Chief Strategy Officer

Shape the future of the UK electricity market

Elexon is a purpose-driven, not-for-profit organisation operating at the heart of Great Britain’s wholesale electricity market. We play a critical role in enabling a secure, flexible, net-zero energy system — working across industry, government and consumers to deliver market confidence and nationally significant change.

This is a defining moment to join Elexon. We have successfully delivered market-wide Half-Hourly Settlement, transforming how electricity is balanced and settled and unlocking investment in low-carbon generation. We are now leading the development of local flexibility markets through the Flexibility Market Asset Registration (FMAR) service, creating a single enduring register for flexible assets ahead of live operation in late 2025. From mid-2026, Elexon will also provide enduring governance for the Government’s Smart Secure Electricity Systems (SSES) programme, reinforcing our position at the centre of electricity market reform.

The opportunity

We currently have an exciting opportunity for a Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) to join our Executive team and lead Elexon’s strategic direction and market engagement . The role is responsible for defining and delivering Elexon’s corporate strategy, providing a forward-looking approach, anticipating future trends by scanning the horizon and guiding the organisation’s strategic trajectory and priorities.

As CSO you will focus on Elexon’s long-term strategic direction, market engagement, and policy and regulatory positioning, ensuring we anticipate change and remain a trusted voice in the industry.

You will be working closely with Ofgem, National Energy System Operator, the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero and industry partners, the Strategy function leads Elexon’s contributions to market reform, code governance evolution, and wider energy transition initiatives.

Key responsibilities

• Advise the CEO and Board on strategic risks, future business opportunities in line with strategic fit.

• Provide collective leadership alongside the Executive Team to drive organisational performance, strategic alignment, and cross‑functional integration.

• Liaise with the Chief Markets Officer on the development of policy positions and strategic advice on industry reforms, including code governance and market design changes.

• Lead horizon scanning to identify emerging trends, risks, and opportunities, bringing forward well-formed strategic proposals and critical questions for Executive and Board consideration to inform long-term direction and decision making.

• Provide market analysis (working with the Chief Markets Officer) and insight to understand industry trends, competitive threats, emerging opportunities, and political shifts that may impact Elexon’s operations.

• Lead the comprehensive process of developing, embedding, and monitoring the organisation's strategic plan and high-level objectives.

• Conduct extensive market research and data analysis to understand industry trends, competitive threats, and emerging opportunities. They use these insights to inform strategic decisions and identify gaps in the market.

• Work with various department heads (e.g., finance, marketing, operations) to ensure that departmental plans and resources align with the overall corporate strategy.

• Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to measure the success of strategic initiatives and report the progress to the executive committee and the board.

• Anticipate the strategic risks and potential challenges to the company's long-term success and design strategies to mitigate them.

• Provide visible leadership to inspire and guide teams through change initiatives, foster a collaborative and innovative work culture focused on shared goals.

• Contribute to the budget planning process to ensure necessary financial resources are allocated effectively to support strategic initiatives.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including government, partners, and the board, to build consensus and support for strategic plans.

• Champion Elexon’s values and ensure the team operates with integrity, impartiality, and collaboration.

About you

• Track record in a previous strategic leadership role delivering corporate strategy at executive level or in a consultancy capacity is essential.

• Ability to usefully translate strategic models into practical solutions within an organisation

• Strong understanding of the UK electricity or wider energy market, including regulatory and market structures.

• Demonstrable experience influencing senior stakeholders across the Government, regulatory and industry environments.

• Ability to define, engage colleagues with and communicate strategic vision as well as translate it into actionable plans.

• Strong analytical and commercial acumen with evidence-based decision-making skills.

• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills and confidence operating at Board level.

What we offer

• Competitive salary

• 30 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays

• Discretionary annual bonus and long-term incentive scheme

• Pension and life assurance

• Private medical and dental cover (Bupa)

Wellbeing and flexibility

We prioritise colleague wellbeing and offer a comprehensive benefits package including hybrid working, health checks, employee assistance, EV scheme, gym subsidy, cycle-to-work, holiday trading, CSR days and more.

Our culture

We are proud of our inclusive, values-driven culture and have been recognised as a Top 20 Inspiring Workplace (UK & Ireland) and winners of WUN’s Diversity & Inclusion Award 2025 . At Elexon, we are committed to equality of opportunity, listening to all voices, and being a role model for diversity and inclusion across our industry.

Elexon together — embracing difference, listening to all voices (and shaping the future of energy).