Title:  Distributed Flexibility Strategy Lead

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.

The NESO ‘Markets’ function designs and delivers a range of long-term and near real-time markets to balance and operate a secure, rapidly decarbonising GB electricity system, at lowest costs to consumers. These markets were worth over £3bn in the financial year ending March 2022, so represent a major investment signal to a wide range of electricity supply, demand and flexibility technologies. Within Markets, the Flexibility and Electricity Markets Development team (FEMD) is part of the strategic engine – creating the vision for the markets which support a decarbonised energy system and designing the roadmap to get there.

The Distributed Flexibility Strategy and Policy team, part of FEMD, aims to enable and unlock flexibility, including distributed generation, storage, and demand side flexibility such as EV charging and electric heating. This team developed our Enabling Demand Side Flexibility roadmap, which outlines all the actions required to reform NESO’s markets so that distributed and demand side flexibility is able to participate easily in our markets. The Flexibility Strategy Lead will work in this team.

This role can be based from Wokingham, Warwick 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

National Energy System Operator’s (NESO) mission is to facilitate the decarbonisation of Great Britain’s energy network and ensure the delivery of reliable, affordable, and clean electricity for consumers. We work with stakeholders across the whole energy industry to plan for future network needs, using a wider adoption of technology and changes in consumer behaviour, as well as ensuring we have the right markets, networks, and frameworks in place, to transform the way we operate tomorrow.

Join us, and let’s energise progress.

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.

Key Accountabilities

You will need to understand and be aware of the interactions between electricity markets, investment policy and market participant commercial behaviour, so that you can develop holistic, net-zero compliant policy positions which provide optimal consumer value.

Your work will also help shape the NESO’s thinking and positions that enable us to grow demand side flexibility and reach our Clean Power 2030 targets which will require an understanding of NESO system needs. You will develop our strategies to enable DSO market growth. This includes removing service barriers for NESO Markets, working closely with Elexon as the Market Facilitator and managing and delivering NESO actions in the Market Facilitator Delivery plan.  You will have the opportunity to work closely with the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero, and Ofgem alongside multiple internal NESO teams to ensure we can operate a net zero system.

This role will also lead on the investigation of potential risks and issues that could impact the delivery of more demand-side flexibility, looking for potential options on how they could be managed. Good problem-solving skills and a logical approach is vital.

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:

Strategic awareness:

• Understanding and awareness of the NESO’s balancing services markets and their role in helping operate the electricity system.
• Understanding and awareness of DNO flexibility markets, their role in operating the system and how they interact with NESO markets
• Understanding and awareness of the role of flexibility in helping to achieve GB’s Clean Power 2030 target.
• Understanding of GB electricity market policy and design: this could be from a market participant’s perspective, for example via trading in GB power markets, or through experience in the regulatory or policy arena.
• Knowledge / understanding of key electricity policy instruments (e.g. the Clean Flexibility Roadmap) and understanding of economics of investment in GB electricity assets (generation, flexibility, DSR).

Communication and Stakeholder Engagement:

• Excellent written and verbal communication (i.e., report writing, slide packs, presentations)
• Ability to present complex issues to audiences with varying levels of familiarity in power systems and power markets.
• Strong interpersonal skills in influencing and working effectively internally across an organisation, gaining buy in to priorities and driving delivery through others.

Key experience:

• Evidence of developing strategies, which are based on collaborative working, expert insight and independent analysis.
• Ability to quickly understand a new challenge and develop a structured approach to finding a way to address it.
• Proven ability to use quantitative and qualitative evidence to develop a thoughtful and independent viewpoint.
• Knowledge of and experience in either technical, commercial, or operational aspects of flexibility assets (battery storage, commercial and industrial DSR, EV, electric heating) and flexibility markets.
  
  

Research shows that some people may hesitate to apply unless they meet every requirement. At NESO, we believe potential comes in many forms and we’re committed to a fair, inclusive recruitment process where everyone can show their talents. We celebrate the difference people can bring into our organisation, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds to build a workforce that feels valued and respected and represents the communities we serve.

What you'll get

A competitive salary between £50,000 - £58,000pa – 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 23rd January 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.

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