Senior Consents Manager

Great Britain's electricity infrastructure is undergoing an ambitious, exciting and vital transformation. Together with industry, we are creating a cleaner, greener system, one that protects the planet and serves generations to come.

Reporting to the Senior Permissions Manager (Onshore Planning), as Senior Consents Manager you will join a wave of new Project and Consents Managers, all invested in the accelerated delivery of designated ASTI projects, critical to meeting our net zero ambition. 
You will manage and lead a team of Consent Officers, using your technical ability in planning and consenting to deliver a high quality and economic consenting, and environmental assessment service to secure the required project consents through the development and delivery phases of projects. 

Our main HQ is in Warwick, but we also have offices in Leeds and London, we have existing team members all over the UK as we continue to offer hybrid working from office and home. 

We can offer you the flexibility of an office base location or home working but travel to sites throughout England and Wales will be required.

We are open to full time and part time applicants, as well as flexible working arrangements. 

About You 

What we do isn’t just important – it’s essential. That’s why we look to recruit experts in their field. In this case we are looking for someone who has:

• Proven capability in leading, managing and developing a high performing professional-technical consents and environmental team for the development and delivery stages of projects.
• You will be a highly motivated individual with an excellent in-depth knowledge of the UK planning system, as well as practical experience of successfully delivering consents and related environmental assessments on complex infrastructure schemes.  
• Strategic understanding of energy infrastructure planning and policy managing consistency application of best practice on projects.
• You will have a proven track record of consenting Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, ideally with experience across all stages of the project lifecycle from option development through to onsite delivery. You will understand the differing challenges each project phase can bring and how to overcome them. 
• A proven track record in developing effective external and internal networks and relationships conducive to the above, and to effectively support the development and delivery of construction projects.
• You will have excellent communication skills and have experience of working with a range of key consenting stakeholders, building strong and effective relationships. You will have previous experience of presenting complex and contentious information to large and/or challenging external audiences. 
• You will be experienced in managing complex programmes, project budgets and understand how to manage consenting and wider project risks.  Always willing to challenge ways of working, you’ll enjoy seeking and delivering efficiencies to reduce project consenting costs and risks.
• An appreciation/understanding of Ofgem funding mechanisms and the way that National Grid delivery revenue under the regulatory framework.
• You will have a strong focus on continuous improvement and will relish the opportunity to join a new and growing team. 
• You will need a driving licence that permits you to drive in the UK to engage with other colleagues and community stakeholders. 

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of colour are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At National Grid, we’re committed to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace for everyone. So, if you’re excited about this role but your experience or qualifications don’t match the job description exactly, we encourage you to apply anyway. You might just be the right person for our growing business in this role or another one. 

What You'll Do

You will be joining a growing team of over 30 consents and environmental specialists in the Onshore Planning Team that is responding to the challenge to deliver at least 17 major projects worth more than £16bn by 2021 as part of the Great Grid Upgrade.

• You will lead a team of Consents Officers working on an Onshore National Grid Electricity Transmission projects with positions available managing the development stages and delivery stages of projects.
  This encompasses the development and implementation of consenting strategies, consistent and effective application of current legislation, regulations, guidance and policies and the effective procurement of high-performing suppliers and contractors to deliver all necessary supporting environmental assessment and consenting services both during development and delivery of projects. 
• You will provide excellent technical consents and environmental strategy, guidance and support, reporting directly to the Senior Permissions Manager for Onshore Planning and at a project level to Project Directors working alongside other Senior Project Managers and discipline leads.
• Ensure all relevant consents and environmental activities are delivered economically and efficiently and ensure consistent application of ways of working and sharing of lessons learnt across our portfolio of projects.
• Support the development of policy positions and strategic guidance on infrastructure planning to be implemented across the portfolio of projects.
• Make provision for all necessary consents and environmental resources so they are procured in advance of need and the resources procured are technically capable and resilient with respect to their roles and responsibilities.
• Effectively lead complex and challenging engagement with senior personnel across the relevant consenting and licensing authorities, with key stakeholders and consultees (both external and internal).
• You will build strong, collaborative, and enduring relationships with the Contractor and contractor community, to support the economic and efficient delivery of project consent activities and tasks, managing the discharge of requirements, obtaining secondary consents, and compliance monitoring contractors on site.
• Create a holistic, collaborative, and high-performing consents and environmental team, and provide effective and visible leadership and management of that team.
• Clarify and relay all consents and environmental risks to project program, together with proposed mitigations, immediately; and effectively and successfully implement those mitigations.
• As Senior Consents Manager you may have line management responsibilities supporting the development of more junior members of the consents team.
• You may also be required, to act as an expert witness at DCO hearings and/or public inquiries and CPO hearings.
• Promote and ensure the enduring safety, health and well-being, and personal security, of the consents teams. 

We have multiple roles within the Onshore Planning team supporting the development and delivery of our onshore projects. 

Onshore  Planning Team

The Onshore Planning Team of consents officers is focused on the development and delivery of projects consented via a Development Consent Order (DCO) under the Planning Act 2008. In this team you will be the Senior Consents Manager leading consents and environmental support for the development and delivery of new onshore electricity transimission projects. These projects will be consented via a DCO and can often include associated Town and Country Planning Act applications. This team supports both the development and delivery phases of projects.

You will have major project experience on DCO projects and/or strategic infrastructure planning or policy experience to support the management of consistency and best practice across project teams.

What You'll Get

You will receive a competitive salary between £60,000 – £75,000 – salary dependent on capability with progression in post. 

As well as your base salary, you will receive a bonus of up to 15% of your salary for stretch performance and a competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%. You will also have access to a number of flexible benefits such as a share incentive plan, salary sacrifice car and technology schemes, support via employee assistance lines and matched charity giving to name a few.

About Us

The British Energy Security Strategy set out the Government's ambition to connect up to 50GW of offshore generation to the electricity network by 2030. Facilitating this ambition will require significant reinforcements to the onshore electricity transmission network. National Grid Strategic Infrastructure and Electricity Transmission will make this happen.

Here at National Grid, we connect homes and businesses to power, making sure supply and demand match each other. We make sure the lights are on in schools, operating theatres, and sporting arenas; we’re thousands of people working on behalf of millions of people. 

Our investment in Strategic Infrastructure via the Great Grid Upgrade will mean more home grown power, greater energy security and a cleaner future. 

Whatever your role, wherever you work with us, you’ll help us hit stretching targets and achieve our far-reaching goal: to secure, clean energy that supports our world far into the future. Here, you will be at the heart of energy.

More Information

This role closes on 15 February 2024, however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary. Interviews will be held between 21 – 29 February 2024 via Teams or in person.  

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. 
We're 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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