Connections Operations Manager

Job Description:
CiC Operations Manager – 78647

This CiC Operations Manager will report to the Head of Competition in Connections and will work within Connections based in our Maidstone or Crawley offices. You will be a permanent employee.

You will attract a salary of £84,704, car and a bonus of 3%. This role can also offer blended working after probationary period (6 months) – 3 days in the office and 2 remote

Close Date: 24th March 2024

We also provide the following additional benefits

Annual Leave 25 days

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.

Job Purpose:

You will provide delivery planning and technical operational support to the Competition in Connections team. Engage and work with UKPN delivery partners along with the ICP and IDNO community.

As the Operations Manager you will manage the daily delivery of a portfolio of contestable and non-contestable projects undertaken by accredited ICP’s.

Job Dimensions:

You will manage a team of Delivery Project Managers and support staff engaged in arranging the final connection and subsequent adoption of contestable works constructed by accredited ICP’s.

Interface with Network Operations area teams (or other delivery provider) and Network Control across the three licence areas on the delivery planning and scheduling of final connection works associated with works undertaken by ICP’s and IDNO’s.

Monitor daily ICP activities for quality and compliance with engineering standards and lead the resolution of operational issues or requirement for remedial works in respect of works undertaken by ICP’s and IDNO’s.

Work with the CiC Design Managers to ensure a smooth transition from point of connection offer acceptance to the delivery of final connection works and adoption of assets, and ensure LC15 compliance.

Manage the final adoption of third party built assets and ensuring that UK Power Networks records are updated to reflect all third party built networks and assets.

Liaise with the Agreements Team to ensure that Inset Networks are not energised before a BTS agreement being in place and where required functioning metering systems are being installed by the IDNO for each site. Ensure the contents of BTS agreements are made available to the Agreements Team.

Lead on the implementation of the connections code of practice initiatives and extension to contestability pilots through to business as usual.

Liaise with Asset Management, Health and Safety and other UKPN teams to formulate policy and procedures to allow ICP’s to extend the range of their activities.

Work with the Head of Competition in Connections and the Design Manager’s to further develop the technical capability of the team.

Determine and organise the most appropriate route of delivery for larger projects i.e. using Network Operations, Capital Programme or other contractor resources.

Ensure work delivered through our internal (Network Operations and Capital Programme) or external delivery partners is completed within time and budget.

Principal Accountabilities:

Financial:

Ensure delivery team’s compliance with Common Connection Charge Methodology

Identify any cost shortfall within quotes and feedback to design team

Financial Review of completed projects to ensure within margin

Manage the collection of cost variations

Customer

Deal with customers delivery and operational queries

Full accountability for the Delivery aspect to the Major Connections Customer Satisfaction Survey

Provide escalation point for customer issues

Manage Connection/Asset management relationship

Process:

Manage and apply CiC Code of Practice work-streams, ensuring compliance with SLC52

Manage SLC15 compliance, standard 3

Manage the engagement of ICP’s operating in UK Power Networks area

Develop and implement new procedures for connections code of practice and extension to contestability pilots

Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications and Experience:

You will be qualified to a minimum of HNC or equivalent standard in electrical power engineering.

Also you will demonstrate the following competencies:

High Level of Customer Focus

Add value to the customer experience and complete project deliverables

Resolve customer issues and looks for development opportunities

Policy

An understanding of Design Policy & Connection Charge Policy

An understanding of operational procedures affecting connections projects

Team Working

Manage and integrate well in a team and promote good team work

Imparts knowledge to other members of the team without prompting

Initiative

Act in the interest of the company to develop the business to agreed objectives

Progress new projects from concept to implementation

Technical Knowledge

You will have a high level of understanding of the technical design and operational aspects of the distribution system and the health, safety and CDM that impact daily network operations

Nature and Scope:

The CiC Team is accountable for all ICP and IDNO customer enquiries that are managed through the Connections Projects Gateway. The CiC Operations Manager will deal daily with ICP and IDNO companies building connections on behalf of their customers for connection and adoption onto UK Power Networks distribution system.

The Operations Manager will be the main contact internally and externally for the CiC Team on delivery planning and operational matters, and will lead for the CiC team in the development of code of practice and extension to contestability initiatives

Health & Safety Responsibilities

Managers and supervisors carry both legal and company responsibilities for ensuring the health and safety of their employees, those under their control and those who might be affected by the work undertaken, i.e. public, visitors and employees of other organisations. This includes briefing individuals working for them and ensuring there is the necessary understanding, competence and application of requirements to work safely and without harming the environment.

Employees will ensure they understand the health and safety risks involved in their work activities and their responsibility to apply the controls needed to manage those risks to acceptable levels. Similarly where work activities can have an adverse impact upon the environment, and where there are legal requirements, employees will understand those impacts and the controls they must ensure are applied.

If in doubt ask!

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, colour, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression, or veteran status. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

Job Reference:
221271302