National Energy System Operator
Innovation Process Lead
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About The Role
Innovation in NESO is about establishing a safe, collaborative space in which to explore higher-risk technologies and ways of working. Our innovation function works to foster and embed a culture of innovation in the business, while ensuring we stay focused on solving issues affecting the industry, customers, and energy consumers as well as our priority challenges. As the Innovation Process Lead, you will play a central role in helping NESO realise maximum value from its innovation portfolio and funding. With £95m of Network Innovation Allowance (NIA) funding available over the next five years, alongside access to up to £50m of Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) investment, it is essential that innovation activities are underpinned by clear, efficient, and measurable processes that enable robust governance, regulatory compliance, and informed decision-making.
You will support the development, embedding, and continuous improvement of the frameworks, processes, and tools that underpin the end-to-end innovation lifecycle. Working across the innovation team, wider NESO, and key stakeholders including Procurement, Legal, Data, and external partners, you will help ensure projects are effectively mobilised, governance requirements are understood and applied, and learning is systematically captured and fed back into future activities.
Through process ownership, stakeholder engagement, and continuous improvement, you will help create a consistent, scalable, and value-focused approach to innovation, enabling NESO to effectively manage investment, demonstrate impact, and accelerate the transition to a net zero energy system.
This role can be based from Wokingham or Warwick, 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.
Key Accountabilities
- Active role in the project setup process, through applying learnings and feedback to project design, ensuring governance needs are considered, and that the project setup/mobilisation process is adhered to
- Aware of governance and funding requirements, ensures NIA and SIF Regulatory Governance is adhered to, understood by relevant teams, and applied across our internal processes
- Supporting broader engagement with teams including legal, security, data, delivery, and procurement as part of the project setup process and ensuring alignment with the innovation team
- Responsible for the process of identifying and tracking learnings throughout the innovation pipeline, establishing feedback loops from completed projects, and driving actions required to effectively apply improvements, supported by stakeholders across and outside the team
- Ensuring any relevant customer feedback is captured and the learnings shared with, and implemented by, the wider team at key process stages
- Responsible for running internal workshops and regular engagement with internal teams to ensure risks and issues are identified, and necessary improvements made to processes, so that what we do stays fit for purpose operationally and in line with regulation (supported by Regulation Lead)
- Lead ongoing innovation platform development process; defining and applying a change management process, including tracking of improvement ideas and the decision governance framework
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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
Essential
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Demonstrable experience in the below:
- Stakeholder engagement – liaising with internal teams and external partners to develop processes and to gather and apply feedback
- Organisational and communication skills
- Process design and management experience
- Workshop facilitation
- Self-management – ability to manage competing priorities and change in a fast-paced environment
- An eye for detail and experience of drafting operating procedures and other documentation for a range of audiences
- Strong analytical, problem solving, and collaboration skills.
Desirable
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Understanding of NIA and SIF Governance
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Understanding of the GB Energy system
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Knowledge of the use and application of digital and AI solutions
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Educated to degree level in a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
What You'll Get
- A competitive salary of £50,500 - £55,500 dependent on experience and capability
- As well as your base salary, NESO's core benefits are the essential perks and advantages that form part of your employee package.
- You will receive a bonus based on company performance
- 26 days annual leave as standard
- A competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%.
- Annual Enrollment to NESO Savings Plan, when you save between £20- £500 a month from your take-home pay, we will pay a 50% matching contribution.
Benefits
NESO's flexible benefits programme provides you with more flexibility around your health, lifestyle, and protection benefits, here's just a few available:
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- 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 thinking, 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 the 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 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. If this role sparks your interest but you're not sure you tick every box, we still want to hear from you.
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