Head of Network Control

About us

At National Grid, we are investing around £70bn over five years in our networks in the UK and the US, with a range of ground-breaking projects to expand our networks. We operate across six business units in the UK and the north-east of the US, with group revenue around £18bn.

Our strategy is focussed on delivering the brilliant basics to lead on performance, driving big shifts to define our future, and building our delivery credibility to drive disciplined growth.

We are now recruiting for a Head of Network Control in our Electricity Transmission (NGET) business, to be accountable for the safe and secure real-time control of the NGET transmission network, and for leading NGET’s resilience and incident management capability.

This is a significant opportunity to drive transformation as we build our own control room, to develop our resilience, and to play a pivotal role in critical national infrastructure.

Job purpose

Reporting to the Director of Network Operations and Intelligence, the role ensures we have the capability needed to deliver across our transmission network today, as well as leading the delivery of capability for control and resilience into the future. The person in post will lead a total team of around 150, and will hold the senior operational leadership role with material accountability for real-time transmission network control, NGET resilience, incident management, and delivery of critical control centre capability.

This is a key role at the heart of the energy system, at a defining point in the evolution of NGET’s operational control capability. Over the next two years, the role holder will lead the transformation of operational control in NGET, transitioning to controlling the transmission system independent of NESO.

This is a fundamental transformation in how we control our network, and as part of this, the role holder will also require a strong external presence.

Key accountabilities

Lead the safe, secure, and effective real-time control of the NGET transmission network, ensuring clear operational accountability, robust decision-making, and effective interfaces with NESO and the wider business.

Own and develop NGET’s end-to-end approach to network resilience, encompassing operational and climate resilience, and provide clear oversight of risks, controls, preparedness, and improvement priorities across the resilience lifecycle.

Lead NGET operational incident management capability, ensuring effective command structures, escalation, business continuity, exercising, learning, and implementation of lessons from real and simulated events.

Lead the operational readiness, commissioning, and transition into service of all capabilities needed to establish control independent of NESO.

Build the future Network Control operating model, capability, and culture, developing an empowered, inclusive, and highly competent team able to operate an increasingly complex transmission network.

Build strong partnerships across NGET and with NESO, Government, regulators and other critical stakeholders where required, representing NGET credibly on network control, resilience, and incident-management matters. This will include being the NGET Representative on the senior industry ERG, and other groups including the ENA Control Room Managements Group, and the Resilience and Operations Steering Group.

Interface with relevant Trade Unions covering the unionised workforce.

Candidate profile

Exact candidates’ experience may vary, but we would broadly expect strong candidates to demonstrate skills across the following areas:

Significant leadership experience in electricity transmission, power-system operations, control-room operations, or another safety- and mission-critical operational environment.

Deep understanding of operational risk, real-time decision-making, and the governance required to operate critical infrastructure safely and reliably.

Demonstrated understanding and experience of resilience, emergency, or incident management, including preparedness, command, response, recovery, exercising, and organisational learning.

Ability to lead complex technology-enabled operational change, integrating systems, process, people, competence, assurance, and cutover/readiness considerations.

Credibility to work across organisational boundaries and influence senior internal and external stakeholders

Ability to create an inclusive, high-performing culture that develops scarce operational capability, encourages challenge and learning, and maintains consistently high professional standards.

Relevant professional or technical qualification, or equivalent depth of experience in electricity transmission / critical infrastructure operations.

More Information

Location: the role will require a strong presence at our Warwick office for much of the typical working week.

Salary: competitive base salary plus commensurate benefits.

The role will close for applications on Monday 26th October at 23:59 GMT.

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.