Grid Connections Manager (m/w/d)

Job Description

Our mission is to make clean power accessible, to accelerate the shift to zero-carbon power and transport around the world. We are passionate about making a positive impact on communities and the environment where we work.

We’re designing, financing, building and operating the world’s most sophisticated battery systems to enable the take up of more renewable power, electrifying fleets for cleaner air, and providing clean, portable power including repurposed electric vehicle batteries. Our proprietary software and data analysis optimises operational performance for our customers to reduce emissions and costs.

Since we began in 2017, we’ve raised over £2 billion in debt and equity funding and transformed it into >1GW of grid-connected batteries live or under contract and c.2,000 electric vehicles supported. We have operations in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Benelux, the USA and a global headquarters in London.

We’re the leading owner and operator of battery storage in the UK, supporting the National Grid with the uptake of renewable power. We also work with c.90% of the UK's major bus companies, powering 25% of the UK e-bus market. We’re also the number one owner and operator of e-buses in Australia and New Zealand, and are quickly expanding into light commercial vehicles and trucks. Our rapidly growing company is looking for highly talented and motivated people to join us.

The Opportunity

We are looking to recruit an experienced professional to act as Zenobe’s lead person on all matters related to connection applications, connection agreements, connection process, and relationship management with network companies and operators.

The candidate will have an in-depth knowledge and all stages of the GB transmission connection process including application, contract and milestone management, and Grid Code compliance and an excellent understanding of the main stakeholders within the GB electricity transmission industry (e.g. DNOs, TO, NESO, and Ofgem) and how these organisations interact with one another specifically with respect to facilitating customer connections.

The candidate will act as Zenobe’s main point of contact with these organisations and will seek to build strategic relationships at working and senior levels ensures Zenobe can work effectively with our network partners to deliver our portfolio of transmission connection projects.

The candidate will bring proven experience and understanding of the GB transmission system User connections processes, including the ability to prepare applications, assess connection offers, communicate technical requirements to our Engineering teams and delivery partners, manage administrative elements of connection agreements (e.g. securities and milestones), and work with NESO and relevant Transmission Owners to demonstrate all requirements of our connection agreements and the compliance process are met.

The candidate will lead Zenobe’s engagement with industry policy development (e.g. connections reform) to understand how proposed changes these will affect Zenobe and influence outcomes to our benefit.

It will be a requirement to hit the ground running and to be comfortable operating at a rapid pace at times with levels of ambiguity and the pressure of deadlines.

A Taste of the Day to Day

• Lead all aspects of the grid connection process including applications, review of offers, management of securities, management of milestones, and ensure an effective process is put in place to complete compliance activities to allow issue of EON/IONs from NESO in line with programme.
• Lead engagement with NESO and TO customer account managers to effectively escalate and resolve any issues encountered by Zenobe project teams.
• Work with Zenobe’s Business Development and Project Development teams to assess future connection options or M&A opportunities.
• Identify all technical requirements included in Zenobe connection agreements and ensure these are adequately captured in our Employer’s Requirements and suppliers’ designs.
• Lead engagement with NESO and the relevant TO or DNO to coordinate the Grid Code compliance / ONCC process to ensure EON and ION are issued in line with our project programmes.

Health and Safety

• Actively contribute to Zenobe's commitment to health and safety, wellbeing and sustainability by; integrating these principles into daily responsibilities, ensuring a safe and supportive work environment, promoting both the physical and mental health of self and colleagues, and adopting sustainable and energy-efficient practices to minimize environmental impact. By doing so, each employee at Zenobe plays a vital role in fostering a culture that prioritises overall safety, holistic wellbeing, environmental sustainability in our business operations.

What We’re Looking For

We realise that certain groups of people are less likely to apply for a role if they don’t meet 100% of the job requirements. To be absolutely clear: if you like the look of this job and think you could do it well, we encourage you to apply with a CV that highlights your transferable skills and experience. Above all, Zenobē is looking for collaborative, flexible, empathetic people who are interested in creating and promoting practical routes to a zero carbon world.

Essential Technical Competencies

• Proven experience in transmission system User connection process.
• Excellent understanding of connection agreements, GB Grid Code, CUSC, and SQSS.
• Excellent understanding of regulatory and policy issues in the GB electricity transmission connections sector.
• Fluent in Microsoft office applications including PowerPoint, Excel, and Word.

Essential Competencies

• High quality education (bachelor’s or master’s degree), preferably electrical engineering or similar but other disciplines accepted.
• A genuine passion in clean energy and our social and environmental mission
• Proven ability to build strategic relationships with external stakeholders and to influence processes and decision making to secure desired outcomes.
• Excellent communication skills, capable of presenting technical results and implications
• Strong organisation skills, team player and good attention to detail
• Knowledge of the UK energy landscape
• Results oriented who is not scared of taking accountability
• Desire to work in a fast moving, high pressure and entrepreneurial environment

Desirable Competencies

• Knowledge of either the US and / or the Australian energy landscapes and connection processes
• Previous working experience with BESS systems greater than 50MW
• Ability to work in the HQ in London
• Experience working on transmission connected assets / projects at voltage levels of 132kV and above.

Working at Zenobe

We’re passionate about sustainability and are proud to offer Team Zenobē a pioneering and collaborative working environment. We encourage our people to take ownership of their career progression and celebrate those that can think outside the box.

If you’d like to join our community of likeminded people hit the apply button now, we’d love to hear from you!

What We Offer

Charge your career at Zenobē and receive

• Up to 33% annual bonus for being awesome
• 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays
• Private Medical Insurance
• £1,500 training budget per year, to ensure you grow as we do
• EV Salary Sacrifice Scheme
• Pension scheme, up to 8% matched contributions
• Enhanced parental leave
• Cash back health plan
• Plus more

Lots of our people work flexibly in many different ways, including part-time, flexitime and hybrid working. We can’t promise to give you exactly what you want, but please talk to us about the flexibility you need and let’s see how we can make it work.

Our Approach to Diversity and Inclusion

Our people are our strongest asset and the key determinant of our success, and we value a range of skillsets and perspectives. As an equal opportunity employer, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute. We work to provide equal opportunities and an inclusive work environment, where everyone is fairly treated in the application process and through their career at Zenobē. If there are any adjustments that would help improve your experience with Zenobē, please let us know when you apply.