Programme Manager in Wokingham

This is a Secondment / Fixed-Term opportunity - circa 12mo. 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 or Warwick and we continue to offer hybrid working from office and home. There will be an expectation to visit the Wokingham office on at least a weekly basis, to work closely with existing team & key stakeholders. We are open to flexible working arrangements.

• 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.

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.

A competitive salary of £72,000 - £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%. 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

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.

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.

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.