Complex Cascading Risks Manager NESO

Job Purpose

National Energy System Operator (NESO) recognises the potential of bright and talented individuals and we encourage you to join us as Great Britains energy system undergoes an ambitious exciting and vital transformation. Together with industry we are creating a cleaner more sustainable energy future.

The Resilience & Emergency Management (REM) directorate strengthens whole-energy-system resilience by being a catalyst for change turning insight into coordinated prioritised action that reduces risk and builds capability across the system. REM delivers this through analysis assessments reviews emergency exercises and plans that drive tangible improvements with our partners.

This role is to develop and apply advanced approaches for understanding and modelling complex cascading risks across the energy system enabling NESO to anticipate how interdependencies and shocks can propagate and to drive more effective system-level resilience improvements.

This role can be based from Wokingham Warwick Glasgow and we continue to offer hybrid working from office and home. We are open to full time and part time applicants as well as flexible working arrangements.

About us

National Energy System Operator (NESO) has a key role to play in tackling climate change by transitioning GBs electricity system to net zero. We already operate the fastest decarbonising electricity system in the world with an ambition for zero carbon power operation by 2030 when there is sufficient renewable generation. We are also providing advice to the Government on achieving a decarbonised power system by 2030.

So join the energy transformation and help shape the future.

Your energy our future together.

About the National Energy System Operator (NESO) (External)

In Autumn of 2024 the ESO transitioned to National Energy System Operator or NESO for short. Previously denoted as the Future System Operator (or FSO) the new National Energy System Operator is the independent body responsible for planning Great Britains electricity and gas networks and operating the electricity system.

NESO including all of its existing roles are now at the heart of the new National Energy System Operator. As NESO we will build on our existing roles capabilities and ways of working significantly to create an organisation the energy system and its users need. Our new capabilities will enable us to look across vectors including electricity natural gas and hydrogen and crucially consider the trade-offs between them.

The organisation is set up as a public corporation with its own Board of independent directors with complete operational independence from government the regulator and any and all commercial interest. As was the ESO NESO will be licenced and regulated by Ofgem through price control agreements and obligated to identify optimal solutions to system operations and planning in the most sustainable affordable and secure way for all.

Key Accountabilities

• Define and establish NESOs capability for analysing and understanding complex cascading and interdependent risks across the energy system
• Build and lead a specialist team focused on innovative approaches to modelling simulating and interpreting cascading system risks
• Identify and assess complex cascading risks of the energy system and how failures propagate across energy vectors sectors and time horizons using novel analytical approaches
• Ensure analytical findings are supported by robust technical understanding of the physical energy systems
• Develop and apply methodologies that move beyond isolated assessments to reflect whole-system behaviour interdependencies and feedback effects
• Generate strategic insights from complex risk analysis that inform prioritisation preparedness and long-term resilience improvement
• Work closely with wider REM and NESO teams to ensure cascading risk insights are integrated into system-level assessments narratives and advice

• Collaborate with other REM teams to ensure advanced modelling complements and strengthens existing risk security of supply and preparedness work
• Translate complex analytical outputs into clear decision-relevant insights for senior leadership industry and government
• Identify opportunities where insights from cascading risk analysis can drive tangible improvements in policy planning operational practice or system design
• Establish partnerships with academic institutions research bodies and technology providers to remain at the forefront of complex systems and resilience modelling
• Contribute to the continuous evolution of REMs analytical capability ensuring innovation is balanced with credibility and usability
• Ensure modelling methods are robust and best practice in analytical rigour is adopted
• Engage with industry government and research communities to share insights and shape thinking on systemic and cascading risks
• Represent NESO as a thought leader in forums focused on complex systems interdependencies and resilience analysis

About you

• Experience in complex systems analysis risk modelling resilience analytics or related disciplines gained in energy infrastructure academia consultancy or technology environments
• A strong understanding of why isolated or siloed risk assessments are insufficient in complex interconnected systems
• Curiosity and confidence to define new approaches rather than relying solely on established methods
• The ability to balance technical depth with strategic relevance ensuring insights are credible interpretable and useful
• Experience building or leading specialist analytical teams or a strong aspiration and capability to do so
• Clear communication skills able to explain complex cascading behaviours and uncertainties to non-technical audiences
• A collaborative mindset working effectively across disciplines organisations and sectors
• Comfortable engaging with uncertainty ambiguity and evolving problem definitions
• A strong sense of purpose around improving the resilience and robustness of the energy system
• You believe that understanding and managing cascading interdependent risks is essential to building a resilient energy system and you want to be at the centre of defining how that understanding is developed and applied
• Proven track record of building and or leading high-performing teams is desirable.
• Knowledgeable of the GB energy system with relevant engineering energy or policy experience - or a willingness to learn and develop this expertise.

What youll get

A competitive salary between 73000 - 80000pa dependent on experience and capability.

As well as your base salary you will receive a bonus of up to 15% of your salary for stretch performance 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%.

As we work towards creating a cleaner greener and more affordable future for all we also work towards creating a place for our teammates to belong with professional and personal growth and positive well-being.

• Full support and career-development resources to expand your skills enhance your expertise and maximise your potential along your career journey.
• A diverse and inclusive community of belonging where teammates are empowered to bring ideas to the table.
• Generous Total Rewards Plan comprising of health finance and wealth work/life balance and career benefits.

More Information

This role closes on 19th March 2026 at 23:59 however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary.

We work towards the highest standards in everything we do including how we support value and develop our people. Our aim is to encourage and support employees to thrive and be the best they can be. We celebrate the difference people can bring into our organisation and welcome and encourage applicants with diverse experiences and backgrounds and offer flexible and tailored support at home and in the office.

Were 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.

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