Early Life Support Manager (12 month - FTC)

We have an exciting opportunity for an Early Life Support Manager (Grade 11) to join the Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement (MHHS) Programme on a 12-month fixed term contract. This role requires extensive experience within IT Project Management.

Team Overview:

The Market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement (MHHS) Programme is essential for enabling flexibility and supporting the transition to Net Zero. The programme will contribute to a cost-effective electricity system, encouraging flexible energy use and helping consumers reduce their bills.

Job Purpose:

The Early Life Support Lead will manage the preparation and execution of the go-live process and oversee the Early Life Support (ELS) phase post-go-live. This role ensures that all systems and processes perform as expected, risks are mitigated, and issues are promptly resolved. The ELS Lead will play a crucial role in stabilising the new MHHS arrangements and ensuring a seamless transition.

The MHHS Programme is a multi-stakeholder environment, and Early Life Support will co-exist in an eco-system wherein enduring business owners will be responsible for operating the new arrangements whilst maintaining old arrangements for MPANs that are yet to be migrated. This brings about a complexity not often seen in the industry and will need careful management and coordination.

The enduring service owners will be ultimately responsible for the operations however, it is anticipated that the Programme will need to oversee, and support where required, especially where complex issues may arise and may need complex Design/MHHS understanding to resolve. The MHHS ELS Manager will also be heavily involved in the preparatory stages to ensure that all readiness activities are appropriately managed by both Programme as well as external stakeholders.

There will be multiple stakeholders to engage with and manage during this phase. While the initial ELS phase is a formal phase designed to ensure central systems and initial participants’ systems stability, an element of ELS is expected to be in place every time a new participant qualifies and starts migrating for the first time. At the end of the formal ELS period, it is anticipated that the Programme ELS Manager would have agreed frameworks and processes with all relevant Service Owners to undertake this activity through the migration period to ensure migration plans and processes remain un-impacted by new PPs joining the ecosystem.

This role is suited to a self-starter who is able to work flexibly and prioritise workloads to achieve programme outcomes in a busy and challenging environment. Experience of previous industry programmes or experience of working in the industry will be beneficial.

Further information on the programme, including the plan, may be found on the Programme website: https://mhhsprogramme.co.uk/

Key Responsibilities:

Preparation for Go-Live:

• Assure and oversee the development of the Early Life Support plan, ensuring Programme outcomes can be delivered to agreed industry timelines.
• Oversee the preparation and readiness towards Go-live, working closely with the LDP ELS, Programme Migration team as well as key stakeholders such as Elexon and other enduring service owners.
• Oversee and assure that the frameworks monitoring and measuring readiness for Go-live and ELS is robust and aligned with Programme requirements.
• Ensure that the Programme governance arrangements to Go-live and deliver ELS is robust and fit-for purpose
• Conduct dry-runs and simulations to ensure readiness for go-live.

Go-Live Management:

• Oversee the execution of the go-live process, ensuring smooth transition to the new MHHS arrangements.
• Monitor real-time system performance and manage any immediate issues.
• Ensure all technical, operational, and business criteria are met for a successful go-live.

Post-Go-Live Early Life Support:

• Oversee and assure the progress of ELS phase, providing enhanced support, where required, to ensure key participants in the ELS phase have the support required to ensure key outcomes are met.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and system health metrics continuously.
• Assure the execution processes and frameworks are effective and work with stakeholders to ensure any optimization required is effectively implemented.
• Coordinate with internal teams and external stakeholders to gather and analyse performance data.
• Report on ELS progress to senior management and stakeholders, providing regular updates.

Governance and Reporting:

• Establish and lead regular governance meetings, including Transition and Operational Readiness Working Groups.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of ELS metrics and performance to the governance boards.
• Ensure appropriate documentation is in place for all ELS activities.

Risk Management

• Identify, assess, and manage risks associated with the go-live and ELS phases.
• Ensure appropriate contingency plans and mitigation strategies are in place to address potential issues.
• Ensure compliance with all relevant regulatory and compliance requirements.

Continuous Improvement:

• Ensure processes are in place for continuous feedback and improvement during the ELS phase.
• Document lessons learned and best practices for future transitions.

Capabilities and competencies:

Critical:

• Considerable experience within IT project management, with a focus on large-scale system implementations.
• Experience managing go-live processes and early life support for complex IT systems.
• Strong background in risk management, incident management, and performance monitoring.
• In-depth understanding of IT systems architecture, data migration, and integration.
• Proficiency in using monitoring and incident management tools.
• Excellent leadership and team management skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
• Exceptional problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Highly organised, with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities.

Developmental/ Desirable:

• Customer focus: Identify and meet the needs of internal and external customers, focusing on outcomes and improvements in service and performance.
• Problem solving: Think through complex situations to develop innovative solutions.
• Team collaboration: Work cooperatively with team members and stakeholders, valuing their input and fostering effective problem-solving.
• Performance focus: Assess, measure, and improve performance and process efficiency.
• Proactive and creative thinker, able to generate innovative communication strategies that resonate with stakeholders.
• Strong organisational skills, capable of managing multiple communication initiatives simultaneously.
• Collaborative team player with the ability to work effectively across cross-functional teams.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced environment, adapting to changing project needs.
• Positive attitude and commitment to achieving effective communication and stakeholder engagement.

Elexon career path/ Potential next role(s):

• Programme Management

In return, Elexon provides:

• £75,000
• 28 days annual holiday + Bank Holidays
• Discretionary annual incentive scheme
• Life assurance
• Pension
• Private medical (Bupa)
• Private dental (Bupa)

At Elexon, our employee wellbeing is particularly important to us, which is why we are proud to provide:

• Hybrid working - 2 days per week at our London office
• BUPA health check
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Eye care voucher scheme
• Subsidised gym membership
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Buying & selling holiday scheme
• Computing scheme
• CSR days
• Season ticket loan

We believe a diverse and inclusive culture allows innovation and creativity to flourish. We are committed to continuously improving our culture for our colleagues and stakeholders. Through our hugely successful Diversity Forum, MHFA network and regular programme of activities and events, we celebrate difference and recognise the value of employee wellbeing, which is a consistent outcome from annual employee surveys that we conduct. Likewise, as a community, we like to support each other, and all agree Elexon is a great place to work with a great workspace too!

At Elexon, we want to:

• Provide true equality of opportunity
• Attract and retain diverse talent
• Listen to all voices
• Be representative of the communities we work in
• Be a roles model for Diversity and Inclusion in the industry

Elexon together, embracing differences, listening to all voices