Environment Strategy Manager

About The Role

Our mission is to facilitate the decarbonisation of Great Britain’s energy network and ensure the delivery of reliable, affordable, and green electricity for consumers. We work with stakeholders across the whole energy industry to plan for future network needs, using insight to make sure we can balance the system today and find opportunities to transform the way it operates tomorrow.

Are you passionate about achieving net zero and making a real difference in society?

If so, we invite you to consider applying for the Environment Strategy Manager role in our busy Strategic Energy Planning team.

As the National Grid - Electricity System Operator (ESO) works closely with the government to deliver the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP), we need someone to lead the environmental, sustainability aspects of SSEP and ensure success for all environmental assessments within the organization.

The SSEP will outline what needs to be built, where, and when to meet government targets, as part of a broader landscape of planning reform aimed at accelerating network investment while considering environmental impact.

As an Environmental Manager, you will play a crucial role in these activities and bring your passion and expertise to our talented and collaborative team.

If you possess these skills and are interested in joining our team, please don't hesitate to reach out. We look forward to hearing from you!

In this role, you will be responsible for:

• Ensuring the environment is considered throughout the plan development process.
• Leading and supporting the development of our environmental team.
• Delivering communications about our environmental assessment processes and outputs to a wide range of audiences.
• Additionally, you’ll engage with external stakeholders to obtain their expert input and raise the profile of environmental assessment activities.

This role can be based at our Wokingham, Warwick or Glasgow office which has free onsite parking, and we continue to offer hybrid working from office and home, however, you will be expected to be at our Warwick headquarters once every couple of weeks.

Apply now and help us to keep our electricity system safe and play a role in influencing the business and industry as we move toward a net-zero energy system.

About You

We are not expecting you to have an energy background, but we are looking for a talented individual with a genuine interest in the energy industry who possesses the following:

We do not expect you to have an energy background, but we are looking for a talented individual with a genuine interest in the energy industry who possesses the following:

• Ability to see the big picture and think strategically.
• Ability to deliver change and mitigate complex risks.
• Demonstrated ability to build efficient working relationships.
• Practical communication skills with experience working with multiple stakeholders.
• A degree in an environmentally related subject is a must.
• Membership of a relevant professional body, ideally chartered (e.g., IEMA), is preferable but not essential.

Expertise in environmental legislation, planning processes, consenting regimes, and environmental assessment processes is crucial. We are also looking for experience in strategic environmental assessments and habitats regulations assessments.

What You'll Get

A competitive salary of circa £51,000 -72,000 – dependent on capability.

As well as your base salary, you will receive a bonus based on personal and company 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 salary sacrifice car and technology schemes, support via employee assistance lines and matched charity giving to name a few.

About Us

Becoming the Future System Operator

In 2021, government and Ofgem jointly consulted on proposals for an expert, impartial Future System Operator (FSO) with responsibilities across both the electricity and gas systems, to drive progress towards net zero while maintaining energy security and minimising costs for consumers. In October 2023, the Energy Act 2023 was passed, legislating for this Future System Operator to be created.

The ESO, including all of its existing roles, will be at the heart of the new Future System Operator. We will be taking on additional roles across vectors and sectors to create an organisation with a whole energy system mindset; enabling us to identify solutions to our energy system that are more sustainable, secure, and affordable for all. 

The FSO will be set up as a public corporation with operational independence from government – bringing parties together to support optimised decision making and action. As now, it will be licenced and regulated by Ofgem through price control agreements. It is anticipated that the new organisation will be up and running in 2024.

The time to act on climate change 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.

More Information

This role closes on 27^th February 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.