National Grid
Head of Operations

How your CV stacks up
Upload your CV to see how well it fits this job role
?%
Job Introduction
An opportunity is available for the Head of Operations role based at Alfreton. Reporting to the East Midlands Operations Director, you will be responsible for leading the Electricity Distribution Network in the East Midlands area, ensuring that it is developed, operated, and maintained efficiently and effectively in accordance with appropriate legislation, laid down policies, and standards.
Working within an established teamwork environment, you will be required to provide creative and innovative leadership to meet set targets and motivate your team to maintain consistently high levels of customer service.
Once established in the role, it offers a mix of office and home working with a minimum of 3-4 days in the office.
Main Responsibilities
- Lead, motivate, and develop operational Managers in effectively undertaking their duties.
- Set objectives, monitor, and drive performance and take accountability of Distribution activities in the Distribution Area.
- Co-ordinate the formulation of Capital and Revenue Budgets for the Distribution Area and to monitor and control expenditure of these budgets.
- Ensure that customers in the Distribution Area are provided with the highest standard of service commensurate with their needs and agreed standards.
- Ensure that all customer complaints in the Distribution Area are brought to a successful resolution.
- Ensure that the Distribution System is developed, operated, and maintained as efficiently and effectively as possible and in accordance with appropriate legislation, laid down policies, and standards.
- Promote good employee relations and to create an environment that motivates and encourages the development of individuals.
- Contribute to the development of engineering strategy, policy, and objectives.
- Develop individuals to lead in accordance with National Grid values and create a team environment that leads to successful output from the Depot.
- Successfully liaise with peers and key stakeholders, to lead to successful outcomes for the East Midlands business. This includes frequent contact with internal stakeholders such as other leaders within Field Operations and Asset Management, including the Control Centre. External stakeholders include Customers (large and small), in particular Engineering Managers of large consumers and representatives of contractors, up to Director level.
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
Start with a chat, not a search bar
Grad scheme, placement, apprenticeship? Not sure what you want yet — that's fine. Your agent talks it through with you and turns "I have no idea" into a shortlist.
Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
See breakdownIt searches the market for you
Every day your agent scans the market matching roles against what actually matters to you, not just keywords on a CV.
Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Complexity and Creativity
- Deal with a wide range of problems on a continuous basis. They range from technical through to personal, organizational, and customer-related issues to dealing with major system emergencies.
- Regularly support Team Managers on technical and organizational matters which will considerably influence their decisions and therefore the performance of the Distribution System and the Distribution Business.
- Regularly provide information in respect of the financial performance and the operating performance of the Distribution business in comparison with agreed objectives.
- In determining ways of improving performance and promoting change, to exercise a high degree of creativity and strategic vision.
Ideal Candidate
The successful candidate will be a strategic and forward-thinking operational leader with a proven track record of delivering results in complex environments. You will drive performance, continuous improvement, and long-term business success, while fostering a culture of accountability and high performance.
You Will Be Able To Demonstrate
- Effective leadership skills, with the ability to motivate and develop people by setting clear direction and building leadership capability.
- Significant experience leading and managing large teams across multiple locations, through periods of change, while driving engagement and maintaining performance.
- A proactive and visible leadership style, building strong working relationships through regular engagement across operational sites and office-based teams.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with customers, suppliers, and both internal and external stakeholders.
- Knowledge and experience of working within a regulated industry; experience within the electricity or utilities sector would be advantageous.
- Well-developed commercial and financial awareness, with experience managing operational budgets and using data and insight to balance customer outcomes, safety, performance, and cost efficiency.


Get help with your application
Your very own career expert that helps elevate your application to the next level.
A degree in Engineering, Leadership, Business Management, or an equivalent qualification is preferred but not essential. A recognized health and safety qualification, such as NEBOSH, would be highly desirable. We welcome candidates who demonstrate a strong commitment to safe working practices and who are keen to actively contribute to and promote our positive safety culture.
About Us
We’re National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED), the owner and operator behind the electricity distribution systems for the Midlands, the Southwest of England, and South Wales. Serving communities of more than 8 million people, our expert teams deliver heat, light, and power for homes and businesses.
National Grid employs over 29,000 people worldwide. We are building an inclusive workplace, a place to actively celebrate the cultures, personalities, and preferences of our colleagues – who in turn help to build the success of our business and reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. Our vision is to be at the heart of a clean, fair, and affordable energy future and we are doing this in a fast-moving industry with an increasing focus on tackling climate change, exploring new energy sources that are renewable, low carbon, and improve efficiency to meet demand.
“It took my CV and asked me questions relevant to understanding what kind of jobs to suggest for me. Suggestions were almost perfect. Jobs were exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
Jessica, London