Head of Cost Management and Assurance

Seize the opportunity to shape the future of cost management at National Grid. Where your leadership will ignite collaboration, drive innovation, and propel our mission forward.

At National Grid, we are looking for a passionate and skilled Head of Cost Management and Assurance to join our dynamic team in the Strategic Infrastructure business. The Great Grid Partnership (GGP) Head of Cost Mgmt & Assurance plays a pivotal role in managing all cost performance aspects across the Enterprise. Acting on behalf of Onshore, supply chain partners, and National Grid, the postholder applies a comprehensive understanding of business operations and industry conditions to develop and implement effective cost frameworks for the Enterprise. This role is integral to the GGP Integrator, embodying the Project 13 principles, and leads the charge in fostering collaboration among Enterprise partners. By building a shared culture and promoting positive behaviours, the Head of Cost & Assurance not only drives cost performance but also shapes a cohesive and innovative environment that propels the entire organization forward.

This role is based in our Birmingham office, and it will require some travel to our London office (and project sites once underway) depending on project and team requirements. We’re happy to discuss any additional flexibility in working patterns or requirements that you feel could help to make this job work for you!

What You'll Do

• Develops and implements strategies that reflect the Enterprise objectives and priorities, closely collaborating with supply chain partners to understand the operating context across the programme(s), to drive sustainable growth.
• Monitors financial and cost performance of commercial activities across the Enterprise, working closely with group Finance and the GGP Programme delivery director(s) and GGP Production director to forecast and develop budgets for programmes and manage cost performance.
• Leads the GGP cost control workstream, providing support and guidance to foster a collaborative and high performing culture.
• Leads the development and implementation of common cost performance management and controls, establishing performance metrics and processes to monitor and evaluate progress. Ensures that performance data serves as a catalyst for continuous improvement.
• Ensures Enterprise activity reflects the highest industry standards, overseeing legal, regulatory contractual compliance.
• Builds, nurtures, and maintains relationships with stakeholders, particularly supply chain partners, to foster active engagement and satisfaction.
• Supports the GGP Senior Leadership Team with the oversight of contingency planning and deployment of processes to reduce risk exposure and ensure timely adjustment; ensures effective reporting to key stakeholders, such as Enterprise delivery teams, Onshore and partner leaders, so that commercial risks are managed and mitigated across the programme.

What You'll Have

• Degree or equivalent experience, Chartered Professional.
• Previous experience in a senior Commercial position within energy, construction, or equivalent industries.
• Proven experience of leading commercial teams, including supervising, delegating, and overseeing performance.
• Understanding of the laws and regulations related to the UK energy sector.
• Excellent understanding of contract, procurement, and financial management.
• Experience in collaborating and influencing at a senior level; able to constructively challenge and hold internal and external stakeholders at all levels to account.
• Demonstrates situational adaptability, able to adapt quickly in response to changing priorities and different audiences.
• Demonstrable track record in managing a broad and multi-faceted workload; balances attention to detail with big picture thinking and displays confidence in executing decisions.
• Proactive mindset, able to take initiative and anticipate needs and requirements.
• Familiarity with industry best practice, champions innovative and new ways of working.

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 are 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 Get

Competitive Base Salary dependent on experience.

Plus:

• Up to 40% Annual Bonus (20% based on personal and company performance and 20% stretch targets).
• 28 days annual leave, plus eight statutory days in addition.
• A full electric company car or cash alternative.
• Private Medical Insurance.
• The option to buy additional or sell holiday days every year.
• A generous contributory pension scheme - we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%.
• Financial support to help cover the cost of professional membership subscriptions     
• Life Insurance 10 x base salary.
• Access to 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.
• Family care benefits including a back-up care service for when your usual care arrangements fall through (six paid days each year as standard with the option to purchase further days).
• Access to apps which support health, fitness and wellbeing.

Further Information

This is a hybrid working role. The closing date for this vacancy is midnight 1 December 25, with interviews due to take place w/c 15 December 25 onwards. We encourage candidates to submit their applications as early as possible and not to wait until the published closing date. National Grid’s recruitment periods can and may vary. We reserve the right to remove this advert or close it to further applications at any point during the recruitment process.

About Us

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

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. Our goal is to drive, develop and operate our business in a way that results in a more inclusive culture. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, the innovation from diverse teams & perspectives and business need. We are committed to building a workforce so we can represent the communities we serve and have a working environment in which each individual feels valued, respected, fairly treated, and able to reach their full potential.

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