Project Support Specialist

Temporary opportunities are available for Project Support Specialists within our Primary Network Design (PND) team, based at our offices in Pegasus.  One position is for 12 months and one for 6 months, both subject to review.

The PND team are responsible for undertaking the power system analysis and network design associated with both new connections and reinforcement on the 132kV, 66kV and 33kV (EHV) distribution network throughout National Grid Electricity Distribution (NGED). Alongside power system analysis, some of the key team outputs include connection offers, technical reports, capital sanctions and technical support to other NGED teams.

The PND team comprises of circa 60 staff primarily based at our offices in Bristol, Tipton, Castle Donington and Cardiff. It handles significant numbers of both new connection and reinforcement projects ranging in capital value from £50k to over £35m. Reporting to the PND Team Manager, you will be responsible for managing a portfolio of accepted connection offers and reinforcement schemes, from acceptance to energization, ensuring timely progression. You will be required to coordinate and engage autonomously with both internal and external stakeholders to ensure timely, safe and on-budget delivery of schemes.

As a Project Support Specialist you will be accountable to the Primary System Design Team Manager and responsible for project managing a portfolio of accepted connection offers and relevant upstream reinforcement schemes from acceptance to energisation ensuring timely progression. You will be required to coordinate and engage autonomously with both internal and external stakeholders to ensure timely, safe and on budget delivery of schemes.

As part of our hybrid working approach and in line with our policy, this role allows you to apply for a mix of office and home working. Hybrid working can only be considered once your initial training is complete and subject to business need.

* Please note that if you do not hold all the necessary experience to undertake the role in full, you may initially be appointed on a lower salary, until training is complete.

• Oversee a portfolio of accepted new connection and reinforcement schemes.
• Be the main point of customer contact following the acceptance of a connection offer.
• Liaise with various internal and external stakeholders to ensure timely and on budget delivery of schemes.
• Maintain regular contact with the Project Engineer, responsible for the onsite project delivery, and other project stakeholders to ensure appropriate tasks (surveys, equipment orders etc.) have been proactively actioned in order to meet the aspirational connection dates.
• Maintain regular contact with the Consents & Wayleaves specialist to ensure appropriate legal cover is being obtained with the intention of informing / chasing the customer as required
• Support engagement with the NGED policy, Connections Strategy and the Legal teams to close out technical, commercial and legal queries as appropriate.
• Draft and issue customer connection offer variations reflecting timescale, scope and cost variations, and create updated scheme versions in NGED’s Connections management and estimating tool (CROWN).
• Manage and track customer connection offer milestones, and ensure appropriate queue management of accepted schemes.
• Assist with setting up and arranging the scheme kick off meeting (Grid Way Integrated Project Team kick off meeting) including the preparation of the relevant supporting documents.
• Attend and lead, as required, regular connection/project review meetings.
• Draft and secure advanced financial sanction.
• Engage and commission (issue work instruction) various initial scheme surveys with various external and internal providers i.e. overhead line (tower/wood pole) surveys, underground cable route surveys, wayleave instructions, communication surveys etc.
• Ensure all necessary internal surveys are completed promptly to facilitate the timely submission of the customer’s technical reports (P28, P29, G5 etc.) for approval by NGED.
• Circulate Independent Connection Provider (ICP) design submissions to relevant NGED teams for review and, where possible, use knowledge and experience of NGED Policy and Standard Techniques to comment on the proposals.
• Support PND Engineers with production of some Construction, Design and Management (CDM) documents i.e. only relating to PND responsibilities e.g. initial F10 notification, etc.
• To ensure the project remains “cash positive” through the inspection of internal reporting tools (e.g. WebFocus), liaison with Project Engineers and other key stakeholders.
• Ensuring substation, Line loss Factors (LLF) and MPAN numbers are created and issued to the customer.
• Assisting to create and vary formal Agreements and ensuring they are issued and signed prior to energisation.
• Updating relevant enquiry activities on CROWN and other internal trackers.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including report writing, presentation skills and an ability to communicate at all levels.
• The ability to develop good working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ideally have project and programme management experience and be able to evidence a strong ability to manage finances. 
• Have good attention to detail and able to act autonomously within the constraints set by the PSD Team Manager.
• The ability to plan, organise and manage multiple activities and meet tight deadlines.
• A project management qualification will be preferable but not essential.

National Grid Electricity Distribution is committed to safeguarding the interests of the Company, colleagues and customers. This role is subject to a satisfactory Barring Service, (DBS) check, depending on the role different levels of screening and vetting are required. Some roles require a triannual check.

#LI-JC1 

#LI-HYBRID