Appointment details

Non-Executive Director Strategic Challenge & Market Design

Summary

• Organisation: National Energy System Operator (NESO)
• Sponsor department: Department for Energy Security & Net Zero
• Location: Various
• Sectors: Energy
• Skills: Business, Change Management, Commercial, Technology / Digital, Major Projects, Procurement, Transformation
• Number of vacancies: 1
• Time commitment: 30 day(s) per annum
• Remuneration: £35,000 per annum
• Length of term: The term length of appointment s typically three years, with the possibility of extension, subject to Board approval and performance review.
• Application deadline: 11:59pm on 21 April 2025

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Timeline for this appointment

1. Opening date

   24 March 2025

2. Application deadline

   11:59pm on 21 April 2025

3. Sifting date

   26 May 2025

4. Interviews expected to end on

   16 June 2025

Timeline dates are only an estimate and can change

About the appointment

Introduction

Energy is the lifeblood of society and the economy. Great Britain’s increasingly complex energy system must be planned and operated in a way that considers the interactions across electricity, gas and other forms of energy. Consideration must also be given to the interdependencies with other sectors, such as water, transport, telecommunications and industry. Traditionally, the nation’s energy system has been split into the two core areas of gas and electricity, but faced with a need for fundamental transformation, the pace of change continuing to accelerate and a clear government ambition to reach ‘Clean Power’ by 2030, a single entity has been established with responsibilities across the whole energy system.

The National Energy System Operator (NESO) was launched in October 2024; a new independent, government-owned body that is now translating policy into immediate strategy across the whole system. At NESO, we are bringing together activities required to deliver the plans, markets and operations of the energy system of today and the future. This builds on the legacy experience of the Electricity System Operator, where we had extensive expertise in balancing electricity supply and demand 24/7, while making sure the networks we operated and the markets we served were prepared for the future. Bringing the broader range of activities together in one organisation encourages holistic thinking on the most cost-efficient and sustainable solutions to the needs of our customers, society and the economy.

As we continue to build the skills within NESO and enhance the organisation’s governance, we are seeking a new non-executive director (NED) to join the board. As well as playing a key role in driving the organisation’s overall mission, values, and strategic direction, this NED will specifically bring the “investor mindset” to the board, underpinned with specific expertise on the changing energy market dynamics, and will therefore bring a focus and perspective on investment across the sector. They will offer critical support and challenge on NESO’s planning and recommendations, which in turn will deliver much-needed long-term certainty and stability for investors and accelerate the growth of the UK’s clean energy industries.

This is an exciting time to be at the heart of what is an unprecedented move to bring an independent, impartial voice to energy system planning and operations, and ultimately work towards optimal outcomes for energy consumers. If this opportunity excites you, and you have the skills and experience we are seeking I would be delighted to hear from you.

Dr Paul Golby CBE FREng

Chair, National Energy System Operator

Appointment description

The incoming Non-Executive Director (NED) will help with the continuing establishment of NESO as a new business and the development of its governance as an independent advisor to Government. They will help NESO navigate heightened political, industry, and public scrutiny, including by managing increased risks and ensuring robust assurance over new processes and systems.

A strong relationship between the sector and the investment community is imperative to a successful transition for the UK energy sector and therefore the board of NESO would like to appoint a NED who will bring the “investor mindset” to the board of directors with specific expertise on the changing energy market dynamics, bringing a focus and perspective on investment across the sector. They will ideally bring the voice of the investor to the board discussion, highlighting to the broader board and executive how the investment committee might react to the agenda set by NESO. They will play a central role in shaping the board’s recommendations and decisions that underpin the substantial investment required to transform the country’s energy system. NESO has already recommended, and the Government has accepted, proposals to achieve a Clean Power electricity system by 2030 and the need to secure over £40bn in annual investment. The NED will play a pivotal role as the board oversees how these investment recommendations are optimized, through careful design, to attract investors, whilst minimizing impacts on communities and ensure that their wider benefits are seized upon.

Looking ahead, NESO is also responsible for producing the first ever strategic spatial plan (SSEP) for energy out to 2050, across land and sea in Great Britain. The NED will provide strategic oversight and critical challenge as the business develops the first iteration of the plan, which will take a strategic approach considering energy needs at a national and regional level, and across different types of energy including electricity, gas and hydrogen. This whole energy system approach will also take into account societal and environmental interests, as well as safeguarding system resilience and ensuring a low-cost system.

With the NED’s input, the board will ensure the SSEP is strategically elevated, and support NESO’s aspiration for energy infrastructure planning to ultimately give investors’ confidence on where to build and when.

