Strategic BNG Manager

About the role

The UK has set out its ambition to be net zero by 2050 and the energy industry is responding – together we are building a cleaner, greener Britain

To drive green energy forward

The delivery of a significant number of energy infrastructure projects as part of the Great Grid Upgrade to facilitate the UK’s transition to net zero provides a unique opportunity to enhance the natural environment and help reverse biodiversity decline.

The delivery of environment (including biodiversity) net gain (BNG), if done in the right way, also has the potential to deliver significant ‘stacked’ benefits for environmental education, learning and skills – providing broader benefits to our communities and society generally.

To be successful we will need to work collaboratively and in close partnership with numerous allied organisations, harnessing their skills, capability, and experience.

This role provides a unique opportunity to lead the development, implementation and successful delivery of our vision for environmental enhancements across England and Wales, doing so in a way which unlocks real benefits and opportunities for communities, education, and skills development.

National Grid continues to offer hybrid working from office and home and are open to full time and part time applicants, as well as flexible working arrangements. 

About you

You will be passionate about creating a positive and long-lasting benefit for the environment and communities affected by our major infrastructure projects. You will be well organised, strong communicator and influencer who can collaboratively develop and deliver strategic solutions. You like to see things through and enjoy working across disciplines to develop deliverable solutions.

• You have considerable experience in strategic environmental problem solving and delivery and can demonstrate the requirements of environmental and sustainability policies. You are also familiar with and capable of shaping the delivery requirements of Biodiversity Net Gain. You will already have applied this knowledge within a construction environment.
• You will have a thorough understanding of BNG policy and legislative requirements under different consenting regimes, and an appreciation of local authority, community and societal expectations for BNG and the environment. 
• You will be familiar with and appreciate the strategic technical operation of the BNG Defra metric and experience of the range commercial and environmental BNG delivery options available, with a proven track record of effectively and efficiently implementing them at scale across a large project portfolio.
• You will have considerable experience with a proven track record in developing portfolio level environmental strategies which carefully balance a range of factors, including the financial implications of BNG, the management and discharge of enduring liabilities and accountabilities, land rights and ownership, leveraging broader community benefits, using a mix of BNG solutions to meet the needs of individual projects, the portfolio, and the wider business.
• Drawing on significant experience and proven track record of developing and successfully delivering BNG or environmental strategies at the business and portfolio level, you will lead the development of our strategic vision and approach to biodiversity net gain (BNG) with stacked benefits.
• You will have a proven track record of senior level engagement and influence across an organisation to successfully embed our BNG vision to enable transformational change as part of the Great Grid Upgrade.

You are passionate about developing a high performing team that becomes an expert within National Grid and across our industry.
You have a driving licence that permits you to drive in the UK and the flexibility to travel as required.
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

Reporting to the Senior Strategic Consents Manager, you will lead the development of our strategic vision and approach to biodiversity net gain (BNG) with stacked benefits, and drive the successful delivery across our portfolio of infrastructure projects to enable transformational change as part of the Great Grid Upgrade.

• You will lead the creation of innovative approaches to positively transform UK biodiversity whilst maximising broader societal benefits, and drive the necessary business and portfolio governance processes for endorsement and sign off.
• You will lead complex and potentially challenging engagement with senior personnel across the business and external organisations, balancing opportunities with policy, legislative and statutory duties of a regulated business.
• You will build a strong, collaborative, and enduring relationships across the business.
• You will create and maintain a range of external partnerships to deliver positive enduring outcomes across the environment and related education and skills sectors, which you will lead and drive.
• You will ensure our BNG vision and approach is consistent with broader business and portfolio initiatives, unlocks additional benefits and value where appropriate, is implemented consistently, and remains fit for purpose.  You will lead the development of an implementable approach to BNG and roll out across portfolio projects, and ensure the outcomes are appropriately recorded and reported across the business.
• You will represent Strategic Infrastructure in cross business environmental engagement and collaboration on BNG and related matters.
• You will inspire and lead National Grid in meeting its business objectives, regulatory and statutory requirements for BNG, and to implement a successful and enduring delivery framework to enhance the environment around our works with added societal benefits.
• You will create a holistic, collaborative, and high-performing Strategic BNG Team, and provide effective and visible leadership and management of that team.
• You will promote and ensure the enduring safety, health and well-being, and personal security, of the Strategic BNG Team. 

What you'll get

A competitive salary between £59,000  £75,000 – dependent on capability.

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

National Grid Strategic Infrastructure is a Business Unit created to propel our grid forward to deliver in 5 years, what has been achieved in the previous 30. By 2030 we aim to have 17 new major infrastructure projects live across England, Scotland and Wales.

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 May 10th 2024 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. 

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.

#LI-AT1      #LI-HYBRID