Innovation Process Lead

About the Role

Innovation in NESO is about establishing a safe, collaborative space in which to explore higher-risk technologies and ways of working. Our innovation function works to foster and embed a culture of innovation in the business, while ensuring we stay focused on solving issues affecting the industry, customers and energy consumers as well as our priority challenges. As the Innovation Process Lead, you will play a central role in helping NESO realise maximum value from its innovation portfolio and funding. With £95m of Network Innovation Allowance (NIA) funding available over the next five years, alongside access to up to £50m of Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF) investment, it is essential that innovation activities are underpinned by clear, efficient and measurable processes that enable robust governance, regulatory compliance and informed decision-making. You will support the development, embedding and continuous improvement of the frameworks, processes and tools that underpin the end-to-end innovation lifecycle. Working across the innovation team, wider NESO and key stakeholders including Procurement, Legal, Data and external partners, you will help ensure projects are effectively mobilised, governance requirements are understood and applied, and learning is systematically captured and fed back into future activities. Through process ownership, stakeholder engagement and continuous improvement, you will help create a consistent, scalable and value-focused approach to innovation, enabling NESO to effectively manage investment, demonstrate impact and accelerate the transition to a net zero energy system.

Key Accountabilities

• Active role in the project setup process, through applying learnings and feedback to project design, ensuring governance needs are considered, and that the project setup/mobilisation process is adhered to
• Aware of governance and funding requirements, ensures NIA and SIF Regulatory Governance is adhered to, understood by relevant teams, and applied across our internal processes
• Supporting broader engagement with teams including legal, security, data, delivery and procurement as part of the project set up process and ensuring alignment with the innovation team
• Responsible for the process of identifying and tracking learnings throughout the innovation pipeline, establishing feedback loops from completed projects and driving actions required to effectively apply improvements, supported by stakeholders across and outside the team
• Ensuring any relevant customer feedback is captured and the learnings shared with, and implemented by, the wider team at key process stages
• Responsible for running internal workshops and regular engagement with internal teams to ensure risks and issues are identified and necessary improvements made to processes, so that what we do stays fit for purpose operationally and in line with regulation (supported by Regulation Lead)
• Lead ongoing innovation platform development process; defining and applying a change management process, including tracking of improvement ideas and the decision governance framework

About You

Essential – demonstrable experience in the below:

• Stakeholder engagement – liaising with internal teams and external partners to develop processes and to gather and apply feedback
• Organisational and communication skills
• Process design and management experience
• Workshop facilitation
• Self-management – ability to manage competing priorities and change in a fast-paced environment
• An eye for detail and experience of drafting operating procedures and other documentation for a range of audiences
• Strong analytical, problem solving and collaboration skills.
• Desirable: Understanding of NIA and SIF Governance
• Desirable: Understanding of the GB Energy system
• Desirable: Knowledge of the use and application of digital and AI solutions
• Desirable: Educated to degree level in a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience

Salary

A competitive salary of £50,500 - £55,500 dependent on experience and capability

Benefits

• You will receive a bonus based on company performance
• 26 days annual leave as standard
• A competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%
• Annual Enrollment to NESO Savings Plan, when you save between £20- £500 a month from your take-home pay, we will pay a 50% matching contribution.
• NESO's flexible benefits programme provides you with more flexibility around your health, lifestyle and protection benefits, here's just a few available:
• Flexible Bank Holidays & Holiday Trading
• Additional Birthday Day Off
• Cycle to Work Scheme, Retail & Gym Discounts
• Private Medical Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance & Personal Accident Insurance

Location & Working Arrangements

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.

Eligibility

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK by the start of employment. Visa sponsorship may not be available for this role and will be considered in line with business requirements.

Equal Opportunity & Diversity

We are 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.

We celebrate the difference people can bring into our organisation, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds.

About Us

At the National Energy System Operator (NESO), we play a vital role in tackling climate change and securing Great Britain's energy future. We already operate the world's fastest decarbonising electricity system and are working towards our ambition to run it carbon-free for a short period this year - provided the market supplies electricity exclusively from renewable sources. Alongside this, we provide expert advice to government on how to deliver a clean power system by 2030. In autumn 2024, the Electricity System Operator (ESO) transitioned to become NESO - an independent, expert public corporation with a whole-system view across electricity, gas, and hydrogen. NESO operates independently and transparently, always acting in the best interests of all energy users. Licensed and regulated by Ofgem, we make impartial decisions that balance sustainability, affordability and security. Our organisation is fully independent from government, the regulator and all commercial interests, with a clear focus on system-wide benefit, long term thing and public value. The time to deliver is now. Join the energy transformation and help shape the future. Your energy. Our future. Together.

Application Deadline

This role closes at 23:59, on the day before date shown above.