Innovation Workstream Lead - Constellation

This Innovation Workstream Lead - Constellation will report to the Innovation Lead and will work within the Strategy, Safety & Support Services Innovation Team based in our London office. You will be a permanent employee., UK Power Networks is proud to be the most reliable, most innovative and lowest price electricity distribution group. The Innovation Team has delivered over 50 solutions over the past 5 years delivering more than £300m of savings.

The purpose of your work will involve leading the digitalisation & cyber security related workstreams in our flagship innovation project - Constellation (UK Power Networks Innovation - Constellation). Constellation aims to facilitate net zero by transforming our substations to become digital, secure and connected and unlocking further opportunities to innovate. This will ensure a more resilient network with capacity to connect more sources of generation to the distribution network.

You will also be involved in the latest innovation, mainly funded by the Network Innovation Allowance (NIA) and Strategic Innovation Funds (SIF), as well undertaking high-profile business-funded projects.

Nature and Scope:

You will manage the delivery of new software solutions. Within the Constellation project, your role will involve overseeing the management of digitalisation and cybersecurity deliverables, along with the seamless integration of cloud systems following the project's delivery plan. You will be accountable for delivering their workstreams to time, scope, and quality. You will lead a range of development and engagement programs, ensuring a smooth transition of the developed solutions into business-as-usual operations upon the Constellation project completion.

Responsibilities:

• Deliver multiple digitalisation and cyber security innovative solutions as part of the Constellation project reporting to the Innovation Project Lead;


• Deliver innovation projects as a project manager with a budget up to £1m per annum;


• Lead the delivery of the Open Innovation Competition within project Constellation;


• Manage technology providers to ensure software is delivered to time, scope and cost;


• Ensure siteworks and solutions development are progressed following the project plan;


• Manage functional and non-functional requirements based on project findings with senior partners across UK Power Networks and the project team;


• Lead project specific procurement activities such as defining/managing tenders and reviewing deliverables to release supplier payments;


• Ensure innovation software design is integrable and aligns with wider UK Power Networks software strategy;


• Lead troubleshooting activities and manage software issues and resolutions by partnering with UKPN support services and suppliers;


• Manage software testing activities and live trials in collaboration with UK Power Networks partners and project partners;


• Support in creating business impact assessments for new software solutions;


• Detail the strategies and leading activities that help trial innovation projects to transition to business as usual;


• Define and lead the development of user training strategies;


• Ensure works are managed and delivered in compliance with relevant internal and external standards, procedures, and governance; including documentation & to comply with stage-gated governance and monthly project health reporting;


• Prepare progress and technical reports that are submitted to Ofgem and published on UK Power Networks' website;


• Manage project risks and changes as they arise; and where an issue needs to be escalated to senior management, prepare briefings, options, and advice to ensure a timely decision;


• Engage directly and build relationships with our partners including:


• Senior managers within UK Power Networks;


• Subject matter experts within UK Power Networks;


• Technical representatives at technology vendors;


• Senior researchers at academic institutions;


• Support continuous improvement, including:


• Implement and communicate project management best practices through internal and external industry benchmarking;


• Contribute to the Innovation Team's business plan and strategy;


• Support colleagues to ensure the Innovation Team's overall portfolio of projects is delivered.


• Lead the latest innovation activities and support in benefits tracking post completion
  
  You will have project management to deliver innovative solutions for which no blueprint already exists. We ask that you have good relationship development skills and can manage the delivery of new software., Batchelor's degree or equivalent in engineering, computer science, and/or Information technology;


• Project management skills, and be able to present recommendations to partners, and translating technical information for non-technical teams;


• An understanding of software development life cycles;


• Experience in procurement activities and managing project related tenders;


• Experience managing software suppliers throughout a project lifecycle;


• Adaptability when it comes to changes and be comfortable with ambiguity - innovation is a changing environment where sometimes no 'blueprint' exists;


• Be curious - it's essential you have the initiative to make decisions yourself, and can find solutions to novel problems without lots of help and support;


• You'll need to understand the problems and requirements of the business and find solutions;


• Knowledge of network services AZURE/SCADA/DMS/OMS/DERMS systems; and


• An understanding of type 1 virtualisation technology, including VMWare and KVM


Desirable:

• Project management qualification is preferable;


• Experience delivering cloud computing solutions and in cyber security is preferable;


• Understanding of enterprise architecture requirements for smart grids and Distribution System Operation;


• Understanding of operational infrastructure environments;


• Experience with telecommunication, including 5G; and


• Experience with electrical power systems, protection, and active network management is preferable.


Skills:

• You can understand complex ideas and convey these to non-technical audiences.
  
  You will attract a salary of £53,864.00 and a bonus of 7.5%. This role can also offer blended working after probationary period (6 months) - 3 days in the office and 2 remote


Close Date: 15/09/2024

We also provide the following additional benefits

• 25 Days Annual Leave plus bank holidays


• Personal Pension Plan - Personal contribution rates of 4% or 5% (UK Power Networks will make a corresponding contribution of 8% or 10%)


• Tenancy Loan Deposit scheme


• Tax efficient benefits: cycle to work scheme


• Season ticket loan


• Occupational Health support


• Switched On - scheme providing discount on hundreds of retailers products.


• Discounted access to sports and social clubs


• Employee Assistance Programme.