Head of Operations and Maintenance, IFA2

About the role

National Grid Interconnectors is at the heart of UK’s transition to our net zero energy future. We operate a number of HVDC Interconnectors that connect the UK’s energy system to some of our closest neighbours, allowing energy to be imported to and exported from the UK.

As well as already owning a portfolio of HVDC Interconnectors, we’re working on developing new projects to ensure that we are able to meet the UK’s future demands for greener energy solutions.

We are currently recruiting for a Head of Operations and Maintenance at the IFA2 interconnector site in Fareham.

As the Head of Operations and Maintenance it will be your job to make the decisions that ensure that IFA2 remains a safe, available and reliable interconnector. This will require driving performance standards, delivering best practice, and leading a highly skilled team.

You will lead three operational sub-teams, in all areas of safety, operations, maintenance, asset management, as well as a systems and cyber team. Acting as decision maker for operational matters, you will be the first point of escalation for the manager of each of your sub-teams.

When required, you will also be responsible for carrying out emergency command roles, leading on bronze command and attending silver command when necessary.

If you consider yourself as a leader in operational excellence and a critical thinker ensuring you make smart decisions across a variety of areas, including technical, operational, and resourcing we would love to hear from you!

The role is based on site at Fareham but may require travel to other sites/offices as and when required.

What you'll do

• Safe and compliant delivery performance, in collaboration with other areas of the Interconnectors business and National Grid Ventures.
• Taking strategic, directional, and operational leadership of each sub-team that reports into you.
• Collaborating with other heads of teams to ensure best practice and lessons learned are proactively shared.
• Delivering asset health and maintenance plans to ensure current and future asset availability.
• Delivering system and cyber asset investment and maintenance plans to ensure IFA2 is compliant with NIS requirements.
• Maintaining the highest levels of safety, compliance, and sustainability in operations. This includes accountability for safety of the operational environment and zero accidents in the workplace.
• Developing an error prevention culture to enable proactive outcomes.
• Driving consumer value through collaborating on innovation, direction, and ideas with the Customer, Commercial and Regulation Team.
• Creating and sharing a compelling vision of the future and effectively communicating change. Ensuring NG is the employer of choice, outcompeting the competition.
• Motivating and inspiring each sub-team to deliver. Driving strong team outputs through effective performance conversations.
• Owning and championing business change, holding each sub-team to account for delivering against targets.
• Driving continuous improvement by identifying and implementing both internal and external best practice.

What you'll need

• Extensive experience of leading an operational and multi-disciplined team.
• Experience of managing multi-disciplined teams of specialists as they support internal departments and stakeholders, and external stakeholders and regulatory bodies.
• Experience and competent understanding of HVDC, Subsea Cabling and HV substation plant and equipment.
• Experience of managing high-value contracts and customer/supplier relationships.
• Demonstrable experience of managing and influencing key external stakeholders including JV partners and suppliers.
• Strong commitment to safety and involvement with influential groups or external authorising bodies.
• Ability to influence, motivate, counsel, coach, and develop employees at all levels.
• Demonstrable expertise in problem solving, decision making and negotiation.
• Ability to quickly understand and implement relevant National Grid processes, procedures, and associated management practices.

What you'll get

A competitive salary between £76,000 - £92,000 per annum– dependent on capability.

As well as your base salary, you will receive a bonus based on personal and company 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 is pioneering ways to decarbonise the energy system; from building interconnectors to allow the UK to share clean energy with our neighbours in Europe, to investing in renewable energy generation in the United States.

As one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the world, National Grid is at the centre of a clean, fair and affordable energy future, where tackling climate change and reaching net zero is a key priority.

More Information

This role closes on 11th September 2025 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.

At National Grid, 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.