Current Roles

Chair (Smart Energy)
Salary: Day Rate / Part Time (Flexible)

The Opportunity

Our client is a ‘Smart Energy’ code company that is seeking to recruit an experienced Chair, to support the objectives set out in the industry smart energy codes and help navigate through an evolving landscape.

The UK Smart Metering rollout continues to provide several challenges, as operational issues arise, system changes are required, and the architecture evolves to support changes in the industry and innovation.

The Chair, with support from a Panel and its Sub-Committees, will need to ensure that user needs are represented in any developments, and that the Panel provides assurance and technical input to the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and Ofgem in relation to DCC services and projects, such as the DCC’s Network Evolution programme.

Looking forward, the landscape is further changing, with consideration being given as to how the smart metering infrastructure could support demand side response and Electric Vehicles. Ofgem’s Code Reform is also looking to change the structure and roles of the energy Codes, consolidating Codes where it makes sense to do so, and licensing Code Managers.

Role & Responsibilities

Reporting into a Board that entails representation from BEIS and Ofgem the Chair’s core role and responsibilities entails the following:

• Support the organisation’s Panel in meeting the objectives as set out in the Smart Energy Code and provide an independent and impartial perspective
• Attend and Chair the organisation’s Panel and Board meetings when they are convened (monthly and ad-hoc)
• Encourage active engagement from all Panel and Board members, ensuring their views have been taken into account
• Ensure that the Panel and Board members act in the best interests of all smart energy code Parties, and is fully accountable for the services provided to the Industry
• Oversee the key organisation’s Panel Sub-Committees, ensuring matters are escalated to the Panel as appropriate
• Maintain knowledge, understanding and awareness of key developments and change in the industry that might affect the operations set out in the Smart Energy Code
• Strategically support the development of the Smart Energy Code in accordance with industry Objectives
• Accountable for development and oversight of the Panel Budget, and expenditure and delivery against this, supported by the Board Review and approve the organisation’s end of year reporting (e.g. Annual Report, End of Regulatory Year Report and End of Budgetary Report) and draft Chairman’s Statement Manage the organisation’s Policies, ensuring these are reviewed and approved by the Board annually, supporting the development of additional Policies in accordance with good governance
• Ensure that at all times, there is an appointed responsible individual for Data Protection, ensuring the organisation’s activities are carried out in accordance with GDPR regulations and related Policies
• Ensure that all relevant laws and regulations are adhered to, and that all members of the organisation’s Panel and Board are aware of their legal obligations
• Ensure the successful procurement of Sub-Contractors Ensure there is adequate oversight and management of Sub-Contractors, including the Independent Chairs of the Sub-Committees, the Smart Energy Code Administrator and Secretariat (SECAS), Legal Advisors, Auditor, User Competent Independent Organisation and Third- Party consultancies
• Manage the relationship with industry regulatory bodies, the government and other relevant stakeholders (e.g. Ofgem, BEIS, Trade Bodies) by attending meetings on behalf of Panel Maintain effective working relationships with key partners, notably the DCC Draft and submit letters on behalf of the Panel to industry regulatory bodies, the government and key stakeholders as required (e.g. Ofgem, BEIS, the DCC, and Other Codes)
• Input into Panel responses to consultations issued by the government and Ofgem Attendance of Cross- Code Chair Meetings, in order to share best practice and learnings

Requirements

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate the following skills, knowledge and experience:

• Experience of chairing a Board
• Ideally strong and up to date UK Smart Metering industry knowledge and experience
• Experience of codes in a regulated industry such as a utility or large consumer industry
• Experience in change management/ implementing new arrangements
• Experience of managing Sub-Contractors and working with partners
• Experience of key Stakeholder management at C-suite level Financial and commercial acumen, demonstrated through previous roles
• A robust approach to sharing one’s own ideas and constructively challenging others within the spirit of partnership and mutual respect
• Ability to drive consensus in a fast-moving industry
• Ability and desire to understand technical issues
• Clear understanding of good governance
• Ability to make independent, reasoned and sound judgements
• Ability to understand interests and concerns of industry stakeholders
• A fluent and effective written and verbal communicator with strong leadership skills
• Good time management in Chairing capacity, and ability to achieve outcomes and conclusions to discussion
• Conceptual agility coupled with strong interpersonal, listening and influencing skills
• Sufficiently independent of any particular Party or class of Parties (any industry player)

• Board Director/Partner
• Consumer Products and FMCG Energy industrial
• London (Greater) Hybrid Working