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.

As a Foresight Research Analyst you will play a crucial role in a new forward-looking Foresights team. You will build the foundations of our foresight work by developing our research base and innovating our research and analysis methodologies. You will look across the social, technological, economic, environmental, political, legal and ethical factors that could impact the energy trilemma (Net Zero, Energy Security, and Economy and Efficiency). The quality and scope of your research and analysis will be fundamental to how the Future System Operator, UK government and energy sector understands and responds to uncertainty and change.

This role can be based from 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

At National Grid ESO, our mission is to meet the challenges of the future and deliver cleaner, affordable electricity. We constantly strive to do this better by using technology and innovation to transform the way we work.

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.

Key Accountabilities

• Keep up to date with UK and global trends and disruptions across social, technological, economic, environmental, political, legal and ethical factors that could impact the energy trilemma (Net Zero, Energy Security, and Economy and Efficiency).
• Develop research methodologies and conduct research into these factors and impacts, including identifying uncertainties and their possible consequences. This should include developing approaches to understand and communicate how those factors interact with each other, taking a whole system approach.
• Identify gaps in organisational knowledge and expertise and work with the team to develop programmes to address them. Where needed, commission research and/or analysis from other teams or organisations and ensure that it is effectively incorporated into the research base of the Foresight team.
• Build collaborative and fruitful relationships with experts within the organisation and externally to source knowledge, research, data, and intelligence.
• Actively seek out a range of views and perspectives and develop research and analysis methodologies to ensure an impartial approach it taken to gathering, processing, and analysing research inputs.
• Capture research and analysis in high quality products. Collaborate with Foresight Strategist to support the development of inferences and conclusions, and with the wider strategy and policy directorate.
• Facilitate research and knowledge sharing across the organisation including by (a) working with the team to maintain an up-to-date repository of research and inferences (b) facilitating knowledge sharing forums (c) presenting research findings or approaches.
• Work with the team and others within the organisation or externally to develop tools and technologies to support the work of the Foresight team

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 experience in analysis, intelligence, futures, foresight or horizon scanning related roles. This terminology may not be used in all sectors and so equivalent experience would also be welcomed. Experience in the energy sector is not required but would be desirable. We are looking for candidates who are curious to understand possible futures and are driven to create impartial impactful inputs into decision making.

• Research: You have strong research skills, including in designing and apply a range of research methodologies. You have a structured approach to gathering and organising information and data. You can apply your research skills to a range of domains and subject matter. You can design approaches to undertaking research that ensure impartiality.
• Analytical skills and systems thinking: You can analyse information, think critically, and take a whole system perspective to understand and interrogate interactions. You can manage uncertainty and ambiguity in input information and communicate the consequences of this in the research outputs.
• Communication and relationship management: You can communicate the outputs of your research to a range of audiences at different levels of complexity. You can build relationships to elicit input information from a range of sources. You can support the learning of others.
• Strategic thinking: You can understand the drivers of the users of your research, and you can design research objectives, methodologies, and reports that inform decisions about strategic challenges and opportunities.
• Technological proficiency: You are familiar with, or able to learn, data analysis, AI technologies, and visualisation techniques to analyse information and present your findings.
• Project and research management: You can manage yourself and others to deliver work to the required standard within cost and time budgets.

What you'll get

A competitive salary between £45,000 - £54,000pa – 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 February 2024 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.

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