Flexibility Strategy and Delivery Lead

About the Role

At NESO we’re aiming to operate a zero-carbon electricity system for Great Britain by 2025. This means using new resources such as wind, solar, batteries and hydropower - without relying on any carbon-based generators to balance the grid.

The NESO ‘Markets’ function designs and delivers a range of long-term and near real-time markets to balance and operate a secure, rapidly decarbonising GB electricity system, at lowest costs to consumers. These markets were worth over £3bn in the financial year ending March 2022, so represent a major investment signal to a wide range of electricity supply, demand and flexibility technologies. Within Markets, the Flexibility and Electricity Markets Development team (FEMD) is part of the strategic engine – creating the vision for the markets which support a decarbonised energy system and delivering on the roadmap to get there.

The Distributed Flexibility Strategy and Policy team, part of FEMD, aims to enable and unlock distributed flexibility, including distributed generation, storage, and demand side flexibility such as EV charging and electric heating. As such, it is also holds the relationship with the Market Facilitator, which is bringing NESO and DSO/DNO markets closer together and making them more aligned. This role will be fundamental to NESO’s successful collaboration with the Market Facilitator and implementation of its rules.

This role can be based at our Warwick, Glasgow or Wokingham offices, and we continue to offer hybrid working from office and home. This team typically works 1 day per week in the office, which is dependent on personal and business needs. We are open to full time and part-time applicants, as well as to flexible working arrangements. 

What You’ll Do

Flexibility Strategy and Delivery Lead

This role is both strategic and tactical. You will need to understand and be aware of the interactions between electricity markets at transmission and distribution levels and market participant commercial behaviour, so that you can develop strategic NESO positions on market coordination and practical approaches to achieve this.

You will need to work closely with the Market Facilitator to understand and influence how they set flexibility market rules as well as managing and delivering NESO actions in the Market Facilitator Delivery plan. You will have the opportunity to work closely with the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, and Ofgem alongside multiple internal NESO teams to ensure delivery of the different Market Facilitator workstreams.

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 looking for someone with a strategic mindset, able to quickly understand complex problems and work collaboratively across teams to find solutions. You will be a natural self-starter, able to identify what needs to be done and proactively take action, all with the support of an experienced and friendly team around you. Ideally you will understand the GB electricity system and market design, including wholesale markets, balancing mechanism, NESO ancillary services, and DSO markets. This could be gained in investment, commercial, policy, innovation, or consulting roles.

Strategic awareness:

• Understanding and awareness of the NESO’s and DSO’s markets and their role in helping operate the electricity system.
• Understanding and awareness of the role of flexibility in electricity markets and how it can help to achieve GB’s Clean Power target.
• Understanding of GB electricity market policy and design: this could be from a market participant’s perspective, for example via trading in GB power markets, or through experience in the regulatory or policy arena.
• Knowledge / understanding of key electricity policy instruments (e.g. the Clean Flexibility Roadmap) and understanding of economics of investment in GB electricity assets (generation, flexibility, DSR).
• The ability to think imaginatively and to conceptualise the impact of net zero on the GB electricity wholesale and NESO balancing service markets.

Communication and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Excellent written and verbal communication (i.e., report writing, slide packs, presentations)
• Ability to present complex issues to audiences with varying levels of familiarity in power systems and power markets.
• Strong interpersonal skills in influencing and working effectively internally across an organisation, gaining buy in to priorities and driving delivery through others.

Proactive working style:

• Evidence of developing strategies, which are based on collaborative working, expert insight and independent analysis.
• Ability to quickly understand a new challenge and develop a structured approach to finding a way to address it.
• Proven ability to bring together a team of people in a project setting to deliver change across a business.
• Knowledge of and experience in either technical, commercial, or operational aspects of flexibility assets (battery storage, commercial and industrial DSR, EV, electric heating) and flexibility markets.

What You'll Get

A competitive salary of £65,000 - £70,000pa dependent on experience and capabilityAs 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.

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.

About Us

At the National Energy System Operator (NESO), we play a vital role in tackling climate change and securing Great Britains'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 actin 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