natgridProd
Director of Strategic Demand
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Strategic Demand Director
About Us
The electricity network is undergoing its largest transformation in decades. National Grid sits at the heart of the clean energy transition and economic growth agenda, with a key enabling role for ~30 GW of strategically important demand, such as data centres and the UK Government’s AI Growth Zones (AIGZ).
Job Purpose
The Strategic Demand Director leads National Grid’s strategic demand and AIGZ agenda end-to-end, acting as the senior point of coordination between:
- External stakeholders (e.g., Government departments, customers, and industry bodies)
- Internal National Grid Electricity Transmission (NGET) teams
Externally, the role shapes and influences the policy, regulatory, and stakeholder environment to accelerate strategic outcomes. Internally, it convenes and coordinates across the wider NGET business to:
- Align strategy, governance, prioritisation, and delivery
- Provide executive-level insight, briefings, and recommendations
- Translate complex technical, regulatory, and delivery issues into clear strategic decisions and measurable outcomes
Key Accountabilities
Strategy & Direction
- Set the strategic demand direction by defining outcomes, priorities, and delivery pathways for high-impact demand (e.g., AI Growth Zones, data centres, and other nationally significant loads), aligned with business strategy and system planning.
Stakeholder & Policy Influence
- Build and sustain senior-level strategic relationships with Government departments, regulators, and industry stakeholders to influence AIGZ outcomes, policy decisions, and secure alignment on strategic demand priorities.
- Represent National Grid in high-profile forums such as the AI Energy Council and Grid Connections Working Group, driving action through cross-functional working groups.
External Engagement & thought leadership
- Lead senior external engagement with Government departments, customer executives, and industry bodies to shape policy, regulation, and incentives that accelerate strategic demand connections.
- Provide strategic briefings to senior executives and government officials, translating complex technical, regulatory, and delivery issues into clear, compelling insights and recommendations.
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Project & Programme Leadership
- Lead the strategic development and execution of AI Growth Zones and connection delivery projects, ensuring timely and scalable grid connections for high-priority data centre developments, while managing customer and stakeholder expectations.
- Shape and implement the Strategic Demand Triage Process, Connections Acceleration Service, and future government-led initiatives, including piloting and scaling fast-track connection models for strategic demand customers.
Integration & Coordination
- Integrate strategic demand into core industry processes such as Strategic Spatial Energy Planning (SSEP) and Centralised Strategic Network Plan (CSNP), coordinating with NESO for a unified national transmission network development pathway.
- Convene and coordinate policy and regulatory expertise across the National Grid Group, building consensus on key policy issues and industry consultations.
Innovation & Problem-Solving
- Initiate, coordinate, and deliver targeted interventions to unblock barriers, mitigate challenges, and maximise opportunities in meeting strategic demand ambitions.
- Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to assess, trial, and scale innovative connection products for strategic demand projects.
- Shape locational strategy for demand connections, ensuring optimal siting relative to network capacity and planning constraints.
Candidate Profile
Essential Experience & Skills
- Significant experience in leading complex, cross-functional programmes with:
- Multiple stakeholders
- High uncertainty
- Material reputational and delivery risk
- Knowledge of leading change and driving best practice within large, complex organisations.
- Deep understanding of:
- Electricity transmission systems and grid connection processes
- Regulatory frameworks applicable to strategic demand
- Proven experience in leading strategic infrastructure programmes, particularly in:
- Data centres
- AI development
- Large-scale demand growth
- Strong policy acumen, including experience:
- Engaging with Government departments
- Shaping national initiatives related to energy transitions
- Ability to communicate engineering decision-making and trade-offs in accessible terms to external stakeholders.
- Familiarity with strategic energy planning initiatives, such as:
- RES (RES Net Zero), SSEP (Strategic Spatial Energy Planning), and CSNP (Centralised Strategic Network Plan)
- How strategic demand requirements flow into planning assumptions and delivery pathways.
- Experience in developing and implementing innovative connection products and commercial models.
- Exceptional stakeholder management skills, demonstrating cross-sector collaboration.
- Strong analytical and strategic thinking, able to translate complex technical issues into actionable policy and delivery plans.
- High-IQ communicator with experience influencing at executive levels and representing organisations externally.
- Knowledge of programme governance, risk management, and performance tracking.
- Awareness of emerging technologies and trends, including:
- Digital infrastructure
- AI data centre trends
- Energy systems evolution
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More Information
- Location: Role will be based in Warwick, with average on-site presence of ~3 days per week.
- Salary: Competitive base salary plus commensurate benefits.
- Closing Date: Tuesday 14th July 2026, at 23:59 BST.
Diversity, Inclusion & Flexibility
We value diversity and are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace. All suitably qualified candidates are welcome, regardless of background. We make appointments purely on merit based on objective selection criteria, and flexible working options are available throughout the recruitment process.
Employees Rights & Visa Sponsorship
- In most cases, National Grid cannot sponsor employment under the UK points-based immigration system.
- Only applicants with legal right to work in the UK will be considered. However, in exceptional circumstances, the company may consider visa sponsorship if the role requires specialist, locally unobtainable skills.
Applications from candidates meeting eligibility requirements are encouraged, regardless of nationality or ethnic origin.
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