The NED should build strong relationships with the chair, fellow NEDs, and executive directors, fostering a culture of transparency and effective communication. Finally, the NED will be expected to support the organisation’s mission, values, and strategic direction, while ensuring that the organisation’s activities uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct and accountability.

NESO is committed to building a diverse and inclusive board and welcomes applications from individuals of all backgrounds. We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to support job applicants and ensure that you are comfortable and not disadvantaged in the recruitment and assessment process. If you require a reasonable adjustment to be made or would like to discuss your requirements in more detail, please tell us what changes you require. Reasonable adjustments are not just for people with a disability.

Board composition

The Board is composed of a dynamic mix and vibrant group of individuals, each bringing a wealth of experience and a commitment to excellence in governance and strategic oversight. Please see Appendix I for an overview of the current NESO Board of Directors.

Person specification

Essential criteria

To ensure a well-rounded Board, we seek candidates who possess the following qualifications and experiences:

• We expect candidates with a track record of shaping the strategic vision of an organisation and its development, ensuring high quality corporate governance, and setting positive organisational cultures.
• We value candidates with robust leadership experience, especially in complex and fast-paced organisations. Their strategic mindset and ability to navigate intricate business landscapes are crucial, while demonstrating the ability to challenge in an effective manner. Resilience to external scrutiny and political and/or institutional pressures will be needed.
• Candidates must maintain independence and have no conflicts of interest.
• The successful candidate will command the respect and confidence of the NESO Board and leadership and other stakeholders, including government, regulators and the industry.
• We seek individuals with sound judgment, emotional intelligence, and the capacity to encourage and constructively challenge under scrutiny. An open and straightforward communication style is vital.
• Commitment to the adherence of the Seven Principles of Public Life – selflessness, integrity, objectivity, accountability, openness, honesty, and leadership.

Application and selection process

How to apply

The recruitment process is being undertaken by Russell Reynolds Associates on behalf of NESO. Please submit your full application by email to responses@russellreynolds.com. Please quote the role title and assignment code 2503-023L in the subject heading of the email. All applications will be acknowledged. The closing date for applications is 23:59 on Monday 21st April 2025.

Your submission should include:

•  A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
•  A Statement of Suitability (no longer than two pages) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria in the person specification.
•  A completed Diversity Monitoring Form available here. We strive to do the right thing and find a better way through listening to the needs of our customers and our employees. We offer inclusion and diversity training for all of our employees, with a view to building an inclusive working environment and offering the opportunity for development.

Please submit all documents so that the panel will have all the required information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification.

Advisory Assessment Panel (AAP)

TBC

Eligibility criteria

In general, you should have the right to work in the UK to be eligible to apply for a public appointment.

There are a small number of specialist roles that are not open to non-British citizens. Any nationality requirements will be specified in the vacancy details.

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. 

You cannot be considered for a public appointment if:

• you are disqualified from acting as a company director  (under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986);

• have an unspent conviction on your criminal record;

• your estate has been sequestrated in Scotland or you enter into a debt arrangement programme under Part 1 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 17) as the debtor or have, under Scots law, granted a trust deed for creditors.

When you apply, you should declare if:

• you are, or have been, bankrupt or you have made an arrangement with a creditor at any point, including the dates of this. 

• you are subject to a current police investigation.

When you apply you should also declare any relevant interests, highlighting any that you think may call into question your ability to properly discharge the responsibilities of the role you are applying for. You should also declare any other matters which may mean you may not be able to meet the requirements of the Code of Conduct of Board Members (see Outside interests and reputational issues section below)

If you need further advice, please contact  responses@russellreynolds.com

Security clearance

The successful candidate will be required to undertake Security Clearance at SC level. Further information on National Security Vetting can be found on the Gov.uk website here.

Additional information for candidates

Equality and diversity

We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom. Boards of public bodies are most effective when they reflect the diversity of views of the society they serve.

We collect data about applicants’ characteristics and backgrounds, including information about people’s educational and professional backgrounds, so that we can make sure we are attracting a broad range of people to these roles and that our selection processes are fair for everyone. Without this information, it makes it difficult to see if our outreach is working, if the application process is having an unfair impact on certain groups and whether changes are making a positive difference.

When you submit your application, your responses are collected by the Cabinet Office and the government department(s) managing your application. The data is used to produce management information about the diversity of applicants. You can select “prefer not to say” to any question you do not wish to answer. The information you provide will not be seen by the Advisory Assessment Panel who review applications against the advertised criteria and conduct interviews.

