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 Senior Manager- Connections Operations to join us at NESO.
The Senior Manager – Connections Operations is responsible for leading the delivery of a significant connections portfolio across generation, demand, DNO, embedded generation and strategic customer segments, ensuring compliant, timely and customer-focused delivery while implementing Connections Reform and driving continuous operational improvement.
The role translates NESO’s strategic and regulatory objectives into effective operational delivery, ensuring customers and delivery partners experience a consistent, transparent and high-quality connections journey across the full lifecycle, from application intake and assessment through to offer issuance, contract management and delivery assurance.
The role positions Connections Operations as a critical enabler of NESO’s strategic ambitions, including Clean Power 2030, demand acceleration, network readiness, customer and investor confidence, and wider economic growth by improving delivery certainty and supporting ready and viable projects.
The role also provides visible senior leadership across multiple managers and specialist teams, building a high-performing, resilient and inclusive culture where colleagues feel supported, valued and able to contribute to successful delivery outcomes.
Key Accountabilities
- Champion a customer-focused culture across the portfolio, ensuring customers, developers, DNOs and investors receive consistent, transparent and professional service throughout the connections journey.
- Drive improvements in customer experience, including clearer communications, improved transparency, streamlined engagement and reduced uncertainty in delivery timelines.
- Act as a senior leader in the implementation and operationalisation of Connections Reform, translating policy and regulatory intent into practical operational processes and delivery frameworks.
- Lead a culture of continuous improvement across processes, controls, governance and ways of working, targeting measurable improvements in efficiency, quality and customer outcomes.
- Build and lead high-performing, inclusive and resilient teams that embrace diversity of thought, foster belonging and promote innovation, wellbeing and sustainable performance.
- Support senior governance forums with clear reporting, options, recommendations and escalation routes.
- Lead senior engagement with DESNZ, Ofgem, TOs, DNOs, customers, developers, investors and industry bodies as appropriate to the portfolio.
About You
- Proven ability to provide direction, think strategically, drive change and deliver through others.
- 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.
- Strong capability in addressing complex, cross-functional or cross-organisational challenges, working collaboratively with stakeholders and constructively navigating differing views and opinions.
- 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.
- A strong track record of building, maintaining and leveraging effective relationships with diverse stakeholder groups, including representing NESO at external events and engaging with customers at a senior level.
- Strong understanding of the UK energy system, network infrastructure, connections environment and associated regulatory and governance frameworks.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, including explaining complex topics to non-experts and senior stakeholders.
Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At NESO, we are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace for everyone. So, if you’re excited about this role but your experience or qualifications don’t match the job description exactly, we encourage you to apply anyway. You might just be the right person for our growing business in this role or another one.
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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%.
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
About Us
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 date displayed on the top of this advert, however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary. Interviews will be held w.c. 3rd Aug 2026
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.
