NSTA 457 - Investigatory Lead

About the team

This role sits in what used to be known as the Disputes & Sanctions team, from 1st July 2025 it became known as Investigations & Enforcement (I&E). The team plays an important role in ensuring that energy companies are meeting their obligations and delivering MER (Maximising Economic Recovery) UK benefits. Where companies fail to do so, matters will be referred for I&E support. This will include initial assessments and substantive investigations, as well as market reviews, non-binding dispute resolution, facilitation of external mediation and conducting third party access investigations. The Investigatory Lead, along with the I&E Leadership team provides expert case management on a range of these matters to ensure effective outcomes are achieved.

The team are currently dealing with some complex cases that are critical to the NSTA establishing meaningful change within industry. In addition to overseeing these existing cases, you will be responsible for establishing and maintaining good working relationships with colleagues across the NSTA as well as externally to ensure that I&E are providing effective support on emerging and current issues.

Key strengths of people in our I&E team include their ability to provide a high-quality service to internal and external stakeholders; to critically assess a wide range of information; deliver evidence-based decisions; and to successfully prioritise and manage a varied workload of cases and other work.

Brief Overview of Role

The purpose of the Investigatory Lead role within the I&E Team is to provide expert case management, support and leadership.  This will ensure effective delivery of our most important projects and cases, working with the Investigatory Technical lead to draw on specialisms from across the office. In addition to case and project work, you will act as member of the I&E Leadership Team and will be responsible for the management, development and support of Senior Investigator(s).

The Investigatory Lead will apply their judgement to casework issues that arise and have a robust understanding of the strategic context in which they fit. You will ensure recommendations and decisions are completed to a high standard, evidence based and aligned to our strategic priorities. You will provide vital peer review functions to the wider team and will ensure that lessons learned, and post-closure feedback loops are delivered across the NSTA. You will also be expected to regularly engage with external stakeholders, liaising with them to understand and influence their priorities and to build understanding and confidence about our work.

The Investigatory Lead should be able to demonstrate extensive regulatory knowledge and experience and ideally have a strong understanding of the energy sector. Experience of working with other HMG agencies is desirable, as is litigation, mediation or arbitration experience.

Detailed job description and key responsibilities

The NSTA is looking for a multi-skilled candidate to contribute to the delivery of solutions for complex commercial and legal matters.  Investigatory Leads must have extensive knowledge of utility regulation and current economic issues and a working knowledge of EU and UK competition law and policy. Knowledge of the UK Oil and Gas sector and/or of other key sectors of the economy subject to economic regulation would also be desirable

The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Effective case progression - working with the Investigatory Technical Lead and Senior Investigator(s) you will ensure live casework and project activity is completed in accordance with KPIs and to a high standard. You will ensure the I&E Leadership Team are kept informed on progress and you will be responsible for ensuring referring parties are sighted on progress.
• You will be responsible for providing peer review on Case Management plans and other investigatory outputs. The ability to draft high quality correspondence and core case documentation is essential. You should be confident dealing with data and be able to demonstrate an ability to distil key facts and complex information into concise summaries.
• You will lead regular engagement meetings with key stakeholders (internal and external) and should be confident engaging with legal and technical colleagues. Technical operational experience is not essential but is desirable.
• You will be confident in exercising your judgment to make recommendations in relation to case progression. You will be able to clearly, and effectively, communicate the reasons for your recommendations and positively influence colleagues where required.
• You will take responsibility for ensuring team performance data is kept up to date and is reliable.

Career Support and Learning and Development are key elements of the NSTA’s Great Place to Work Model which underpins staff engagement.  Training, coaching will be provided to support successful delivery in the role. 

Person specification

Competence 1: Decision Making & Judgement

The successful candidate must demonstrate a commitment to being objective; using sound judgement, evidence and knowledge to provide accurate, expert and professional advice. Demonstrable ability to create evidence-based strategies, evaluating options, impacts, risks and solutions. Experience in exercising judgments where situations are novel and outcomes contain high levels of ambiguity.

Competence 2:       Leading and Communicating

Have the ability to communicate with clarity, conviction and enthusiasm. Establishing a strong direction and a persuasive future vision; managing and engaging with people with honesty and integrity and upholding the reputation of the NSTA. Meets challenges with resourcefulness, generates suggestions for improving work and develops innovative approaches and ideas; Strong team player with a collaborative and proactive approach;

Competence 3:       Collaborating, Influencing & Including

Working collaboratively, sharing information appropriately and building supportive, trusting and professional relationships with NSTA colleagues, oil and gas operators and large contractors. Have the ability to work with large groups of stakeholders, who hold different views or positions, and integrate them to achieve a common goal. Delivering business objectives through creating an inclusive and supportive environment.

Competence 4:       Delivery

Work to agreed goals and activities, dealing with challenges in a responsive and constructive way, working with your team to deliver success. Delivery at the NSTA involves the efficient, effective and economic use of taxpayers’ money in the delivery of our services. You will provide the focus, energy and agility to drive activities forward, often through appropriate delegation, and encouraging staff to perform effectively in a challenging and changing environment.

Delivering timely performance with energy and taking responsibility and accountability for quality outcomes.

Specialist Skills, Qualifications, Experience, Licenses, Memberships or Language

      Essential: 

• Degree, or equivalent experience in an analytical/legal/economic discipline
• Proven track record of delivering successful outcomes on large and/or complex cases and regulatory matters.
• Analysing information to present evidence-based conclusions to complex problems
• Influencing key external stakeholders such as oil and gas companies, government departments and trade associations/interest groups
• Leading multi-disciplinary functions to deliver successful outcomes on cases
• Extensive knowledge of oil and gas industry, including commercial drivers and practices in oil and gas, or economic regulation in another industry
• Experience of analysing information to present evidence-based conclusions on cases or regulatory scenarios
• Collaborative approach with multi-disciplinary functions to deliver successful outcomes
• Knowledge of energy regulation, or economic regulation in another industry
• Excellent communication skills, written and verbal, particularly the communication of complex or detailed issues to senior management. 
• Attention to detail with focus on deadlines and delivery.
• Positive and supportive attitude; in particular an ability to embrace, and effectively implement, continuous improvement and the associated changes.

Desirable:

• Postgraduate or professional qualification in law or investigations
• Experience in leading and delivering high profile cases and/or projects/ programmes of work
• Knowledge of EU and UK competition law and policy
• Relevant experience working in a business or commercial role within the energy industry or for another economic regulator
• Experience of Alternative Dispute Resolution, Mediation or Arbitration
• Experience of conducting complex investigations involving complex data or significant volumes of information
• Experience of conducting formal interviews
• A working understanding of the legislative framework governing the NSTA and the associated activities