Control Room Manager

At National Grid, we keep people connected and society moving. But it's so much more than that. National Grid supplies us with the environment to make it happen. As we generate momentum in the energy transition for all, we don't plan on leaving any of our customers in the dark. So, join us as a Control Room Manager and find your superpower.

National Grid is hiring a Control Room Manager to work on site at our IFA1 Interconnector in Sellindge Kent.

In this role, reporting to the UK Asset Operations and Maintenance Manager, you'll be managing a team of HVDC Control Room Operators, a dedicated shift team who are responsible for controlling and monitoring the operation of the IFA1 Interconnector.

You will be responsible for ensuring safe operation of the systems, developing and maintaining a resilient control room team, ensuring compliance to procedures and working closely with all stakeholders.

This role is based on a 24/7 operational site, and you will be required to participate in a standby rota as an escalation point for site incidents and interventions.

The role also comes with line management of two people.

As the role is based onsite at IFA1 we require candidates who can drive with a full UK driving licence.

What you'll do

• Line manager of a team of shift operators for the IFA1 interconnector, prioritising safe operations. This includes setting objectives, planning development and training needs.
• Develop members of the team, deliver training and mentoring to gain Control Room authorisations. Conduct refresher assessments and continual development of their capability. Forward plan recruitment strategy to ensure team resilience.
• Develop and maintain sufficient control operating procedures and guidance so operations are undertaken in accordance with policies and safety rules.
• Work closely and collaboratively with our partners, the National Electricity System Operator (NESO) and TenneT, including representing the business in governance forums
• Understand and work with other teams and our suppliers to develop and improve operational and commercial systems.
• Active role from an Operations perspective, in the Interconnectors Operating Protocol meetings with the National Electricity System Operator (NESO) and TenneT.
• Understand and promptly respond to and investigate all safety concerns and system issues. Coordinate with control room team, on-site colleagues and contractors who undertake maintenance and repair works to ensure alarms/messages are managed
• Manage the delivery of specific Control Room projects, cost effectiveness, with high standards of environmental & safety performance.
• Participate in a standby rota as an escalation point for site incidents and interventions. Enact emergency procedures including fire marshal and incident controller duties during site evacuations.

What you'll need

• Authorised/Previous Authorisation in Operations and / or Safety.
• Experience of working within a control room environment or an engineering background would be an advantage, with knowledge of complex systems (SCADA, HV AC/DC control systems, dispatch systems).
• Experience working within a High Voltage or similar environment. Knowledge and understanding of work on HV & LV systems, encompassing both electrical and mechanical systems.
• You have confidence in your own ability and can make decisions under pressure within a time-critical process environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, capable of gaining a high degree of credibility and influencing with teams, particularly leading a team.
• Safety & environmental knowledge and understanding in respect of day-to-day duties, together with proven ability to respond to emergency situations.
• Experience in managing on-call activities and making decisions in a pressured environment.

What you'll get

A competitive salary between £67,000 - £83,000 per annum- dependent on capability.

As well as your base salary, you will receive a bonus based on personal and company performance and a competitive contributory pension scheme where we will double match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%. You will also have access to a number of flexible 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.

About us

National Grid is pioneering ways to decarbonise the energy system; from building interconnectors to allow the UK to share clean energy with our neighbours in Europe, to investing in renewable energy generation in the United States.

As one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the world, National Grid is at the centre of a clean, fair and affordable energy future, where tackling climate change and reaching net zero is a key priority.

More Information

This role closes on 27th March 2026 at 23:59, however we encourage candidates to submit their application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary.

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.

We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for all. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates - we make appointments purely on merit, assessed against objective selection criteria. We support flexible working and will make reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process should you have any physical or mental impairment which may affect your ability to participate in the process.

Please note that in most cases, National Grid is unable to offer sponsorship for employment under the UK points-based immigration system. As such, applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK without requiring sponsorship now or in the future under the UK points-based immigration system. However, in exceptional circumstances where there is a clear and demonstrable need for specialist skills that cannot be sourced from the local labour market, National Grid may consider offering sponsorship. All applications are welcome from candidates who meet these requirements, regardless of race, nationality, or ethnic origin.

Safety, Health, Environment and Resilience

National Grid operates in both the UK and US, with a broad portfolio of energy businesses dedicated to providing safe, reliable, and sustainable power.

From electricity and gas transmission to advancing clean energy and modernising grids, our work covers every aspect of the energy system.

Our energy flows through absolutely everything we do

Life here at National Grid is more than just our purpose or our values, it's everything we put into everything we do. It's our commitment to diversity and inclusion; how we help our employees learn and grow; and how we partner with and support the communities where we live and work. It's all this, and so much more.

We leverage our collective strengths to do meaningful BIG work so that we can be at the heart of a clean, fair and affordable energy future.

We offer a competitive base salary, with annual reviews to ensure it reflects the market rate for your role, skills, knowledge, and experience.

Incentive Pay

Depending on your role, you'll be eligible for an annual performance bonus that rewards your contribution to our success. Your bonus is a percentage of eligible earnings and may vary each year.

Retirement

We offer a generous pension plan with company contributions up to 12%. For every £1 you contribute, we'll add £2. You can also make extra voluntary contributions to boost your retirement savings.

Recognition

Our global recognition program lets you thank and reward colleagues for their contributions, along with career milestone awards to celebrate key achievements.