Disability confident

We are a member of the Government’s Disability Confident scheme. We use the Disability Confident scheme symbol, along with other like-minded employers, to show our commitment to good practice in employing people with a disability. The scheme helps recruit and retain disabled people. As part of implementing the scheme, we guarantee an interview for anyone with a disability whose application meets the essential criteria for the role, set out in the advert, and who has asked that their application is considered under the scheme. Indicating that you wish your application to be considered under the scheme will in no way prejudice your application. By ‘essential criteria', we mean that you must provide evidence which demonstrates that you meet the level of competence required under each of the essential criteria, as set out in the job-advert. When you apply you will have the opportunity to select if you would like your application considered under this scheme.

Reasonable adjustments

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to make sure applicants with disabilities, physical or mental health conditions, or other needs are not substantially disadvantaged when applying for public appointments. This can include changing the recruitment process to enable people who wish to apply to do so.

Some examples of common changes are:

• ensuring that application forms are available in different or accessible formats;
• making adaptations to interview locations;
• allowing candidates to present their skills and experience in a different way;
• giving additional detailed information on the selection / interview process in advance to allow candidates time to prepare themselves;
• allowing support workers, for example sign language interpreters;
• making provision for support animals to attend.

When you apply you will have the opportunity to request reasonable adjustments to the application process.

Principles of public life

The Seven Principles of Public Life (also known as the Nolan Principles) apply to anyone who works as a public office-holder.

1. Selflessness

Holders of public office should act solely in terms of the public interest.

2. Integrity

Holders of public office must avoid placing themselves under any obligation to people or organisations that might try inappropriately to influence them in their work. They should not act or take decisions in order to gain financial or other material benefits for themselves, their family, or their friends. They must declare and resolve any interests and relationships.

3. Objectivity

Holders of public office must act and take decisions impartially, fairly and on merit, using the best evidence and without discrimination or bias.

4. Accountability

Holders of public office are accountable to the public for their decisions and actions and must submit themselves to the scrutiny necessary to ensure this.

5. Openness

Holders of public office should act and take decisions in an open and transparent manner. Information should not be withheld from the public unless there are clear and lawful reasons for so doing.

6. Honesty

Holders of public office should be truthful.

7. Leadership

Holders of public office should exhibit these principles in their own behaviour and treat others with respect. They should actively promote and robustly support the principles and challenge poor behaviour wherever it occurs.

Code of conduct for board members

The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards. In support of this, all non-executive board members of UK public bodies must abide by the principles set out in the Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. The Code sets out the standards expected from those who serve on the boards of UK public bodies and will form part of your terms and conditions of appointment.

Management of outside interests and consideration of reputational issues

As NESO is now in public ownership, a pre-requisite upon joining NESO is that the NED is required to divest any shares, securities or other financial instruments (which are directly managed or invested by the candidate), within the energy sector within one year from starting employment with NESO.

The candidate is also required to declare any conflict of interest that would impact this appointment, perceived or otherwise.

NB: due to NESO’s importance as part of the UK’s strategic National infrastructure Security, security clearance will be required by the post holder.

Status of appointment

As this is an office holder appointment, you will not become a member of the Civil Service. You will not be subject to the provisions of employment law.

Appointment and tenure of office

Appointments are for the term set out in this advert, with the possibility of re-appointment for a further term, at the discretion of Ministers.  Any re-appointment is subject to satisfactory annual appraisals of performance during the first term in the post. There is no automatic presumption of reappointment; each case should be considered on its own merits, taking into account a number of factors including, but not restricted to, the diversity of the current board and its balance of skills and experience. In most cases, the total time served in post will not exceed more than two terms or ten years in any one post. 

Pension and redundancy

This is an office holder appointment and does not attract any benefits under any Civil Service Pension Scheme. You will not be eligible for redundancy pay as you are not an employee. No other arrangements have been made for compensation upon the end of your term of appointment because an office holder who is appointed for a limited duration would have no expectation of serving beyond that period.

Application feedback

We will notify you of the status of your application. We regret that we are only able to offer detailed feedback to candidates who have been unsuccessful at the interview stage.

How to complain

We aim to process all applications as quickly as possible and to treat all applicants with courtesy.

Please contact responses@russellreynolds.com  if you would like to make a complaint regarding your application.

Data protection

Russell Reynolds Associates, UK Government Investments and The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will use your data in line with our privacy policies attached.

Contact details

If you wish to speak with someone before submitting an application, please contact:

responses@russellreynolds.com.

Attachments

• Candidate Pack

• DESNZ Privacy Policy

• UKGI Privacy Notice