Title:  Programme Manager (Volta) - 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.

The Volta Programme Manager leads NESO’s flagship transformation programme for AI‑enabled system operation, shaping an integrated portfolio of optimisation and decision‑support innovations for the future control room. The role combines strategic roadmap ownership, deep technical and operational stewardship, cross‑directorate coordination, and external partner management, ensuring Volta delivers credible, validated solutions that can transition from innovation into business‑as‑usual operations.

They will be accountable for the end‑to‑end leadership and delivery of the Volta programme, translating NESO’s long‑term system operation needs into an integrated innovation portfolio, and steer that portfolio from discovery through validation and towards production‑ready pathways, while maintaining strong operational, technical and governance alignment.

This role can be based from Wokingham, 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. 

Key Accountabilities

• Building and Leading a High‑Performance Innovation Function

Lead and develop a multidisciplinary team that underpins NESO’s operational innovation portfolio. Provide technical direction, set delivery standards, and shape the capability needed to design, test, and deploy advanced optimisation, AI, and decision‑support tools for the control room of the future.

• Strategic System Transformation & Roadmap Architecture

Lead the development of NESO’s cross‑directorate roadmap for delivering an AI‑enabled, data‑driven control room. Translate long‑term system needs into a coherent portfolio of innovation projects covering modelling, optimisation, situational awareness, predictive analytics, and operator‑support tooling. Define milestones, dependencies, and resource strategies to ensure system‑level integration and regulatory alignment.

• Cross‑Functional and Cross‑Industry Collaboration

Work across System Operations, Networks, Markets, Digital, and Major Projects directorates to ensure innovation outputs are technically aligned with operational constraints and implementation pathways. Drive collaboration with global grid operators, and technology partners to import best‑practice intelligence into NESO’s design processes and strengthen internal technical maturity.

• Technical Leadership of Complex Innovation Projects

Lead the design and execution of complex projects across the Volta portfolio, including adaptive modelling, advanced scheduling, real‑time optimisation, and scenario‑based situational awareness. Oversee formulation development, algorithmic testing, and architectural validation. Guide teams through proof‑of‑concept phases, ensuring solutions meet operational realism, computational requirements, and scalability thresholds.

• Rigorous Validation, Assurance, and Transition to Delivery

Set validation criteria, test strategies, and acceptance thresholds for all Volta innovations. Ensure proofs‑of‑concept undergo structured evaluation, stress‑testing, sensitivity analysis, performance benchmarking, before transitioning to delivery teams. Provide technical support through handover to ensure designs are fully understood, implementable, and integration‑ready.

• Continuous Improvement, System Learning, and Innovation Culture

Embed a culture of scientific rigour, experimentation, and continuous improvement across the innovation programme. Use insights from previous projects, assurance reviews, and operator feedback to refine methodologies, strengthen modelling capabilities, and evolve the roadmap. Champion emerging technologies, novel optimisation strategies, and industry best practice to keep NESO at the forefront of global system‑operation innovation.

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 has: 

• Expertise in Power Systems Engineering

Deep technical understanding of real‑time and forward‑looking power system operation, including stability, balancing, security constraints, and the system‑wide implications of high renewable penetration. Experienced in assessing grid‑integration challenges, emerging system behaviours, and the design of next‑generation operational strategies for a decarbonised system.

• Control Room Systems, Architectures & Operational Tooling

Extensive knowledge of electricity control room functions and the end‑to‑end architecture of operational systems, including forecasting, dispatch optimisation, network security assessment, situational awareness tooling, and operator decision‑support frameworks. Able to identify gaps, design new capabilities, and assess the operational feasibility of novel AI- and optimisation‑based solutions.

•  Future Power System Design & Market‑Aware Operations

Strong knowledge of evolving system operation paradigms, including flexible demand, storage integration, locational signals, and advanced market‑driven behaviours. Skilled at anticipating long‑term system trends and translating them into the technical requirements for future control‑room algorithms and decision‑support systems.

• Applied AI & Advanced Analytics for System Operations

Proficient in the application of machine learning, adaptive modelling, optimisation, and emerging AI techniques (including predictive models, NLP for operator interfaces, and computer‑vision‑enabled asset intelligence). Experienced in evaluating feasibility, interpretability, and deployment considerations for AI‑based operational tools within highly regulated environments.

• Strategic & Systems Thinking

Ability to take a whole‑system perspective, framing challenges across markets, operations, engineering, and digital capabilities. Skilled at anticipating constraints, sequencing transformation steps, and shaping roadmaps that balance ambition with operational realism.

• Programme & Project Leadership

Strong command of programme governance, risk management, and dependency mapping across complex innovation portfolios. Adept at shaping workstreams, structuring PoCs, defining validation criteria, and ensuring orderly transition into delivery teams.

• Stakeholder Engagement & Influence

Exceptional engagement skills grounded in clarity, and technical credibility. Able to extract key insights from busy experts, convene diverse groups, translate between technical and operational audiences, and create shared ownership of outcomes.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At NESO, we are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace for everyone. So, if you’re excited about this role but your experience or qualifications don’t match the job description exactly, we encourage you to apply anyway. You might just be the right person for our growing business in this role or another one.

About What You'll Get

A competitive salary of circa £70,000 – £78,000 – 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.

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.

Our 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 27/03/2026 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.