AddressAbout 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 an External Affairs Manager, it will be your duty to build the reputation that ESO needs to succeed in the short and long term goals. The Regional Public Affairs team is responsible for influencing key stakeholders externally including devolved parliamentarians, councils, lobbying groups, think tanks, trade associations, academics and other regional stakeholders. The team is also responsible for horizon scanning and taking ownership for lines to take/key messages across strategic integrated campaigns and other priority issues.
We are currently looking for three Regional Public Affairs Managers to cover the following regions:
- Scotland
- Wales
- Midlands & East of England
You can be based from any of our ESO offices (in Warwick, Wokingham or Glasgow), but the role will mainly be remote.
About us
At National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO), we’re aiming to operate a zero-carbon electricity system for Great Britain by 2025. This means using wind, solar and hydropower - without relying on any carbon-based generators to balance the grid.
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
- Regional lead for ESO Public Affairs engagement
- Enhance external engagement across your region with policymakers and energy industry players
- Build awareness across your region of the ESO as it transitions to NESO
- Deliver meetings and events with key stakeholders
- Maintain a network of external contacts, pro-actively meeting stakeholders, attending conferences, other events with industry bodies and associations, lobby groups, environmental groups, think tanks, and academics, pro-actively sharing intelligence back into the business.
- Support the delivery of integrated campaigns on issues of strategic importance including messaging, collateral development, stakeholder mapping and forward planning.
- Work with Head of Regional Public Affairs to pro-actively advise senior leaders on political intelligence, delivering executive briefings and inputting into board papers.
- Work across the business to develop and shape policy messages, advising the wider business on the style, tone and content of policy messaging to maximise stakeholder impact.
- Regularly track progress against KPIs and report them to the Head of Regional Public Affairs Manager.
- Support on horizon scanning to identify strategic issues and trends of commercial interest, working closely with the wider External Affairs and Corporate Strategy teams, to provide insight and intelligence to the wider business.
Job Purpose
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:
Knowledge
- Expert knowledge of the political environment and institutions in your region
- Understanding of politics of energy in your region
- Awareness of relevant national energy institutions
- Expert knowledge of managing complex stakeholder environments
- Understanding of the energy sector is essential
Experience
- Experience advocating and influencing stakeholders and governments.
- Proven experience in designing and delivering high quality stakeholder engagement strategies, and high levels of networking and influencing externally.
- Proven experience in planning and executing integrated campaigns, using different channels and tactics to achieve positive outcomes.
- Strong track record of successfully communicating complex policy solutions in a clear and concise manner to multiple audiences.
- In-depth experience of working with and influencing key internal stakeholders in a large, complex organisation, working in a collaborative manner to reach shared objectives.
Skills
- Able to prioritise and manage competing issues, working with and through others – maintaining high and consistent standards and alignment, working at pace and with minimal guidance.
- Strong people manager with a commitment to team development and capability-building
- Strategic thinker with ability to contribute to key communications and decisions by interpreting external and internal trends and changes.
- Expert stakeholder and negotiation skills - ability to communicate effectively up to the most senior levels of the organisation and with external bodies, partners, and regulators
- Ability to learn quickly and translate complex ideas into engaging, insightful and effective material which delivers clear information and messaging. Excellent story telling ability and narrative creation.
- Ability to bring data from a broad range of sources (industry trends, use cases, innovations, etc.), and translate it into value-adding insights and recommendations that inform decision making.
- Commercial awareness and business acumen - ability to understand business drivers, goals, and overarching strategy.
What you'll get
A competitive salary between £54,000 – £70,000 – dependent on experience and capability.
As well as your base salary, you will receive a bonus of up to 15% of your salary for stretch performance, 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%.
You will also have access to a comprehensive benefits package tailored to support your well-being and professional success. From a competitive salary to flexible work arrangements, we promote your work-life balance. Enjoy fit for purpose wellbeing and lifestyle offerings, ongoing skill development aligned to our Purpose and Values, and be part of a supportive community that values your individuality and where you can belong.
More information
This role closes on 18/07/2024 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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