RESP Manager- West Midlands

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.

At NESO we are recruiting for the team to lead and develop our new Regional Energy Strategic Planning (RESP) role. It’s a great opportunity to join us as we set out to help decarbonise the GB in a local community-based way.

The RESP will ensure energy networks are regionally coordinated across fuel vectors, geographies and with national energy plans. The purpose of this is to ensure more coordinated and efficient delivery of local infrastructure projects including housing and business, speed up the delivery of local decarbonisation plans and ensure that investment reflects local priorities. 

We’re looking for someone to lead the RESP team in the creation and implementation of the planning capability for West Midlands Region. The RESP team need a wide range of knowledge and experience that are unlikely to be found in a single individual. The range of knowledge and experience we are looking for is:

• Team leadership experience, with a proven track record of fostering a collaborative culture across teams.
• Understanding and experience of whole system energy planning especially at a Local Authority, Gas or Electricity Distribution network level. 
• Significant experience of stakeholder engagement, in particular with government, local authorities and stakeholders in the West Midlands Energy system.
• Experience of leading complex projects
• An appreciation of the different systems and data used in energy planning and the challenges that this can present.
• An understanding of the interactions between energy markets and asset investment and the economics that drive investment decisions across the energy landscape.

This role will be based in our Warwick office. NESO offer hybrid working from office and home and we are open to full time and part time applicants, as well as flexible working arrangements. 

Key Accountabilities 

As we are setting up the RESP capabilities the immediate accountabilities of this role will change as we develop RESP from the enduring accountabilities

Immediate accountabilities

• Lead on Regional Energy Strategic planning for West Midlands, in line with RESP methodology. 
• Lead a small team working on RESP development in West Midlands and contributing to the design and implementation of new GB wide RESP capabilities.
• Act as an integral member of our RESP management team, supporting the delivery of NESO’s culture and values across our dispersed nations and regions teams.
• Understand how local energy projects, trials and pilots in West Midlands interact with RESP and ensure new RESP processes are designed with local inputs at the heart. 
• Build relationships with local stakeholders to understand their priorities for RESP and ensure these are reflected in the RESP design.
• Support RESP process, system and data development.

Medium term responsibilities

• Deliver an enduring, whole system RESP delivery approach for West Midlands, consistent with GB wide RESP processes. 
• Deliver RESP governance for West Midlands (a Strategic Board and Working Groups), working closely alongside the West Midlands Strategic Board Chair
• Develop RESP products for West Midlands, working collaboratively with GB wide teams, including a West Midlands Regional Context, Pathways, Strategic Investment Need and Spatial Context.
• Deliver RESP stakeholder engagement activities.
• Deliver Local Actor Support to stakeholders with barriers to engagement.
• Work with stakeholders, regional and national, to resolve any planning conflicts for the region.

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’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 who: 

• Demonstrates a collaborative and inclusive leadership style, reinforcing a culture of collaboration and shared goals across the RESP and the wider NESO community.
• Is passionate about decarbonisation and delivering net-zero through working with local communities and energy networks. 
• Can build strong and effective relationships with external and internal stakeholders that are maintained through periods of change and differences of opinion.
• Understands and is passionate about delivering an energy plan for West Midlands that meets West Midlands’ needs whilst working with other nations and regions and the NESO central team to ensure a consistency in approach.

What You'll Get

A competitive salary of £70,000 - £80,000 dependent on experience and capabilityAs well as your base salary, you will receive a bonus of up to 15% of your salary for stretch performance, 28 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%.

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

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. If this role sparks your interest but you're not sure you tick every box, we still want to hear from you. 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.