Senior Manager - Connections Implementation and Improvements
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.
Due to continuous growth, we are looking for Connections Implementation & Improvement Senior Manager to joins us. The main purpose of the role wil be strengthening and maturing Connections Operations’ delivery capability, ensuring the organisation can safely, compliantly and consistently implement change while continuing to deliver excellent customer outcomes.
The role leads the implementation of connections reform and improvement initiatives across process, systems, governance and ways of working—ensuring Connections Operations and customers are ready for change, risks are actively managed, and delivery remains timely, customer‑focused and compliant.
Key Accountabilities
End-to-end implementation of connections reform & strategic change
What You'll Get
A competitive salary of £80,000- £90,000 dependent on experience and capabilityAs well as your base salary, you will receive a benefits allowance, a bonus of up to 20% of your salary for stretch performance, private medical insurance, 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%.
Benefits
NESO's flexible benefits programme provides you with more flexibility around your helath, lifestyle and protection benefits, here's just a few available:
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 actin 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
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.
More Information
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
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. If this role sparks your interest but you're not sure you tick every box, we still want to hear from you. 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.
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.
Due to continuous growth, we are looking for Connections Implementation & Improvement Senior Manager to joins us. The main purpose of the role wil be strengthening and maturing Connections Operations’ delivery capability, ensuring the organisation can safely, compliantly and consistently implement change while continuing to deliver excellent customer outcomes.
The role leads the implementation of connections reform and improvement initiatives across process, systems, governance and ways of working—ensuring Connections Operations and customers are ready for change, risks are actively managed, and delivery remains timely, customer‑focused and compliant.
Key Accountabilities
End-to-end implementation of connections reform & strategic change
- Accountable for leading the end-to-end implementation of Connections Reform and major change initiatives across Connections Operations, ensuring successful transition from design into operational delivery.
- Act as the critical bridge between policy, product, programme, and operations, translating reform design into practical, scalable and deliverable solutions.
- Ensure that changes across processes, systems, governance and customer journeys are implemented consistently and effectively across all operational teams.
- Lead delivery of implementation plans aligned to Clean Power 2030 and wider system reform timelines, ensuring NESO can deliver at pace while maintaining operational stability.
- Drive prioritisation and sequencing of change initiatives, balancing transformation ambition with operational capacity and delivery risk.
- Own end-to-end business readiness for Connections Operations and customers, ensuring that people, processes, systems and stakeholders are fully prepared for change.
- Lead the development and execution of structured transition plans, including
- Operational readiness assessments
- Training and capability uplift
- Communication strategies (internal and external)
- Ensure consistent adoption of new ways of working, embedding changes into “business-as-usual” operations rather than one-off delivery.
- Define and track success measures for implementation, ensuring benefits realisation (e.g. improved delivery speed, reduced rework, better customer outcomes).
- Establish and continuously enhance robust governance, risk management and assurance frameworks across Connections Operations.
- Define clear roles, responsibilities, decision rights, and escalation routes across NESO and industry governance forums.
- Provide oversight of:
- Operational risks (delivery, process failure)
- Regulatory risks (CUSC, Grid Code, reform compliance)
- Reputational risks (customer experience, stakeholder perception)
- Ensure risks are proactively identified, clearly articulated, and actively managed, with mitigation plans aligned to strategic delivery objectives.
- Support the Head of Connections Operations with governance engagement and cross-delivery forums, ensuring effective decision-making and issue resolution.
- Lead a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence, driving simplification, standardisation, and quality across all connections processes.
- Translate lessons learned (e.g. from Gate 2, re-offers, TO feedback) into tangible process, control, and system improvements.
- Identify and address systemic inefficiencies, including:
- Rework and defects in offers
- Data quality and workflow inconsistencies
- Bottlenecks in approvals, queries, and hand-offs
- Drive measurable improvements in:
- Customer experience (clarity, timeliness, consistency)
- Operational performance (run rates, right-first-time delivery)
- Risk reduction and assurance
- Partner with Digital, Data and Technology teams to ensure systems and tools:
- Enable efficient and scalable delivery
- Provide clear workflow visibility and tracking
- Support robust data management and reporting
- Lead the implementation of system and data changes required for reform, ensuring:
- Systems are fit for purpose and fully tested
- Data flows are consistent, accurate and usable across NESO, TOs, and DNOs
- Champion the use of data and insights to:
- Monitor performance
- Identify improvement opportunities
- Support evidence-based decision-making
- Ensure customers are fully prepared for changes to connections processes, with clear, consistent and timely communication.
- Work closely with communications, policy, and customer teams to ensure:
- Reform messaging is aligned, transparent and credible
- Customers understand changes to process, timelines, and expectations
- Lead engagement with:
- Transmission Owners and DNOs to ensure alignment on implementation
- Developers and industry bodies to maintain confidence through transition
- Manage stakeholder impacts proactively, reducing disruption and maintaining trust during significant change.
- Coordinate implementation across NESO, TOs, DNOs and wider industry stakeholders, ensuring a joined-up approach to reform delivery.
- Resolve cross-functional and cross-organisational challenges, particularly where changes affect:
- Transmission–distribution interfaces
- Customer journeys spanning multiple parties
- Industry codes, governance, and decision-making
- Ensure consistency of implementation across onshore, offshore, generation and demand connections, avoiding fragmentation of processes.
- Build and lead a high-performing change and implementation capability within Connections Operations.
- Develop strong leadership across direct and indirect teams, ensuring:
- Clear accountability and ownership for delivery
- Strong coaching, capability uplift, and succession planning
- Foster a culture of:
- Change adoption and ownership
- Continuous learning and improvement
- Collaboration across teams and functions
- Act as a visible leader for transformation, supporting teams through significant change, uncertainty and workload pressure.
- Proven senior leadership experience in implementing complex change in regulated, operational environments.
- Strong expertise in governance, risk management, assurance and performance reporting, with the ability to translate insight into action
- Deep understanding of customer‑facing operational delivery and the importance of customer readiness and confidence during change.
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross‑functional teams, manage competing priorities and maintain delivery momentum under pressure.
- A proven ability to create and lead high‑performing teams that embrace diversity and inclusion, foster a strong sense of belonging, and promote innovation, wellbeing, and resilience.
- Demonstrated leadership in driving continuous improvement, bringing creative and innovative ideas to the forefront and delivering measurable improvements in efficiency and effective change management.
- Recognised thought leadership, with the ability to influence and engage a broad range of internal and external senior stakeholders and customers.
- Strong communication and influencing skills, including with senior leaders, regulators and external stakeholders.
What You'll Get
A competitive salary of £80,000- £90,000 dependent on experience and capabilityAs well as your base salary, you will receive a benefits allowance, a bonus of up to 20% of your salary for stretch performance, private medical insurance, 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%.
Benefits
NESO's flexible benefits programme provides you with more flexibility around your helath, 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
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 actin 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
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.
More Information
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
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. If this role sparks your interest but you're not sure you tick every box, we still want to hear from you. 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.