Hazards Policy Lead in Wokingham

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.

Reliable energy systems are fundamental to everyday life in Great Britain. They underpin homes, businesses, public services, and critical national infrastructure, and are essential to economic stability, public safety, and social wellbeing. As the energy system evolves through decarbonisation, increasing electrification, and greater interdependence across sectors, ensuring that it remains secure, reliable, and resilient is more important than ever.

Recent events, including the North Hyde substation fire and subsequent review, and the Iberian Peninsula blackout, have reinforced the importance of understanding and strengthening resilience across the whole energy system – not only today, but for the future.

The Whole Energy System Resilience (WESR) directorate strengthens whole-energy-system resilience by being a catalyst for change – turning insight into coordinated, prioritised action that reduces risk and builds capability across the system. WESR delivers this through analysis, assessments, reviews, emergency exercises, and plans that drive tangible improvements with our partners.

This role can be based from Wokingham, Warwick, 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.

• This role is to lead the interpretation and integration of hazard- and physical-risk policy insights into WESR’s understanding of energy system risk, ensuring that environmental, climate, and physical hazard signals are connected, interpreted, and reflected in strategic resilience thinking.
• Maintain a clear, up-to-date view of hazard and physical-risk drivers affecting the energy system, including climate, weather, and environmental trends.
• Interpret policy, regulatory, and external developments related to hazards and resilience, assessing implications for energy system risk and preparedness.
• Act as the focal point within the Risk Insights team for sector hazards issues, linking analytical insights with policy and regulatory context.
• Translate hazard-related risk insights into coherent narratives and inputs for senior leadership and strategic assessments.
• Work closely with Sector Hazards analytical teams to ensure hazard insights are connected, comparable, and visible across WESR.
• Support the Risk Insights Manager in identifying emerging hazard risks, blind spots, or inconsistencies in understanding.
• Contribute to the development and refinement of WESR’s approaches to integrating hazard insights into the wider risk framework.
• Engage with government, regulators, research bodies, and industry forums to maintain awareness of evolving hazard and climate risk perspectives.
• Bring external hazard and resilience insights back into WESR to inform internal understanding and prioritisation.

• Experience working on hazard, environmental, climate, or physical-risk policy or analysis in complex systems.
• Strong ability to interpret external policy and evidence and assess implications for system-level risk and resilience.
• Comfort synthesising insights from diverse sources and translating them into clear messages.
• Clear communicator, able to explain hazard and climate risks to non-specialist audiences.
• Strong systems thinker, with an appreciation of how hazards interact with infrastructure, operations, and dependencies.
• Collaborative and proactive, with the confidence to engage across teams and disciplines.
• Motivated by improving understanding and management of hazard risks to the energy system.

A competitive salary of £62,000 - £67,000pa 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, 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.

This role closes at 23:59, on the date displayed on the top of this advert, however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary. Interviews will be held Between the 11th to 17th June 2026.

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.