Marine Planning and Policy

About the role

Shape the future of offshore energy infrastructure

National Grid is delivering some of the UK's most significant offshore electricity infrastructure projects, helping connect renewable energy and support the transition to a cleaner, more secure energy future.

We're looking for a Marine Planning and Policy Lead to provide strategic leadership on marine planning, policy and consenting across our offshore portfolio. This is a rare opportunity to influence the regulatory and policy landscape that shapes offshore transmission infrastructure, while helping ensure our projects are consented efficiently and delivered successfully.

You'll work at the interface between policy, regulation and project delivery, engaging with government, regulators, industry bodies and internal stakeholders to drive consistency, best practice and continual improvement across our marine consenting activities.

This is a hybrid role, giving you the flexibility to work from home and one of our UK office locations, alongside occasional travel for team meetings, stakeholder engagement and industry events.

What you'll do

As our subject matter expert for marine planning and policy, you'll help shape National Grid's approach to marine consenting and ensure our offshore projects are well positioned to respond to a rapidly evolving regulatory environment.

You'll:

• Monitor and influence emerging marine planning and policy developments across the UK and advise on their implications for offshore infrastructure projects.
• Lead National Grid's input to Marine Plan consultations, National Policy Statement reviews and other strategic planning and policy initiatives.
• Provide expert advice on marine planning, marine licensing, Development Consent Orders (DCOs) and offshore consenting strategy.
• Support project teams in the delivery of key consenting stages, including marine routing and siting, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), stakeholder engagement and post-consent discharge.
• Develop and embed consistent marine consenting processes, standards and lessons learned across a portfolio of offshore projects.
• Act as a critical friend to project teams, undertaking assurance activities and promoting best practice in consenting delivery.
• Coordinate and communicate advice from regulators and consultees, including the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), Natural Resources Wales (NRW), Marine Directorate Licensing Operations Team (MD-LOT) and the Planning Inspectorate.
• Provide marine consenting input into strategic initiatives including the Centralised Strategic Network Plan (CSNP) and Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP).
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with government departments, regulators, industry bodies and key stakeholders.
• Represent National Grid at industry working groups, forums and external engagement events, helping to shape future marine policy and consenting approaches.

What you'll bring

We're looking for an experienced marine planning, policy or consenting professional who combines technical expertise with strong stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.

You'll have:

• Experience supporting or leading marine planning, marine policy and/or marine consenting activities for offshore infrastructure, subsea cable, offshore renewables or other major marine development projects.
• A strong understanding of marine licensing, DCOs, EIA and wider offshore consenting requirements.
• Experience engaging with government departments, regulators, statutory bodies and influential stakeholders.
• Knowledge of the relationships between marine planning, environmental assessment, stakeholder engagement and project consenting.
• The ability to work across multidisciplinary teams, integrating technical, environmental, commercial, legal and engineering inputs to support project delivery.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain complex and sometimes contentious issues to a wide range of audiences.
• The credibility to influence senior stakeholders internally and externally.

What we're looking for

Essential:

• Degree in Marine Biology, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Impact Assessment, Town and Country Planning, Marine Environmental Consultancy or a related discipline.
• Demonstrable experience in marine consenting and/or marine policy development.

Desirable:

• Experience of marine consenting or policy development within Wales or other devolved administrations.
• PIEMA or equivalent professional accreditation.

What you'll get

• A competitive salary between £55,000 - £65,000 – dependent on capability.
• Market supplement of £4,500 per annum.
• Job requirement company car (if you drive over 10,000 miles a year for business).
• An annual performance bonus.
• 26 days annual leave (plus bank holidays).
• The option to buy additional or sell holiday days.
• Generous contributory pension scheme - we will double-match your contribution to a maximum company contribution of 12%.
• Financial support to help cover the cost of professional membership subscriptions, course fees, books, exam fees and time off for study leave - so long as it's relevant to your role.
• Access to 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.
• Family care benefits including a back-up care service for when your usual care arrangements fall through (six paid days each year as standard with the option to purchase further days).
• Access to apps that support health, fitness and wellbeing.

About us

National Grid Strategic Infrastructure is a Business Unit created to propel our grid forward to deliver in 5 years, what has been achieved in the previous 30. By 2030 we aim to have 17 new major infrastructure projects live across England, Scotland and Wales.

Here at National Grid, we connect homes and businesses to power, making sure supply and demand match each other. We make sure the lights are on in schools, operating theatres, and sporting arenas; we’re thousands of people working on behalf of millions of people.

Our investment in Strategic Infrastructure via The Great Grid Upgrade will mean more home-grown power, greater energy security and a cleaner future.

Whatever your role, wherever you work with us, you’ll help us hit stretching targets and achieve our far-reaching goal: to secure, clean energy that supports our world far into the future. Here, you will be at the heart of energy.

More information

This role closes on 1 November 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. Interviews to be held week commencing 16 November.

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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.