Trainee Network Planning Engineer SPN

Reference Number 76541

This Trainee Network Planning Engineer SPN will report to the Lead Planning Engineer and will work within the Asset Management directorate based in our Crawley office. You will be a permanent employee..

You will attract a salary of £37,684 and a bonus of 3%

Close Date: 04/04/2024

We also provide the following additional benefits

• Annual Leave
• 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:

• The Network Planning SPN Team is part of the Asset Management Directorate. The team's role is to design and manage the LV, HV and EHV networks in UK Power Networks regulated SPN area up to and including 132kV to ensure the network complies with all relevant standards.
• The Post holder carries out planning activities associated with UK Power Networks electricity distribution network up to and including 33kV under the close supervision of a planning engineer.

Principal Accountabilities:

• Carry out Power System analysis and design the electrical network and associated projects so as to comply with all relevant standards and optimise synergies between the Distribution and Infrastructure network.
• Drivers to be addressed include: load growth, generation capacity release, protection issues, condition of assets, supply quality issues, fault history, diversions, undergrounding in AONB areas…
• Analyse network issues and propose technically sound and cost-effective solutions across voltage levels. This will involve system studies via network modelling, protection design, equipment specification, site visits…
• Determine Protection settings for the secondary network due to mal operations
• Work with Connections, Procurement, Project Managers, Property & Consents and other company partners as relevant when developing schemes.
• The post holder also represents UK Power Networks in discussions with external bodies and negotiates with customers regarding non-rechargeable diversion schemes and to some extent on other schemes. External interfaces include other Distribution Network Operators, National Grid, Network Rail, Local Authorities, OFGEM, BEIS and customers.

Measures of Success

• Contribute to the achievement of the network performance targets for Customer Interruptions (CIs) and Customer Minutes Lost (CMLs) through optimal network and protection design.
• Ensure quality responses to Connections Businesses, Independent Distribution Network Operators, Independent Connection Providers, allowing UKPN to meet Guaranteed Standards of Performance and internal Service Level Agreement.
• Ensure the designs produced, comply with all the relevant standards, and demonstrate the best cost vs benefit solutions to existing and foreseeable network issues, taking into account constraints in the whole lifecycle of the assets.
• The investment papers, reports, presentations and all other documents are well written and presented.
• Support and achieve the goal of zero harm to one's self, colleagues and members of the public, including but not limited to compliance with CDM.
• Successful presentations of designs and schemes to technical and financial forums.
• Positive feedback from colleagues, management, stakeholders and other organisations.

Knowledge, Skills, Qualifications & Experience:

• Experience with electricity distribution networks, ideally at all voltages up to 33kV, but candidates with experience at fewer specific voltage levels will be considered and a development plan will be put in place.
• Qualified to an HNC or HND in Electrical Engineering or Power System Engineering. There can be opportunity to progress towards HND while in the role for those starting with an HNC only.
• Experience in electrical distribution network design and planning would be a major advantage.
• Experience of electricity network modelling would be a major advantage.
• Depth of understanding of power flows, fault levels and voltage profile management is required.
• Experience in LV, HV or EHV Operational role will be an advantage.
• An understanding of the requirements of Engineering Recommendations, in particular P2, G98, G99, G74, G75, G77, G5, P28, P29, P27, would be an advantage.
• Awareness of the Distribution/Grid Code and National Grid Connection and Use of System Code (CUSC) would be an advantage.
• Excellent communication, report writing and presentation skills, are necessary.
• Self-motivated, organised, flexible & able to work under pressure
• Can demonstrate a practical and results-orientated approach by virtue of actions undertaken
• Good ability to relate to people including the ability to work with partners to resolve problems and achieve overall goas.
• The post-holder will think and act ahead of time to take advantage of opportunities for innovation and improvement and to address problems
• Enthusiastic & strong customer focus, without losing sight of safety and security of supply
• Ideally, have a full, clean driving licence

This is an ideal opportunity to develop Engineering competencies leading to chartered status by joining a dynamic team that influences all parts of the business.

Should you not currently have the full range of essential skills, qualifications and competencies listed above, there may be an opportunity for further training to equip the successful candidate appropriately. If the successful candidate does not have all relevant competencies for the core grade, it will be appropriate to appoint at a lower grade until they have developed the required competencies.

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 fully 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 particularly where there are legal requirements, employees will understand those impacts and the controls they must ensure are applied.

Employees need to be aware that for some craft and operational roles that work at height, or use fall arrest devices, there is an upper weight limit of 116kG due to maximum safe working load of the safety equipment that is used.

If in doubt ask!

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, 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.