Innovation Project Manager

at  UK Power Networks

Reference Number - 79774
This Innovation Project Manager will report to the Innovation Programme Delivery Manager and will work within the Innovation Team, Customer Service and VICE directorate based in our London office. You will be a permanent employee.
You will attract a salary of £49,636.00 and a bonus of 7.5%. This role can also offer blended working after probationary period (6 months) - 3 days in the office and 2 remote
Close Date: 15/11/2024
We also provide the following additional benefits
25 Days Annual Leave plus bank holidays
Personal Pension Plan – Personal contribution rates of 4% or 5% (UK Power Networks will make a corresponding contribution of 8% or 10%)
Tenancy Loan Deposit scheme
Tax efficient benefits: cycle to work scheme
Season ticket loan
Occupational Health support
Switched On – scheme providing discount on hundreds of retailers products.
Discounted access to sports and social clubs
Employee Assistance Programme.
The energy industry is going through a once-in-a-generation revolution. We are moving away from a carbon-intensive model that relies on large coal and gas-fired power stations, to a dynamic, flexible and interconnected low carbon energy system, with significant renewable energy, battery storage, electric vehicles and low carbon heating.
UK Power Networks is playing a leading role in enabling the transition to Net Zero for all, and innovation lies at the heart of this transformation. With an expanding innovation budget exceeding £20m annually, our innovation team has delivered more than 50 solutions into the business, unlocking £400m in customer benefits.
As an Innovation Project Manager, you will help shape the future of the energy landscape. If you love making things better for customers, bringing people together to find solutions, working with technology, commercial and digital solutions and leading projects, then you’ve come to the right place.
We were named 2023 Utility of the Year, recognising our sector-leading performance in delivering for customers, driving towards Net Zero, and diversity and inclusion, and we have consistently been voted one of the UK’s best big companies to work for.
The Role
We’re looking to bring on a motivated and dynamic Innovation Project Manager to join our team. In this evolving space, you will help drive change and set the strategic direction to make an impact on decarbonisation and the changing dynamics of electricity networks.
You will have experience delivering impactful changes for both us and our customers through managing projects in a dynamic environment.
What you’ll do
Drive innovation solutions which ensure Net Zero, guiding them through every stage from creation to implementation into business-as-usual
Be a part of project teams comprised of internal staff and external partners, empowering them to deliver on time, within budget, and to the highest standards of quality and safety
Be a technical or decarbonisation expert who is comfortable discussing complex technical topics with partners and non-technical individuals
Run workshops with all partners to identify challenges/problems and lead solutions that meet customer’s needs
Maintain and the risk monitoring framework to identify any issues early and resolve them. Your ability to navigate challenges will be crucial in maintaining project momentum and success
You will find ways to make work and results more visible, help to remove blockers and impediments to delivery of projects
Engage partners, including customers, the regulator, government and system operators, to widen market access
Support thought leadership around the energy transition and champion a consumer-centric energy system. Ensure knowledge and outcomes are shared widely across different communication channels
What you’ll need
A degree in engineering, science, social science or a related discipline; and/or
Experience in a project management, technical or analytical role in the energy industry
Be able to relate to multiple partners including leading and influencing partners at multiple levels
Experience working on collaborative projects with cross-functional business teams and external partners
Understanding of what cost-benefit assessments are and good ability to develop cost-benefit analysis
Presentation skills for presenting analysis and recommendations to partners, and translating technical information for non-technical teams
Be comfortable with ambiguity – innovation is a changing environment where sometimes no ‘blueprint’ exists
Have an interest and passion in decarbonisation, change transformation and consumer vulnerability
You don’t need to be deeply familiar with the electricity networks and products (we can teach that), but a general understanding of how energy systems/markets and low carbon technologies infrastructure operate is a good start.
Key Competencies
Project management skills, able to manage complex workloads, and ability to work on multiple projects and work streams simultaneously in a fast-paced environment with tight deadlines
Be curious and self-driven - it’s essential you have the initiative to make decisions yourself, and can find solutions to novel problems without lots of help and support
Creative and critical thinker, be a problem solver – you’ll need to be able to listen and understand the problems and requirements of the business and come up with pragmatic solutions
Delivery focus – you understand how to get stuff done and have previous experience of owning and leading high impact business or academic initiatives
High ownership - you take responsibility for your work and drive stuff at pace independently
We are looking for someone with an understanding of the challenges and opportunities posed by the Net Zero transition to the electricity networks, including what they mean in terms of consumer vulnerability and wider social sustainability. If this sounds like you then we’d love to hear from you.
Application Process
Interested candidates should submit their CV and a cover letter outlining their relevant experience and passion for Net Zero and the energy system transition. We welcome diverse applicants who share our vision for a greener, more resilient future. It is unlikely that we’ll shortlist you for an interview without a cover letter. This is your first opportunity to show us why you’re right for this role.
Health & Safety Responsibilities
Managers and supervisors carry both legal and company responsibilities for ensuring the health and safety of their employees, those under their control and those who might be affected by the work undertaken, i.e. public, visitors and employees of other organisations. This includes briefing individuals working for them and ensuring there is the necessary understanding, competence and application of requirements to work safely and without harming the environment.
Employees will ensure they understand the health and safety risks involved in their work activities and their responsibility to apply the controls needed to manage those risks to acceptable levels. Similarly where work activities can have an adverse impact upon the environment, and where there are legal requirements, employees will understand those impacts and the controls they must ensure are applied.
If in doubt ask!
We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace

Please refer the Job description for details