National Energy System Operator
Sector Security Risk Lead
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About The Role
Reliable energy systems are fundamental to everyday life in Great Britain. They underpin homes, businesses, public services, and critical national infrastructure, and are essential to economic stability, public safety, and social wellbeing. As the energy system evolves through decarbonisation, increasing electrification, and greater interdependence across sectors, ensuring that it remains secure, reliable, and resilient is more important than ever.
Recent events, including the North Hyde substation fire and subsequent review, and the Iberian Peninsula blackout, have reinforced the importance of understanding and strengthening resilience across the whole energy system – not only today, but for the future.
The Whole Energy System Resilience (WESR) directorate strengthens whole-energy-system resilience by being a catalyst for change – turning insight into coordinated, prioritised action that reduces risk and builds capability across the system. WESR delivers this through analysis, assessments, reviews, emergency exercises, and plans that drive tangible improvements with our partners.
WESR Operates Through a Continuous Improvement Cycle That Includes
- Learning systematically about energy system risks and resilience
- Conducting prioritised assessments to generate insights and advice
- Translating insights into actions that drive tangible improvements
WESR is building its capability to maintain a strategic, system-wide view that integrates insights across all teams in the directorate and translates them into prioritised risks, workplans, and engagement strategies. This enables each team to focus on developing deep expertise and excellence in a specialist area.
These specialised topics could focus on a combination of particular:
- Time horizons (short-, medium-, or long-term)
- Resilience capabilities (anticipation, resistance, response, or recovery)
- Energy system elements (electricity, gas, or cross-vector systems)
We are looking for a sector security risk lead to identify, assess, and make recommendations to mitigate security risks across the energy sector, working across the Sector Security team and wider Energy System Risk and Resilience teams.
This is a hybrid role based out of Warwick, Wokingham or Glasgow, with travel to the other two on occasion. We are open to flexible-working.
This role is designated as requiring a National Security Vetting (NSV) clearance. You will usually need to have been a resident in the UK for the last five years to apply for the required level of clearance.
Key Accountabilities
This is a varied role, and the successful candidate will be expected to work flexibly and collaboratively across organisational boundaries as required. Reporting to the Sector Security Manager, key accountabilities include:
- Working collaboratively with a team of experts to identify, assess and make recommendations to mitigate security risks across the energy sector.
- Leading the application of risk management methodologies and frameworks, integrating insights from multiple specialist disciplines to produce a coherent view of whole-system risk.
- Leading the delivery of risk assessments and deep-dive reviews across the energy system to identify, assess and prioritise security and resilience risks and develop evidence-based recommendations.
- Working with stakeholders across industry, Government and NESO to identify systemic, interdependent and cascading risks affecting the energy system, including supply chain, technology and operational dependencies.
- Translating complex technical, operational and strategic issues into risk-based insights that inform decision-making, prioritisation and resilience outcomes.
- Supporting teams across the Whole Energy System Resilience Directorate to embed risk-informed approaches and improve whole energy system resilience.
- Working with Government and regulatory stakeholders to understand policy, regulatory and strategic developments that may affect the security and resilience of the energy system.
- Providing oversight and coordination of information, advice and recommendations provided to Ofgem, DESNZ and other external stakeholders.
- Supporting the development and continuous improvement of risk methodologies, assessment approaches and analytical frameworks.
- Supporting the delivery of licence conditions and strategic programmes related to security, resilience and risk management.
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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
We are seeking an experienced leader with a strong background in the energy sector, risk management, and stakeholder engagement.
The Successful Candidate Will
- Have significant experience working within the energy sector, with a strong understanding of whole-system interdependencies and interactions across the energy landscape.
- Demonstrate extensive experience in the application of risk management principles, frameworks and methodologies, including the identification, assessment, prioritisation and communication of strategic and operational risks.
- Have experience translating complex technical, operational and strategic issues into risk-based insights and recommendations that inform decision-making and improve resilience outcomes.
- Possess a strong understanding of Critical National Infrastructure risks and resilience, with experience applying structured approaches to risk identification, assessment and mitigation.
- Have a working knowledge of security, resilience and Critical National Infrastructure risks, supported by expertise in one or more of the following areas:
- Risk management and resilience frameworks
- Energy infrastructure and operational technology
- Cyber security
- Physical security
- National security
- Demonstrate experience applying risk management methodologies and integrating insights from multiple specialist disciplines to produce a coherent view of whole-system risk.
- Be passionate about the energy sector and supporting the transition to Net Zero.
- Have experience working with a broad range of stakeholders, including industry participants, Government departments, regulators and other strategic partners.
- Demonstrate strategic leadership and influencing skills, with the ability to build consensus, shape thinking and drive outcomes across organisational and sector boundaries.
- Be a strong communicator, with excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to present complex information clearly and concisely to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Demonstrate strong analytical and critical-thinking skills, applying sound judgement to balance risk, resilience, opportunity and consumer value considerations.
- Hold, or be willing to obtain, National Security Clearance.
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What You'll Get
- A competitive salary of circa £60,000 - £67,000 dependent on experience and capability
- 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:
- 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 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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