About the role

This is the time for action – we need to move at pace and reform our energy system – to deliver energy security, to tackle climate change and to protect our people.  

Reporting to the Early Careers Manager, the Early Careers Engagement Specialist is responsible for the development and delivery of all strategies relating to engagement with schools, colleges, universities, and relevant Government departments.   

The role supports the NESO to attract and retain new talent to reduce skill shortages, build a talent pipeline for the NESO, while being at the forefront of raising awareness of our employer brand and positioning the NESO as an early career’s employer of choice.   

This role can be based from Wokingham or Warwick, and we continue to offer hybrid working from office and home. 

About us

At National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO), we’re aiming to operate a zero-carbon electricity system for Great Britain by 2025. This means using wind, solar and hydropower - without relying on any carbon-based generators to balance the grid.  

Becoming the Future System Operator 

In Summer of 2024, the ESO will transition to becoming the National Energy System Operator, or NESO for short. Previously denoted as the Future System Operator (or FSO), the new National Energy System Operator will be the independent body responsible for planning Great Britain’s electricity and gas networks and operating the electricity system.  

The ESO, including all of its existing roles, will be at the heart of the new National Energy System Operator. As NESO, we will build on our existing roles, capabilities, and ways of working significantly to create an organisation the energy system and its users’ need. Our new capabilities will enable us to look across vectors, including electricity, natural gas and hydrogen, and crucially consider the trade-offs between them.  

The organisation will be set up as a public corporation with its own Board of independent directors, with complete operational independence from government, the regulator and any and all commercial interest. As the ESO are today, NESO will be licenced and regulated by Ofgem through price control agreements and obligated to identify optimal solutions to system operations and planning in the most sustainable, affordable and secure way for all.  

The time to deliver is now. As part of our team, you won’t just be touching the lives of almost everyone in Great Britain – you’ll be shaping the way we use and consume energy for generations to come. 

Key accountabilities

• Developing and leading our school’s engagement strategy to promote the NESO and STEM activities; building partnerships with identified schools and colleges with the aim of increasing student knowledge and create a pipeline for our early career’s programmes. 
• Developing and leading our university engagement strategy to promote the NESO Graduate & Undergraduate programmes. Leading on our current relationships with Aston, Brunel and Manchester and identifying further universities to partner with.  
• Facilitating, and acting as technical secretary for, the NESO University Strategy Steering Group and Chairing the University Strategy Working Group. Taking ownership for delivery of actions relating to early careers, engagement with educational establishments, and managing the stakeholder engagement plan.
• Developing and leading our industry regulators, and other leading organisations, engagement strategy to promote the NESO - i.e., Developing secondment opportunities for those on early careers programmes by building strong partnerships with industry regulators and influential organisations i.e. Ofgem, DESNZ.  
• Developing relationships with academic providers (e.g., Department for Education) to act in our advisory role to drive change to national curriculums to promote STEM & Energy industry learnings – identify where skills gaps are in the workforce to ensure students are equipped with relevant skills by shaping education in GB through influencing curriculum and course content.  
• Working closely with the Recruitment team (the Early Careers Recruiter) to identify and partner with external providers to increase and strengthen the NESO early careers brand in the market. Supporting the recruiter to develop and deliver the early careers attraction strategy, to increase the awareness of our Early Careers Schemes and position the NESO as an employer of choice.  
• Responsible for keeping abreast of the external strategic drivers impacting the NESO and identify changes required to our early career’s programmes. 
   

About you

What we do isn’t just important – it’s essential. That’s why we look to recruit experts in their field. In this case, we’re looking for someone who has:

• Experience of working in in similar role within early careers, within the Utilities or a similar industry.
• Excellent stakeholder and influencing skills.  
• Experience of networking and working with external organisations/government bodies. 
• Detail orientated and ability to take a pragmatic approach to work delivery. 
• Knowledge of Early Careers Schemes and other related educational government led programmes and initiatives i.e. STEM 
• An understanding of the energy market, current, future and the recent changes that have taken place.
• Excellent communication skills.

What you'll get

A competitive salary between £45,000 - £50,000pa– dependent on experience and capability.

As well as your base salary, you will receive a bonus based on company performance, 26 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%. 
 

More information

This role closes on 17/05/2024 at 23:59, however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary. 

We work towards the highest standards in everything we do, including how we support, value and develop our people. Our aim is to encourage and support employees to thrive and be the best they can be. We celebrate the difference people can bring into our organisation, and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds, and offer flexible and tailored support, at home and in the office. 

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.
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