Director of Energy Strategy & Transformation (DSO)

About us

National Grid is hiring a Director of Energy Strategy & Transformation (DSO) for our Distribution System Operating department in New York.

Every day we deliver safe and secure energy to homes, communities, and businesses. We are there when people need us the most. We connect people to the energy they need for the lives they live. 

The pace of change in society and our industry is accelerating and our expertise and track record puts us in an unparalleled position to shape the sustainable future of our industry. To be successful we must anticipate the needs of our customers, reducing the cost of energy delivery today and pioneering the flexible energy systems of tomorrow. This requires us to deliver on our promises and always look for new opportunities to grow, both ourselves and our business.

Job Purpose

The electric utility industry is undergoing rapid transformation driven by distributed generation, accelerated load growth, and increasing customer expectations. The traditional utility model has the potential to be turned on its head over the next few years. There is a need now to create the vision of what this future model looks like for us at National Grid as a Distribution System Operator (DSO) and drive us towards this vision. The DSO Director will lead the development and execution of this vision, integrating new technologies, regulatory frameworks, and customer engagement strategies to ensure safe, reliable, and innovative grid management.

Key Accountabilities

• Strategic Leadership:
• Develop and communicate a compelling DSO vision for NY Electric, aligned with organizational goals and industry trends.
• Build, coach, and lead a high-performing team, including hiring and developing talent.
• Create and maintain prioritized roadmaps (5-year and annual outcomes) for DSO transformation for both internal execution and external regulatory engagement
• Define the financial impacts to customers, 3rd parties, and National Grid based on the range of DSO adoption
• Stakeholder Engagement:
• Educate and influence senior leadership on DSO objectives and progress.
• Drive collaboration and ownership of DSO vision with internal teams (electric operations, control center, regulatory, customer, IT, finance) and external partners (policy makers, regulators, industry peers).
• Represent NY in cross-regional initiatives with New England and UK counterparts as well as with external stakeholders such as PSC Staff.
• Execution & Change Management:
• Drive the implementation of DSO strategies, ensuring measurable financial and operational impacts.
• Oversee proactive communication, training, and change management for all impacted groups.
• Engage with digital delivery teams to ensure that technology supports business objectives
• Coordinate process changes and ensure alignment with business objectives.
• Performance & Benefit Realization:
• Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as grid reliability, DER integration, and stakeholder satisfaction.
• Own the realization of business and customer benefits, ensuring clarity and accountability across teams.
• Industry Benchmarking & Networking:
• Benchmark against internal and external best practices
• Define & monitor industry signposts, driving change based on these insights
• Understand digital product landscape for DSO capabilities and collaborate to define DSO technology & data strategies
• Proactively network with other utilities and industry partners to leverage innovations and improvement opportunities.
• Organizational Development:
• Define the long-term organizational structure for DSO and supporting teams.
• Lead the growth and evolution of the team, including current open positions and consultants.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of leadership experience, including managing change programs and integrating multiple business units.
• Proven track record around regulated utilities, with understanding of NY public policy (REV, CLCPA) and “Grid of the Future” initiatives.
• Experience and knowledge of electric customer programs
• Strong strategic, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multi-functional teams and deliver complex projects on time.
• Exceptional communication skills, able to convey complex concepts to diverse audiences.
• Experience with utility regulatory models and regulated finance.
• Ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels, both internally and externally.
• Commitment to fostering a culture of high performance, continuous improvement, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• A valid driver’s license with a safe driving history that meets National Grid’s Safe Driver policy is required.

Interested candidates should demonstrate a passion for energy transformation, a track record of strategic leadership, and the ability to inspire teams and stakeholders.

More Information

Salary Range

Downstate, NY: $209,000 - $246,000 

Upstate, NY: $174,000 - $205,000

National Grid is an equal opportunity employer that values a broad diversity of talent, knowledge, experience and expertise.  We foster a culture of inclusion that drives employee engagement to deliver superior performance to the communities we serve.  National Grid is proud to be an affirmative action employer. We encourage minorities, women, individuals with disabilities and protected veterans to join the National Grid team.