Demand Intelligence Manager

Position Description  

The National Capacity Deployment in ESB Networks is responsible for accelerating the deployment of suite of dedicated projects, that will advance resolution to capacity constraints across the distribution network, ahead of complex, multi-year infrastructure projects coming on-stream in the latter part of PR6 or in PR7.   

The Demand Intelligence Manager is responsible for building and leading the demand‑intelligence function that enables timely, data‑driven planning and prioritisation of network capacity deployment interventions. The role transforms customer, market, policy and infrastructure demand signals into actionable insights that support strategic decision‑making, scenario planning, investment case development and programme governance for the National Capacity Deployment team. 

This role ensures ESB Networks has a robust understanding of current and emerging demand pressures, enabling the organisation to anticipate network needs, improve delivery readiness and accelerate customer connections. 

Key Responsibilities 

Demand Intelligence Business Process 

• Pro-active in the identification of demand intelligence requirements, associated business processes, and integrations that require creation, review and/or improvement, aligning initiatives with organisational goals and priorities. 

• Lead in demand intelligence collection, analysis, gathering, consolidation, tracking and interpretation of demand signals from customers, regulatory inputs, market developments and strategic stakeholders. 

• Develop and maintain forward‑looking demand scenarios to guide medium‑ and long‑term capacity planning.  

• Monitor and interpret external policy, regulatory trends and infrastructure needs affecting network demand 

• Translate insights into recommendations that inform project identification, prioritisation and investment case preparation. 

• Deliver Demand Intelligence/Process Improvement projects in partnership with National Capacity Deployment, Network Development and other relevant business managers and key stakeholders and help ensure benefits realised and change is embedded. 

• Deliver prompt and agile process creation/improvements using new and existing technology. 

• Lead change management initiatives to ensure successful implementation of process improvements. 

Systems, Tools & Intelligence Infrastructure 

• Build and maintain a strategic customer intelligence database used to track pipeline activity and customer requirements. Foster a culture of innovation to continuously improve processes, ensuring process reviews are conducted using appropriate frameworks (e.g., Lean) and methodologies. 

• Develop and maintain demand intelligence dashboards that provide visibility of demand across geographies and customer segments. Maintain and monitor project status dashboards and reporting tools used across Capacity Deployment and senior governance. Develop and track KPIs to measure the success of the supporting process(es), 

• Manage and administer data within Management Information Systems to ensure accuracy of project and demand information. Evaluate and implement innovative technologies to enhance process efficiency and identify opportunities for automation. 

Cross‑Functional Collaboration 

• Develop and build strong business relations with internal and external stakeholders, work closely with Cluster Managers, Engineering, Network Planning and Commercial teams to validate demand data and ensure insights inform project scoping and solutioning.  

• Coordinate with internal and external partners to gather and validate infrastructure needs, customer inputs and emerging trends.  

• Support scenario modelling activities and strategic capacity planning processes.  

Programme, Governance & Reporting Support 

• Provide demand intelligence to support programme governance, stage gates, prioritisation processes and escalation protocols managed by the Centralised Programme Office. 

• Contribute to programme‑level reporting by integrating demand forecasts and intelligence into dashboards and reporting packs. 

• Support inclusion of projects onto the Works Programme through robust insight on emerging and projected demand. 

• Ensure demand intelligence underpins investment case management and delivery oversight activities. 

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience 

Essential 

• Experience in analytics, forecasting, planning, system modelling or a similar discipline. 

• Experience working in large infrastructure, utility, energy systems, engineering or network planning environments. 

• Proven experience delivering data‑driven insights for strategic or operational decision‑making. Strong technical capability. 

• Excellent communication and report writing skills. 

• Proven track record of delivery of projects on time and to the highest technical standards. 

• Self-motivated with ability to project manage and prioritize own work. 

• Ability to work and share knowledge and competencies within a team structure.  

• Ability to make quality decisions and judgments, with a logical, yet imaginative approach to problem solving. 

Desirable 

• Knowledge of electricity networks, customer connections, regulatory frameworks or grid planning. 

• Experience building dashboards, databases, intelligence systems or reporting tools. Prior experience in a Network Planning role. 

• Can perform financial analysis using lifetime cost projections for various connection proposals and network reinforcement proposals. 

• Experience in coding languages such as Python, SQL, etc. 

• Published Technical Papers at reputable international conferences. 

• Active involvement in international engineering organisations such as CIGRÉ, IEEE and IET (e.g. participation in Working Groups) 

Qualifications 

• Honours Degree in Electrical Engineering or equivalent work experience is essential.  

• Full Irish Driving Licence.   

Location 

 Various Locations. 

Smart Working at ESB is designed to make ‘in-person’ time together as purposeful as possible while also enabling the effective use of digital tools and hybrid arrangements to preserve our commitment to flexibility. The successful candidate may work flexibly within the jurisdiction where they have been employed, with attendance at the workplace for in-person collaboration at least two days per week. All Smart Working arrangements are subject to regular review based on the operational requirements of the role, the team, and the business.