Senior Operability Analyst

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.

The Zero Carbon Operation team is an exciting team in the NESO’s Networks department, playing an important role in determining the operational requirements of the GB electricity system beyond 2025, when it will regularly have no fossil fuelled generation running, and will be developing a strategy to ensure that the electricity system is operable as we rapidly transition towards a fully decarbonised system by 2035.

Further challenges exist to meet the government’s target of a net zero electricity system in 2035 and, in a small team, you will build upon the existing work across the NESO to identify all future requirements and ensure that the NESO with industry has a plan in place to ensure reliable, efficient and crucially low carbon electricity supplies into the future.

This role will report to the manager of the EV & Storage team and will primarily work on the interactions between those two technologies (electric vehicles and electricity storage) and a zero carbon electricity system. However, the role is likely to also support other related aspects of zero carbon system operation, such as understanding the various operational requirements of a zero carbon system and how various technologies could contribute to these.

The role will include performing quantitative analysis, collaborating with others on their analysis, developing new ways to understand and explain complex issues, supporting the NESO to make decisions and prioritise efforts, and working with external stakeholders. The team often has to break new ground in areas without established methods and understanding. So we have to be flexible and pragmatic, curious and creative, and we deliver by collaborating with other teams. The technical scope of the work can be broad, deep and complex – you don’t have to understand it all when you join the team, but to be successful in the role you will need to enjoy building that understanding and working with others.

If you are excited about change and comfortable with shaping and delivering fast-paced projects, if you care about making working with the NESO a great experience for our customers and stakeholders, and if you believe that good communication, collaboration and inquisitiveness drive better results, then please reach out! We would love to hear from you.

The role is based from Warwick (although Wokingham can be considered) 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

• Provide insight into the changes affecting the operation of a zero-carbon electricity system, which will be the basis of our strategy, decision making and policy development.
• Your focus will be on the roles of EVs, storage (and flexibility more generally) in a zero-carbon electricity system, but also on the specific “system needs” that these technologies will meet, understanding and quantifying these needs, and considering the other technologies that could also meet them.
• Use analysis and other methods to better understand and explain the issues. Prepare content for internal and external presentations and reports. Prepare briefing notes to support internal decision making.
• Work with external stakeholders to improve mutual understanding of the interactions between their needs and the needs of the electricity system.

About You

Essential

• Recognised analytical and coding skills (for example this may include Python, Power BI, advance MS Excel).
• Experience of analysing and presenting complex issues to a range of audiences.
• Ability to structure logical arguments and relevant evidence and to support senior decision makers. Strong record of communicating complex ideas and an ability to represent the NESO at external meetings.
• Ability to develop novel methods for improving our understanding in areas where there may not be any existing work to learn from and to creatively solve problems to find methods that will work with the resources available.
• Ability to deliver all parts of a piece of work on your own (e.g. technical, planning, administration, review) and also to work collaboratively with others on parts of a project.
• Flexibility and agility to manage a wide range of issues at the same time and to refocus rapidly if priorities change.

Desirable

• Previous experience of thriving in unfamiliar technically complex environments.
• High-level understanding of at least some parts of the technical and commercial fundamentals of electricity system planning and operation, and of the operation of electricity wholesale and ancillary service markets. Also a desire to develop a deeper knowledge.
• Good stakeholder engagement capability, including articulation / exploration of complex insights to influence internal and external stakeholders.

What You'll Get

A competitive salary of £61,000 - £72,000 dependent on experience and capability. As well as your base salary, NESO's core benefits are the essential perks and advantages that form part of your employee package:

• 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.
• 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.

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 thinking and public value.

The time to deliver is now. Join the energy transformation and help shape the future. Your energy. Our future. Together.

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.

This role closes at 23:59, on the day before date shown above, however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary. Research shows that some people may hesitate to apply unless they meet every single requirement. At NESO, we believe potential comes in many forms and we're committed to a fair, inclusive recruitment process where everyone has the opportunity to show their talents. We celebrate the difference people can bring into our organisation, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds.