Corporate Innovation Manager
About Us
At National Grid, our commitment to a cleaner, greener energy future is powered by the dedication and ingenuity of our people. Join our team as an Innovation Manager and be a part of something bigger—where your unique skills and passions can make a real difference. Together, we are superpowered.
National Grid has a fantastic opportunity to join as an Innovation Manager on a permanent basis. This role is based at The Strand, London The Strand and is designated as hybrid. Requirements may vary based on business needs and company policy.
About The Role
Join National Grid’s Group Innovation function and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of energy. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of the energy transition—turning bold strategic ambitions into tangible, high-impact innovation. As an Innovation Manager, you’ll take ownership of initiatives that matter, translating big-picture priorities into structured, outcome-focused programmes and guiding them from concept through to delivery readiness. You’ll collaborate with a diverse range of stakeholders across the business, building alignment, momentum and ensuring innovation activity drives real outcomes, while confidently engaging senior executives and operating with credibility in high-stakes environments.
This role combines strategic thinking with hands-on delivery in a fast-paced, dynamic environment where no two days are the same. You’ll lead problem framing, challenge assumptions and build robust evidence to support decision-making, all while maintaining a strong commercial focus to ensure ideas are scalable and value-driven. Working across different innovation pillars and portfolio areas, you’ll gain broad exposure to some of the most critical challenges shaping the future energy system—making this a highly visible role with real impact.
What You'll Do
Competitive Salary: £69,000 - £86,000 per annum (based on capability, and experience)
Additional Benefits
The closing date for this vacancy is 14th July. However, we encourage candidates to submit their applications as early as possible and not to wait until the published closing date. National Grid’s recruitment periods can and may vary. We reserve the right to remove this advert or close it to further applications at any point during the recruitment process.
We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for all. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates – we make appointments purely on merit, assessed against objective selection criteria. We support flexible working and will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process should you have any physical or mental impairment which may affect your ability to participate in the process.
At National Grid, our commitment to a cleaner, greener energy future is powered by the dedication and ingenuity of our people. Join our team as an Innovation Manager and be a part of something bigger—where your unique skills and passions can make a real difference. Together, we are superpowered.
National Grid has a fantastic opportunity to join as an Innovation Manager on a permanent basis. This role is based at The Strand, London The Strand and is designated as hybrid. Requirements may vary based on business needs and company policy.
About The Role
Join National Grid’s Group Innovation function and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of energy. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the heart of the energy transition—turning bold strategic ambitions into tangible, high-impact innovation. As an Innovation Manager, you’ll take ownership of initiatives that matter, translating big-picture priorities into structured, outcome-focused programmes and guiding them from concept through to delivery readiness. You’ll collaborate with a diverse range of stakeholders across the business, building alignment, momentum and ensuring innovation activity drives real outcomes, while confidently engaging senior executives and operating with credibility in high-stakes environments.
This role combines strategic thinking with hands-on delivery in a fast-paced, dynamic environment where no two days are the same. You’ll lead problem framing, challenge assumptions and build robust evidence to support decision-making, all while maintaining a strong commercial focus to ensure ideas are scalable and value-driven. Working across different innovation pillars and portfolio areas, you’ll gain broad exposure to some of the most critical challenges shaping the future energy system—making this a highly visible role with real impact.
What You'll Do
- Translate strategic priorities into clearly defined, high-impact innovation initiatives—building strong hypotheses, value cases and delivery plans that move ideas forward with purpose.
- Take ownership of complex, ambiguous challenges—structuring them into actionable insights, clear recommendations and outcome-focused roadmaps.
- Collaborate across the organisation and beyond, connecting Business Units, IT&D, Strategy, Finance, Transformation teams and external partners to drive alignment and maintain momentum.
- Develop compelling investment cases supported by robust evidence, including benefits modelling, risk assessment and data-driven insights to enable confident decision-making.
- Lead delivery and performance tracking—managing progress, dependencies and risks while communicating meaningful outcomes through clear, structured reporting.
- Bring fresh thinking into the organisation by leveraging external insights, emerging technologies (including AI) and innovative ways of working, while championing an inclusive, high-performing innovation culture.
- You’re naturally curious and forward-thinking, with a proven ability to turn ambiguous opportunities into structured, strategic initiatives that deliver real impact.
- You build strong, trusted relationships with ease—confidently collaborating across business, technical and senior stakeholder groups to influence outcomes and drive alignment.
- You bring a sharp commercial and analytical mindset, able to develop compelling value cases, interpret data and create decision-ready insights with confidence.
- You communicate with clarity and impact, simplifying complex ideas into concise, compelling narratives tailored to different audiences—whether written, visual or verbal.
- You’re highly organised and delivery-focused, able to keep multiple workstreams on track while maintaining momentum, managing risks and meeting performance expectations.
- You thrive in dynamic environments, showing resilience, adaptability and independence—while staying energised by emerging technologies, innovation and the future of the energy system.
- You are a creative problem solver who embraces innovation—continuously seeking new ways of working, challenging conventional approaches, and confidently unblocking complex challenges to drive meaningful progress.
Competitive Salary: £69,000 - £86,000 per annum (based on capability, and experience)
Additional Benefits
- 28 days’ holiday plus 8 statutory bank holidays, with the option to buy additional leave and swap up to 3 bank holidays to better fit your personal needs.
- An annual performance incentive of up to 30% of your eligible earning in a performance year.
- A generous pension scheme with double matching up to 6% of your salary each month. For every £1 you contribute, we’ll contribute £2 — meaning a 6% personal contribution becomes an 18% total pension contribution.
- Life insurance cover of 10x your basic salary, plus employer contributions towards the cost of your Private Medical Insurance.
- Flexible benefits such as a cycle scheme, share incentive plan, technology schemes
- Access to apps such as digital GP service for round the clock access to GP video consultations and NHS repeat prescriptions, wellbeing app to support your health and fitness
- Access to Work + Family Space, providing support and resources for work and family life, including paid emergency childcare and eldercare
The closing date for this vacancy is 14th July. However, we encourage candidates to submit their applications as early as possible and not to wait until the published closing date. National Grid’s recruitment periods can and may vary. We reserve the right to remove this advert or close it to further applications at any point during the recruitment process.
We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for all. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates – we make appointments purely on merit, assessed against objective selection criteria. We support flexible working and will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process should you have any physical or mental impairment which may affect your ability to participate in the process.
- Please note that in most cases, National Grid is unable to offer sponsorship for employment under the UK points-based immigration system. As such, applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship now or in the future under the UK points-based immigration system. However, in exceptional circumstances where there is a clear and demonstrable need for specialist skills that cannot be sourced from the local labour market, National Grid may consider offering sponsorship. All applications are welcome from candidates who meet these requirements, regardless of race, nationality, or ethnic origin.**