About the role

Great Britain's electricity system 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.

By working closely with government, the regulator and industry, NESO will play a vital and central role in advising on energy policy and strategy to ensure that it is not only optimal and deliverable but that it drives effective action and delivery plans across all energy vectors and sectors of the economy. NESO will also utilise its experience and expertise across the energy system to provide independent whole energy insights, supporting industry with optimal decision making and strategic direction.

The Head of Hydrogen senior manager role will build and lead a new team focused on ensuring that NESO is a valued strategic partner to Government, Ofgem and Industry in developing hydrogen as a strategic net zero energy vector for Great Britain, with significant scale up by 2030. The successful candidate will lead development of NESO’s position on critical hydrogen policy and delivery questions. Success will be dependent on collaboration with teams across NESO and the wider sector including Government and Ofgem. Demonstrable influencing skills and credibility will be critical in driving progress and establishing NESO as an independent and credible voice in the ongoing debate around the role of hydrogen in a net zero energy system.

This role can be based from Warwick, Wokingham or Glasgow, 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

The ESO has a key role to play in tackling climate change by transitioning GB’s electricity system to net zero. We already operate the fastest decarbonising electricity system 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.

Becoming the National Energy System Operator

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

The ESO, including all of its existing roles, will be at the heart of the new National Energy System Operator. As NESO, we will build on our existing roles, capabilities, and ways of working significantly to create an organisation the energy system and its users’ need. Our new capabilities will enable us to look across vectors, including electricity, natural gas and hydrogen, and crucially consider the trade-offs between them.

The organisation will be 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 the ESO are today, 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.

The time to deliver is now. As part of our team, you won’t just be touching the lives of almost everyone in Great Britain – you’ll be shaping the way we use and consume energy for generations to come.

Key accountabilities (optional)

Build and lead a new central hydrogen team within the Strategy and Policy Department to develop a cross-NESO Hydrogen portfolio, drawing together hydrogen workstreams from across the business to ensure NESO has a coherent and credible programme of hydrogen activity grounded in solid evidence, with interdependencies and risks clearly understood.
Provide hydrogen subject matter expertise and challenge to colleagues in NESO, bringing understanding of hydrogen landscape and insight from your own network.
Lead the development of strategically important hydrogen insights, policy advice and analysis that address the most complex challenges and opportunities in the hydrogen industry, and support senior decision making in NESO, Government and the wider industry.
Represent NESO in key forums to ensure hydrogen is fully integrated into whole energy systems thinking, and conversely that whole energy thinking is integrated into hydrogen thinking.
Monitor strategy, policy, regulatory developments (across value chain), sharing widely with colleagues.
Forge and maintain relationships with internal stakeholders across all business areas, encouraging collaboration and a holistic approach to insight development whilst avoiding the creation of silos.

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:

Knowledge

· In-depth knowledge of the GB hydrogen policy landscape and emerging market, ideally from a whole value chain perspective.

· Understanding of the energy sector including knowledge of the structure, regulatory environment and the short- and long-term issues affecting the industry.

Experience

· Significant experience in hydrogen focussed roles, including working closely with, or within, Government.

· 5+ years in the energy sector ideally with a focus on whole energy or net zero.

· Demonstrable experience of building relationships with a range of stakeholder including in Government, regulatory bodies and industry. You will be comfortable working across organisational boundaries to deliver common goals.

· Proven experience in senior management roles in the utilities sector or a similar industry, with a focus on hydrogen development.

· Experience working in multidisciplinary teams.

Skills

· Strategic thinking: You think holistically about challenges and opportunities facing hydrogen and the wider energy sector in GB. You can distil your thinking into frameworks that support policy positions and critical decision-making of senior leaders.

· Programme and project management. You comfortable operating in a project-based environment and developing and implementing wide ranging work programmes with effective risk and dependency management.

· Stakeholder management: Your strong engagement skills enable you to see the bigger picture and approach a problem from several different perspectives. You can extract information from busy individuals and build relationships that facilitate knowledge sharing.

· Effective communication: You are a great communicator, both in writing and articulation, capable of conveying complex ideas in a simple way. You can “speak the language” of hydrogen and communicate and influence effectively at any level, making sure your insights resonate with a broad audience.

· Structured problem solver: You excel in structured problem solving and are motivated to create order out of chaos and simplify complex issues. You are skilled at driving progress and operationalising solutions.

· Analytical skills: You can convert quantitative and qualitative information into valuable insights and analyses for a diverse range of stakeholders.

What you’ll get

A competitive salary between £75,000 - £90,000pa – dependent on experience and 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, private medical insurance, 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%.

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.