due to continuous growth, we are looking for a Senior Manager- Demand Connections to join us at NESO. The Senior Manager- Demand Connections will be responsible for leading the delivery of the UK demand connections portfolio while enabling the government’s demand acceleration agenda and Clean Power 2030, ensuring critical projects are connected at pace through effective coordination across customers, DNOs, TOs, and the wider system as well as implementing continuous process improvement so the connections process delivers better outcomes for customers and consumers.

Key Responsibilities

• Accountable for the delivery of the UK demand connections portfolio and DNOs embedded generation portfolio across the full lifecycle, including application intake, assessment, agreement development, offer issuance, and contract management.
• Ensure delivery directly supports government-led Demand Acceleration programmes and the Clean Power 2030 (CP30) ambition, enabling timely connection of critical demand and DNO embedded generation projects.
• Translate government priorities (e.g. CP30, industrial decarbonisation, hyperscaler growth) into operational delivery plans and prioritisation frameworks.
• Provide senior oversight of strategic demand customers, including hyperscalers, major industrial users, and government-priority projects.
• Establish and lead a consistent approach to DNO engagement and relationship management, recognising DNOs as critical partners in enabling demand connections.
• Act as a senior leader in implementing connections reform, ensuring demand-side requirements are fully embedded alongside generation.
• Lead senior engagement with DESNZ, Ofgem, TOs, DNOs, major demand customers, and industry bodies.
• Build and lead a high-performing, resilient and inclusive team, capable of delivering under significant demand growth and reform pressures.
• Own and manage risks across the demand connections portfolio, including:
• Network constraints and reinforcement dependencies across transmission and distribution
• Uncertainty in demand pipeline and customer readiness
• Cross-party dependencies (TOs, DNOs, policy, system planning)
• Lead senior engagement with DESNZ, Ofgem, TOs, DNOs, major demand customers, and industry bodies.

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

• A proven ability to provide direction, think strategically, drive changes and deliver through others.
• A proven ability to create and lead high‑performing teams that embrace diversity and inclusion, foster a strong sense of belonging, and promote innovation, wellbeing, and resilience.
• Strong capability in addressing complex, cross‑functional or cross‑organisational challenges, working collaboratively with stakeholders and constructively navigating differing views and opinions.
• Demonstrated leadership in driving continuous improvement, bringing creative and innovative ideas to the forefront and delivering measurable improvements in efficiency and effective change management.
• Recognised thought leadership, with the ability to influence and engage a broad range of internal and external senior stakeholders and customers.
• A strong track record of building, maintaining, and leveraging effective relationships with diverse stakeholder groups, including representing NESO at external events and engaging with customers at a senior level.
• Strong understanding of energy market structures and the associated regulatory and governance frameworks

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At NESO, we are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace for everyone. So, if you’re excited about this role but your experience or qualifications don’t match the job description exactly, we encourage you to apply anyway. You might just be the right person for our growing business in this role or another one.

What You'll Get

A competitive salary of £80,000 - £90,000 dependent on experience and capabilityAs well as your base salary, you will receive a benefits allowance, a bonus of up to 20% of your salary for stretch performance, private medical insurance, 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%.

Benefits

• 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.