Senior Policy & Change Lead - NESO

National Grid; Warwick; Hybrid; GBP 62,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

An energy system operator in the UK is seeking a Connections Senior Policy & Change Lead to drive policy changes essential for connecting generation and demand to the energy network. This role requires strong analytical thinking, communication, and project management skills. You will work closely with stakeholders and draft key materials to support the connections journey. The position offers a competitive salary, flexible working arrangements, and opportunities for professional growth, contributing to a sustainable energy future.

Benefits

Competitive salary and bonus

26 days annual leave

Contributory pension scheme

Qualifications

• Desirable experience in developing policy changes and working in a major program environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication to diverse audiences.
• Understanding of legal and regulatory parameters relevant to connections projects.

Responsibilities

• Identify and develop the policy changes needed for Connections Reform.
• Collaborate with a diverse team to deliver the reform agenda.
• Draft internal and external materials to support customer connections.

Skills

Analytical Thinking

Communication and Stakeholder Engagement

Project Management

Tools

Excel

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.

The GB Connections process is undergoing significant transformation to enable the government’s Clean Power by 2030 target. In December 2024, NESO published policy proposals that would revolutionise how customers connect to the grid.

The Policy & Change team is responsible for turning the new design into operational reality. Sitting between Strategy, Change Delivery, Operational Teams and IT, we translate policy and strategic frameworks into robust processes that can be easily understood and used by our customers and operational colleagues. We work with Networks partners (Transmission & Distribution) and ensure NESO’s customers are engaged throughout the process.

As a Connections Senior Policy & Change Lead, you’ll be based within the Transmission Policy Change team within the Connections Directorate that manages the connection of generation and demand to GB’s high voltage electricity network. You’ll therefore be at the forefront of accelerating the energy transition to net zero.

This role can be based from Wokingham, Warwick or Glasgow, and we continue to offer hybrid working from office and home. We are open to full time and part time applicants, as well as flexible working arrangements.

About us

National Energy System Operator’s (NESO) mission is to facilitate the decarbonisation of Great Britain’s energy network and ensure the delivery of reliable, affordable, and clean electricity for consumers. We work with stakeholders across the whole energy industry to plan for future network needs, using a wider adoption of technology and changes in consumer behaviour, as well as ensuring we have the right markets, networks, and frameworks in place, to transform the way we operate tomorrow.

Join us, and let’s energise progress.

energy, our future, together.

About the National Energy System Operator (NESO)

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.

The ESO, 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.

Key Accountabilities

• As a Connections Senior Policy & Change Lead you will identify and develop the tactical policy changes needed to facilitate Connections Reform and CP30.
• You will work closely with internal and external stakeholders. You will lead on planning, coordinating and implementing these tactical changes.
• You will lead and embed the the agreed principles to carry out readiness checks, land rights and planning status checks as set out the the Gate 2 criteria of the Connections Design Methodology.
• You will collaborate across the program with a wide and diverse team to deliver the reform agenda and embed continuous improvement.
• You will train, support and facilitate learning across the policy team to embed best practice in delivering readiness checks.
• As required, you will draft internal materials such as SOPs, guidance notes, training material, and external materials such as customer webinar packs, inputs into customer newsletters and guidance to support customers through their connections journey.
• You will identify future gaps, identify the actions needed to resolve, develop and manage the plans, deliver papers and briefing notes for senior decision-makers. You will help NESO’s external stakeholders understand the progress of Connections Reform through simple and compelling communication.
• You will be curious, proactive, able to join up the dots, with excellent problem-solving, presentation skills and high quality written and verbal communication.

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 with:

Technical knowledge (desirable but not essential)

• Knowledge of arrangements for connecting major generation and demand to the network
• Significant experience in developing Policy changes and working in a major program environment and ideally, with experience of Transmission Electricity Network Development.
• Understanding of and knowledge of the legal and regulatory parameters that NESO work within, including the range of statutory powers available, understanding how these then relate to the relevant connections project strategy and approach.
• Desirable - knowledge of the consenting regimes and land rights processes relevant to complex projects. This includes the Planning Act (2008) Development Consent Order and Compulsory Purchase Order processes, Option Agreements and land routes available to connect.

Analytical Thinking:

• Proven ability to use quantitative and qualitative evidence to develop a thoughtful and independent viewpoint.
• Ability to analyse and present complex issues to audiences with varying levels of familiarity in power systems and power markets.
• Proficiency in the use of excel.

Communication and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Excellent written and verbal communication to a diverse audience including senior stakeholders internal and external.
• Excellent interpersonal, influencing and communication skills to ensure effective engagement with all relevant stakeholders (internally and externally) to gain buy in to deliver program objectives.
• Lead and own key relationships with network to delivery policy change initiatives and influence strategic direction of the change.

Project management

• Flexibility and agility to manage a wide range of issues at the same time and to prioritise use of resources.
• Own and accountable for identifying risks related to your portfolio of work and input into wider PMO documents promptly to a high standard.

What you'll get

A competitive salary between £62,000 - £70,000pa – 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%.

As we work towards creating a cleaner, greener, and more affordable future for all, we also work towards creating a place for our teammates to belong, with professional and personal growth and positive well-being.

• Full support and career-development resources to expand your skills, enhance your expertise, and maximise your potential along your career journey.
• A diverse and inclusive community of belonging, where teammates are empowered to bring ideas to the table.
• Flexibility in ways of working with a minimum of 1- 2 days at the Warwick office
• Generous Total Rewards Plan – comprising of health, finance and wealth, work/life balance, and career benefits.

More Information

This role closes on 22nd December 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.

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