Title:  Innovation Strategy Senior Lead - NESO

About the role

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.

Innovation is critical to helping us meet the challenges of transitioning to a net zero future. At NESO, we work with partners from across the energy industry to harness new technologies, markets and ways of working to support the energy transition.

The Innovation Strategy & Insights team identify where innovation is required across the energy system. We set the direction of NESO’s innovation portfolio, as well as working with the wider sector on where innovation can address some of energy’s biggest challenges.

The Innovation Strategy Senior Lead will be driving the development of our Innovation Strategy. Working with external and internal stakeholders to shape our future innovation priorities. The role will be crucial to shaping how we should innovate too. Working with other NESO teams to identify challenges, potential solutions, and new ways of working that can ensure the delivery of high impact projects. 

This role can be based from Wokingham, Warwick or Glasgow, and we continue to offer hybrid working from office and home. 

Key Accountabilities

• Manage the evolution and delivery of our innovation strategy publications
• Create clear and engaging content to communicate our innovation strategy to external audiences
• Work with external stakeholders to understand the broader challenges facing the energy system and where innovation is required
• Design and lead internal workshops to elicit inputs to the innovation strategy from senior leaders and the executive team
• Collaborate with internal subject matter experts to articulate and analyse the strategic innovation challenges that NESO needs to address through innovation
• Support the development of NESO’s innovation ecosystem and external partnerships. Including the development of open calls for innovation, external workshops, and other ideation events.
• Set up and maintain insights that will inform the innovation strategy including external factors, customer needs and organisational strategy, through maintaining relationships with colleagues and your own research
• Design decision-making tools and frameworks for the wider innovation team, that will aid the implementation of our innovation strategy into portfolio decision-making and reporting.

About you

We’re forging the path, and we know we can’t do it alone. That’s why we need visionary minds like yours to join us on this transformative journey. In this case, we’re looking for someone who is:

• Passionate about the energy transition and striving to find ways of delivering more value for our customers
• An innovation mindset, including the willingness to experiment with new ideas and ways of working.
• Experience in strategy development and/or innovation delivery
• Good knowledge of the UK energy system and the decarbonisation challenge
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills – especially with Government and external stakeholders
• Strong research and analytical experience
• Ability to work of your own volition and in a complex & ever changing environment

About what you’ll get

A competitive salary between £55,000 – 65,000 – 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%.

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.

About us

The creation of National Energy System Operator (NESO) is driven by an urgent need to unify and optimise our approach to energy. A more integrated and coordinated strategy is needed to meet the unprecedented challenges of climate change, ensuring secure energy supply, and keeping costs manageable for consumers.

Join us and empower your potential, energise our team, and be part of something bigger.
Your energy, our future, together.

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 ESO, including all of its existing roles, are now 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 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.

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.

More information

This role closes on 11/01/2026 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.
#LI-SP1