Policy Application Specialist (Overhead Lines)

Job Introduction

An exciting opportunity is available for a Policy Application Specialist with a dedicated focus on overhead line work.

Reporting to the Policy Application Team Manager, you will be responsible for planning and conducting independent, in-depth on-site audits to rigorously assess compliance with our engineering policies, procedures, and statutory regulations.

Whether auditing our direct-labour teams, contractors, or third parties, your reports must be factual, timely, and impactful, providing clear learning outcomes and tangible next steps to embed a culture of compliance and best practice across the business.

This is a field-based role requiring extensive travel across all our licence areas to complete your work and we’re open to candidates being based in any of our four licence areas of East Midlands, West Midlands, South West and Wales.

Main Responsibilities

Compliance and Assurance

• Plan and execute a targeted program of both announced and unannounced on-site assurance visits, covering all phases and types of overhead line work to assess conformity to engineering policy, procedures, and safety regulations.
• Conduct and meticulously document assurance checks of overhead line teams against all policies relevant to the activity under review.
• Prioritise and perform assurance checks specifically allocated to recently introduced engineering or asset-related policy changes.
• Maintain the authority to intervene and safely halt work immediately should any significant breach of policy or unsafe working practice be observed, ensuring corrective action is taken.

Coaching and Improvement

• Engage directly with operational teams on site, providing clear interpretation and support for the practical application of engineering policy.
• Identify and champion opportunities for adopting best practice on-site, guiding teams toward consistent, high-standard work.
• Provide feedback for improving the design or effectiveness of policy-related controls, suggesting necessary policy updates through relevant feedback loops.

Reporting and Action Management

• Prepare and issue professional, detailed reports on audit findings within agreed timescales.
• Communicate effectively to describe findings, including presenting to relevant managers and stakeholders up to a senior leader level.
• Agree, log, and classify specific, measurable actions that will effectively address any shortcomings or non-conformities identified.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of key performance indicators and risk profiles in collaboration with the Policy Application Team Manager to strategically target audit work to areas of greatest need.

Performance Management

• Manage personal performance and productivity autonomously to maximise the provision of assurance across the licence areas within the assigned time budget.

Ideal Candidate

• Prior, practical experience working on overhead lines is essential
• Comprehensive practical experience working on and near the high and low-voltage electricity distribution network
• Expert technical understanding of company engineering policies, procedures, and all related safety requirements
• Must hold up-to-date and current overhead craft authorisations, including but not exhaustive: Live Overhead AP/SAP (Authorised Person/Senior Authorised Person), First Aid, Pole-Top Rescue, Substation Access, and MEWP (Mobile Elevated Work Platform) etc.
• Full UK driving licence is mandatory for extensive site travel
• Advanced knowledge of company engineering policy and relevant industry rules and regulations
• A fundamental understanding of auditing techniques and principles - formal training or qualifications in auditing is desirable but not essential.
• Exceptional organisational skills and the ability to autonomously plan, organise, and manage a business-wide assurance programme within time and resource budgets
• Great communication and interpersonal skills, including proven ability in formal report writing, confidently delivering presentations, and effectively coaching operational teams for improvement
• Comfortable and capable of communicating and presenting factual findings up to senior leadership level
• Above-average level of IT proficiency in modern digital workspace platforms such as M365 (including Teams, Excel, and Word) for report generation and data analysis

National Grid Electricity Distribution is committed to safeguarding the interests of the Company, colleagues and customers. This role is subject to a satisfactory Barring Service, (DBS) check, depending on the role different levels of screening and vetting are required. Some roles require a triannual check.

About Us

We’re National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED), the owner and operator behind the electricity distribution systems for the Midlands, the Southwest of England and South Wales. Serving communities of more than 8 million people, our expert teams deliver heat, light and power for homes and businesses.

National Grid employs over 29,000 people worldwide. We are building an inclusive workplace, a place to actively celebrate the cultures, personalities and preferences of our colleagues – who in turn help to build the success of our business and reflect the diversity of the communities we serve. Our vision is to be at the heart of a clean, fair and affordable energy future and we are doing this in a fast-moving industry with an increasing focus on tackling climate change, exploring new energy sources that are renewable, low carbon, and improve efficiency to meet demand.