Head of Dev & Statutory Process

Job Description

Join SP Energy Networks (SPEN), part of the ScottishPower Group, and be a driving force behind one of the UK's most ambitious infrastructure transformation. With over £10 billion planned investment in transmission projects across central and southern Scotland by 2031, we're building the backbone of a Net Zero future-and we need visionary commercial leaders to help us get there.

This is your opportunity to lead from the front, designing and delivering innovative commercial and contract strategies that will power the UK's transition to clean energy. You'll be at the heart of a dynamic, forward-thinking team, working at pace to meet the Scottish and UK Government's 2030 climate targets and beyond.

At SPEN, you'll be part of a purpose-driven organisation that's tackling climate change head-on. You'll work alongside passionate professionals across SPEN, the Iberdrola Group, and key external partners, gaining exposure to cutting-edge projects and strategic decision-making.

We believe our people are our greatest asset. That's why we foster a culture of ownership, innovation, and continuous development. We invest in our teams, encourage bold ideas, and support career growth-because when you thrive, we all succeed.

What you'll be doing

As Head of Development and Statutory Process, you'll lead the overall management, delivery, strategic development of all statutory consenting co-ordination and support activities across SP Transmission's RIIO-T3 capital investment programme. Taking responsibility for establishing and maintaining robust governance frameworks to ensure the effective coordination of statutory activities across Project, Land & Planning, Estates, and Legal teams.

Within this role, you will manage three project teams which will work across the Strategic, Core and HVDC Projects functions that provide specialist support and driving continuous improvement, resource strategy, and cross-functional collaboration to support the successful delivery of over £11bn in transmission investment.

Key responsibilities include:

Strategic Leadership & Governance

• Responsible for the leadership, vision and strategic direction.
• Ensuring compliance with statutory obligations, regulatory frameworks, and licence conditions.
• Collaborating to ensure co-ordination of documentation across statutory engagement, public inquiries, and legal documentation.
• Leading the governance of the co-ordination and support of witnesses from across SPEN and external partners during hearings and enquiries.

Team & Resource Management

• Lead and develop a team of Statutory Consents Support Leads and statutory process co-ordination specialists, optimising use of resources through consideration of project complexity and risk.
• Oversee workforce planning, recruitment, and professional development to meet growing programme demands.
• Champion a culture of performance, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Influence
• Represent SP Transmission in high-level discussions with OFGEM, NESO, Scottish Government, and other Transmission Operators.
• Ensure strategic oversight of the documentation co-ordination activities associated with public consultations, statutory negotiations, and inquiry support.
• Promote and embed effective communication, providing direction and acting as the point of escalation for the team and colleagues across interfacing Directorates.
• Direct and ensure collaboration across Project, Land & Planning, Estates and Legal teams and, when necessary, with government, regulators, and strategic partners.

Programme Integration & Delivery

• Ensure consenting activities are fully integrated with project, land, legal, and planning functions.
• Oversee the development of necessary support IT systems to underpin the statutory consent processes with robust risk criteria.
• Lead the governance for monitoring of programme milestones and interventions to resolve risks or delays impacting site access or statutory compliance, identified and maintained throughout the project lifecycle.
• Drive capital efficiency and quality assurance and ensure consistency of approach.

Performance & Reporting

• Establish research and insight practices into team from current projects to gather intelligence for future pipeline of work.
• Lead development of programme performance KPIs and reports tailored to meet the needs of all levels of stakeholders across SPT and other interfacing Directorates.
• Lead the development and review of KPIs to demonstrate measures of success.
• Accountable for the submission, accuracy and timely completion of reports.

Systems, Data & Process Improvement

• Accountable for the development and implementation of collaborative platforms and data management systems to support statutory record integrity.
• Accountable for the Development and implementation of rigorous document management and storage protocols to ensure the integrity of audit trails and the secure handling of evidentiary materials.
• Ensure systems are designed to support regulatory compliance and facilitate judicial review through the systematic collation of all necessary statutory documentation.
• Champion and govern tactical and strategic continuous improvement initiatives for documentation collation, standardisation and statutory process delivery including other activities relevant to the success of the team.

What you'll bring

We're looking for a strategic leader with deep commercial expertise and a passion for innovation.

As a minimum, you will have:

• Relevant degree qualification and/or postgraduate qualification or equivalent experience relating to delivery of large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Experience in a programme management environment of multiple projects and disciplines.
• Experience of managing complex programmes, contracts, and statutory consent processes.
• Proven record in high profile leadership roles.
• Experience of creating and forming new teams and processes.
• Assessing complex environments strategically whilst maintaining BAU deliverables.

Due to the level of this position, successful candidates will be required to complete additional background checks and any offer is subject to passing such checks.

What's in it for you

As well as a competitive salary which is reviewed annually, you can also enjoy a number of other benefits. With our pension scheme, we'll double match your contribution up to a company contribution of 10%.

At ScottishPower, we believe it's the little things we do in life that make a big difference. From helping you look after your family's wellbeing, save for your future and take personal steps for climate action - our benefits are designed to help you do just that - so that you have everything you need to take care of your world - today and tomorrow. That's why our benefits include:

• 36 days annual leave
• Holiday purchase - perfect your work/life balance with extra annual leave
• Share Incentive Plan and Sharesave Scheme
• Payroll giving and charity matched funding
• Technology Vouchers - save more and spread the cost of your technology purposes
• Count us in - pledge to reduce carbon emissions and help fight climate change
• Electric Vehicle Schemes - to help you transition to green/clean driving
• Cycle to Work scheme and public transport season ticket loans
• Options to purchase dental insurance, private medical insurance, health cash plan and annual health assessments
• Life Assurance (4x salary)
• Access to SmartSave financial wellbeing support
• Plus shopping, leisure, restaurant and gym discounts, and unique employee deals on travel insurance and more

Why SP Energy Networks

SP Energy Networks is part of the Iberdrola Group, one of the world's largest integrated utility companies and a world leader in wind energy. We keep electricity flowing to homes and businesses through Central and Southern Scotland, North Wales and in the North West of England. We operate over 4000km of cables and lines that make-up the transmission network - connecting infrastructure like wind farms into the electricity system. It's a role that puts us right at the heart of Scotland's ambition to be Net Zero by 2044. And we're taking it very seriously. We're investing >£5.5 billion into our transmission network, directly supporting the rapid growth needed in renewable energy. With diverse opportunities across our businesses and a commitment to invest in our own internal talent, ScottishPower can offer people real career opportunities that meet personal and professional goals, in a global organisation.

Inclusion, diversity, and a social purpose are at the heart of everything we do. Together with our values, they bring us together into a stronger, more sustainable business with direct links to the communities we serve. It takes all kinds of people to build a large-scale business like ours, so whatever your background, you'll fit right in.

We are committed to providing reasonable support or adjustments in our recruiting processes for candidates with disabilities, long term conditions, mental health conditions, or who are neurodivergent or require pregnancy-related support. If you need support, please reach out to [email protected].

Mobility

Please note that any applicant who is not a citizen of the country of the vacancy will be subject to compliance with the applicable immigration requirements to legally work in that country. If/when required, the Company will support the employee with the necessary Immigration requirements.