Innovation Director

About The Role

Do you want to shape the innovation strategy of National Grid Electricity Distribution and drive innovation to deliver customer and business benefits?

We are on the lookout for a visionary and results-driven Head of Innovation to lead the transformation of innovation at NGED! This exciting new role will be crucial in aligning innovation with our business priorities, accelerating delivery, and scaling high-impact solutions across our regions.

Reporting to the Director of Strategy & Transformation, you will take the lead in crafting and executing our innovation strategy, delivering innovative solutions to the business, and shaping NGED’s contribution to National Grid’s Group-wide innovation agenda. You will collaborate closely with internal stakeholders, external partners, and the broader energy ecosystem to unlock value for our customers and deliver critical outcomes during RIIO-ED2 and beyond.

This high-profile position offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact across NGED, National Grid, and the entire energy sector. We are looking for someone who is not only passionate about innovation but also eager to play a key role in the UK’s transition to net zero carbon.

We are flexible on location – our regions cover the midlands, the south west and South Wales – and you can be based in or outside the region. You must be willing to travel 2-3 days a week as getting to F2F meetings will be critical for the role.  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

• Lead innovation efforts across NGED.  Challenge the pace of innovation, recognising the urgency of our transformation and the need to fully leverage innovative solutions.
• Fully understand the innovation needs right across the business and prioritise where to focus innovation efforts.
• Provide thought leadership, influence, and hands on engagement to lead the successful development, deployment, and implementation of transformative innovation at NGED.
• Drive delivery of innovation projects, ensuring solutions are implemented and deliver business benefits
• Horizon scanning – ensure that NGED is sufficiently up to date and aware of technologies which could have a material impact on business in the future.
• Establish, prioritise, and develop relationships with key players in the innovation value chain, including venture capital, incubators, universities, and strategic suppliers.
• Act as an ambassador of innovation for NGED, internally and externally.
• Raise the profile of innovation within NGED both internally (build executive and senior leadership relationships, collaborate with other teams, participate in case studies, etc.) and externally (speak on panels, participate in webinar, publish articles, etc.).
• Continuously improve the NGED innovation operating model to drive successful outcomes from innovation activities.
• Recruit, lead, manage and develop an experienced team of innovation professionals.

What You'll Have

• Undergraduate degree in Business, Finance, or Engineering required.  Advanced degree / MBA an advantage.
• Ideally having experience in the energy sector and understanding of the regulatory, technology, and business issues impacting the industry and future trends
• Proven experience working in innovation and emerging technologies programmes. Has setup and managed an innovation function and a broad portfolio of innovation programmes.  Able to re-shape the approach to innovation in a large corporate
• Highly technology literate with significant experience of understanding the business and strategic implications of technology change
• Experience with technology ecosystems, working with multiple stakeholders to develop and deploy innovation projects
• Experience in taking technological and business solutions from ideation to proof of concept to scaled rollouts to commercialisation
• Ability to build and motivate a high performing team, deliver excellent performance, and manage a team to do the same with a strong focus on personal development and on the development of his/her team
• Interest and experience working in large organizations, enthusiastic and resilient about building an innovation programme

About Us

We are the largest UK Electricity Distribution company, providing services and energy to over 25 million customers, through 8 million connections in our four regions across South Wales, the South-West, West Midlands, and East Midlands. Over the next five years we need to invest in over £7.5bn of infrastructure to fulfil the UK’s ambition, enabling capacity for more than 1.5 million Electric Vehicles and 600,000 heat pumps and ensuring our customers can connect to our network when they want and how they want.

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.

National Grid is committed to doing the right thing, finding a better way and making it happen. If you want to be part of this journey, apply today! 

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What You'll Get

Competitive Base Salary depending on experience

Location: Stand, Bristol or Castle Donington office with hybrid working 

Role closes: 28th of October 2025