Head of Land Technical & Governance

Division: Land, Planning and External Affairs

Job Type:

Requisition Number: 63995

Department:

Job Function: Land and Property

Great Britain's electricity infrastructure is undergoing an ambitious, exciting and vital transformation. Together with industry, we are creating a cleaner, greener system, one that protects the planet and serves generations to come.

The Head of Lands Technical and Governance at National Grid is responsible for overseeing the strategic development, implementation, and governance of land-related policies, procedures, and technical standards.

This role ensures compliance with regulatory requirements, optimises land acquisition and management processes, and supports the efficient delivery of National Grid’s new infrastructure and existing infrastructure land teams. The position plays a critical role in risk management, stakeholder engagement, and the continuous improvement of land strategies to support the company’s operational goals.

The role involves representing National Grid at external forums and in discussions with key policy makers.

We are open to full time and part time applicants, as well as flexible working arrangements.

About you

What we do isn’t just important – it’s essential. That’s why we look to recruit experts in their field. In this case, we’re looking for someone who has:

1. Experience of leading high performing teams with a range of experience and training/development needs.
2. Excellent interpersonal, influencing and communication skills to ensure effective engagement with all relevant stakeholders (internally and externally).
3. Experience of delivering start to finish land activities for infrastructure projects including access to land, securing land rights, and the negotiation of compensation settlements.
4. Experience of working collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams (engineering, legal, consenting) to support overall project delivery.
5. Technical understanding, knowledge and experience of the legal and regulatory parameters that TOs work within, including the range of statutory powers available, understanding how these then relate to the relevant project strategy and approach.
6. Significant knowledge of the consenting regimes and processes relevant to complex linear projects. This includes the Planning Act (2008) Development Consent Order and Compulsory Purchase Order processes and practice including the compensation code.
7. Provide technical excellence in expert witness and/or the willingness to train to develop this expertise.
8. The ability to work under pressure to tight timescales with the ability to prioritise accordingly.
9. Solid organisational ability and strong influencing skills.
10. Problem solver and solution provider.
11. Experience of driving continuous improvement in a complex and fast changing environment.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At National Grid, we’re committed to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace for everyone. So if you’re excited about this role but your experience or qualifications don’t match the job description exactly, we encourage you to apply anyway. You might just be the right person for our growing business in this role or another one.

What you'll do

Technical Leadership & Governance

1. Develop and implement land-related policies, procedures, and technical standards to ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and environmental requirements.
2. Provide expert guidance on complex land, property, and wayleave matters to support infrastructure projects and operational activities.
3. Establish and maintain robust governance frameworks to manage land rights, acquisitions, disposals, and consents effectively.

Regulatory & Compliance Management

1. Ensure National Grid adheres to all relevant land and property regulations, including environmental, planning, and statutory obligations.
2. Act as the primary point of contact for regulatory bodies and ensure best practices are followed in land management and governance.
3. Lead audits and risk assessments to mitigate potential legal and financial risks associated with land transactions.

Stakeholder & External Engagement

1. Build and maintain strong relationships with government agencies, national stakeholders, landowners, legal teams, and other key stakeholders to facilitate land negotiations and approvals.
2. Represent National Grid in industry forums, regulatory discussions, and public consultations related to land and property governance.
3. Support internal teams by providing strategic land-related insights and ensuring alignment with corporate objectives.

Strategic Land Management & Acquisition

1. Oversee the strategic planning and execution of land acquisitions, easements, wayleaves, and leases to support National Grid’s infrastructure projects.
2. Drive innovation and continuous improvement in land acquisition and governance processes to enhance cost-effectiveness and efficiency.
3. Lead and develop a team of land professionals, ensuring they have the necessary skills and knowledge to deliver strategic land objectives.
4. Foster a culture of continuous learning, innovation, and professional excellence within the land governance function.
5. Support talent development and succession planning to ensure a strong pipeline of expertise in land management and governance.

What you'll get

A competitive salary between £75,000 - £90,000 – dependent on capability.

As well as your base salary, you will receive a company car or allowance, a bonus of up to 20% of your salary for stretch performance and a competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%. You will also have access to a number of flexible benefits such as a share incentive plan, a salary sacrifice technology scheme, support via the employee assistance line and matched charity giving to name a few.

About us

National Grid Strategic Infrastructure has a key role to play in tackling climate change by accelerating our capacity to deliver clean electricity across the UK. We already operate the fastest decarbonising electricity grid in the world, with an ambition for zero carbon operation by 2025. And by 2035, we want to run 100% clean, green energy, all the time.

Here at National Grid, we connect homes and businesses to power, making sure supply and demand match each other. We make sure the lights are on in schools, operating theatres, and sporting arenas; we’re thousands of people working on behalf of millions of people.

Our investment in Strategic Infrastructure via the Great Grid Upgrade will mean more home grown power, greater energy security and a cleaner future.

More Information

This role closes on 4th March 2025 at 23:59, however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary.

We work towards the highest standards in everything we do, including how we support, value and develop our people. Our aim is to encourage and support employees to thrive and be the best they can be. We celebrate the difference people can bring into our organisation, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and offer flexible and tailored support, at home and in the office.

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.