Risk Team Leader - NESO

National Grid plc; Wokingham; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 75,000

Job description

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.

As the Risk Team Lead your work will be a significant and core activity within the Resilience and Emergency Management Directorate. Leading a team of around six, you will support the delivery of NESO licence conditions related to security and resilience. This important work will support the energy sector, policy makers in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Ofgem and will have an impact at a national level.

Experience in energy, risk management and leadership qualities are essential for this role. The candidate must possess excellent communication skills to effectively convey complex risk concepts to diverse stakeholders. They should demonstrate a proactive approach to problem-solving and decision-making, inspiring confidence, and trust within the team.

This role can be based from Glasgow, 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.

About us

National Energy System Operator’s (NESO) mission is to facilitate the decarbonisation of Great Britain’s energy network and ensure the delivery of reliable, affordable, and clean electricity for consumers. We work with stakeholders across the whole energy industry to plan for future network needs, using a wider adoption of technology and changes in consumer behaviour.

Join us, and let’s energise progress.

About the National Energy System Operator (NESO)

In Autumn of 2024, the ESO transitioned to National Energy System Operator, or NESO for short. Previously denoted as the Future System Operator (or FSO), the new National Energy System Operator is the independent body responsible for planning Great Britain’s electricity and gas networks and operating the electricity system.

The organisation is set up as a public corporation with its own Board of independent directors, with complete operational independence from government, the regulator and any and all commercial interest. As was the ESO, NESO will be licenced and regulated by Ofgem through price control agreements and obligated to identify optimal solutions to system operations and planning in the most sustainable, affordable and secure way for all.

Key Accountabilities

• Supporting the Sector Security Risk and Threat Manager to develop and deliver the team strategy that supports the delivery of relevant licence conditions, aligned with expectations from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero and Ofgem.
• Managing a team of experts to fulfil NESO’s licence obligations regarding the identification of risks and threats to the whole energy system.
• Leading on engagements with energy sector participants to drive progress on identifying and assessing risks enabling the resilient, safe, and secure operation of the energy system.
• Developing, applying, and evolving a risk management framework to identify, assess and prioritise security risks to the whole energy system and developing recommendations to mitigate risks to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Ofgem where appropriate.
• Leading a team to undertake deep dive assessments on parts of the energy system to identify and assess security and cyber risks and make recommendations as appropriate.
• Supporting teams across the Resilience and Emergency Management Directorate on the delivery of licence conditions related to the development of the annual energy resilience assessment report, emergency processes assessment, industry readiness and preparedness and post event analysis where it relates to security matters.
• Working with Government to understand policy changes that could affect the security and resilience of the whole energy system.
• Providing oversight of information, advice, and recommendations to Ofgem and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
• Working with stakeholders to understand systemic and cascade risks to the energy system, including for example supply chain dependencies.

About you

Experience in energy, risk management and leadership qualities are essential for this role. We are looking for someone who has the following qualities:

• You must have extensive experience of the energy sector and knowledge of whole energy system interdependencies and interactions. Experience of working with or within the energy sector are essential.
• You must have experience in Risk Assessment and Management with an excellent understanding of the application of risk and risk management frameworks related to security, for example, the Cyber Assessment Framework, NIST and ISO27000.
• Experience and knowledge in one or more of the following areas is desirable: National security, operational technology, electricity, gas and/or telecoms infrastructure and systems.
• A good grasp of energy sector transformation, and our commitments to Net Zero and associated risks.
• You must be a strong communicator with excellent writing skills and proven ability to assemble complex ideas, issues, and observations into clear and simple explanations, ensuring that communication is prioritised to deliver greatest consumer value and improved resilience outcomes.
• Experience working with external stakeholders, including Government, Regulators, and Intelligence Agencies is desirable.
• You must have, or be willing to undertake, National Security Clearance.

What you'll get

A competitive salary up to £75,000pa – dependent on experience and capability.

As well as your base salary, you will receive a bonus based on company performance, 26 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%.

As we work towards creating a cleaner, greener, and more affordable future for all, we also work towards creating a place for our teammates to belong, with professional and personal growth and positive well-being.

• Full support and career-development resources to expand your skills, enhance your expertise, and maximise your potential along your career journey.
• A diverse and inclusive community of belonging, where teammates are empowered to bring ideas to the table.
• Generous Total Rewards Plan – comprising of health, finance and wealth, work/life balance, and career benefits.

More Information

This role closes on 21st April 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.