AI and Insights Lead at NextEnergy Group

THE ROLE

We are looking for a highly skilled AI & Insights Lead to drive data-driven decision-making and develop predictive models that support NextEnergy Group's business objectives. In this role, you will collaborate closely with stakeholders to understand key challenges, design and execute data analysis projects, and effectively communicate insights that shape strategic initiatives.

You will lead AI-driven initiatives across the group, working cross-functionally with teams in ESG, Asset Management, Investment, and beyond. This role requires a strong balance of business acumen and academic expertise to bridge the gap between cutting-edge AI research and practical business applications.

We are looking for someone with a flexible mindset - comfortable embedding an agile and flexible approach within a more mature organisation. You will be responsible for fostering a collaborative and iterative delivery framework, ensuring teams can adapt efficiently while maintaining structured project governance.

If you thrive in a dynamic environment and are passionate about leveraging AI to drive impact, we would love to hear from you.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Business Understanding & Collaboration

• Collaborate with business stakeholders to identify opportunities for data-driven decision-making
• Translate business problems into analytical questions and define project scope and objectives
• Understand and interpret business requirements, translating them into technical specifications
• Effectively communicate technical findings to non-technical audiences

Data Acquisition & Preparation

• Identify, acquire, and integrate data from various sources (databases, APIs, etc.)
• Cleanse, transform, and prepare data for analysis using appropriate techniques
• Assess data quality and identify potential biases
• Implement data governance procedures and maintain data integrity

Statistical Modelling & Machine Learning

• Develop and implement statistical models and machine learning algorithms to address business problems
• Select appropriate models based on data characteristics and business requirements
• Evaluate model performance using appropriate metrics and techniques
• Tune and optimize models for accuracy, efficiency, and scalability

Insight generation & communication

• Extract actionable insights from data analysis and predictive models
• Present findings clearly and concisely through visualizations, reports, and presentations
• Communicate recommendations and insights to stakeholders, influencing decision-making
• Document analyses, methods, and findings thoroughly

Model Deployment & Maintenance

• Deploy models into production environments (e.g., cloud platforms, APIs)
• Monitor model performance and make necessary adjustments or retraining
• Maintain model accuracy and reliability over time

Innovation & Continuous Learning

• Stay current with the latest advances in data science and machine learning
• Explore new techniques and technologies to improve the effectiveness of data analysis
• Contribute to the development of best practices for data science within NEG

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

To be successful in this role, you will demonstrate:

• Time management & prioritization skills - things can get a little hectic, so the ability to effectively manage yourself and your workload is critical
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (in English or/and other European languages) - you must be able to organize your thoughts in a way that others find clear and compelling. You will be expected to put together well-written, grammatically correct emails and other communications. When communicating verbally – whether over the phone, on video calls, in person or in meetings – you will need to be articulate, warm and engaging
• Flexibility - being an effective team player means being flexible in your approach and open to getting involved with new things, even if they are not spelt out in your job description
• Intellectual Curiosity – we are looking for someone who is truly interested in our profession and has the intellectual curiosity to delve deep into topics and bring fresh ideas to the team
• Delivery focus – it may sound obvious, but the ability to proactively churn through work at pace and deliver quality outputs really matters
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Passion for our mission ‘to generate a more sustainable future by leading the transition to clean energy
• Our values: be a leader, build trust, be responsible, be innovative and ‘bring your alpha’.

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS 

• 6+ years of experience in AI, ideally combining research expertise with practical business applications
  
• Master's degree or PhD in a quantitative field (e.g., statistics, mathematics, computer science, data science)
• Proven experience in developing and deploying predictive models.
• Proficiency in programming languages (e.g., Python, R)
• Experience with various machine learning algorithms and techniques.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI)
• Experience with big data technologies (e.g., Hadoop, Spark) is a plus
• Understanding of data governance principles is a plus
• The right to work in the UK.

WHAT WE OFFER 

• A busy role in a supportive team, with plenty of opportunities to learn
• International scope – we operate in over 8 countries
• Hybrid working – we will need you in the central London (Mayfair) office at least twice a week, but you will normally be able to work remotely for the remainder of the week
• 30 days’ holiday per year (3 of which are taken during the festive shutdown in December)
• Private pension
• BUPA Healthcare for you and qualifying dependents
• Cycle to work and electric vehicle leasing schemes
• Annual discretionary bonus.

HOW TO APPLY

If you are interested in this opportunity, please follow the link to apply or send your application to [email protected]. If you have been shortlisted for the next stage, we will be in contact within 14 days. 

By selecting “Apply” or sending us your CV, you indicate you have read and acknowledged NextEnergy Group’s Candidate Privacy Notice.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

Our approach to diversity and inclusion is a natural extension of our values. Our entrepreneurial culture inspires us to try new things, be open to different viewpoints and be bold. Our Group is committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of connectedness that values difference and gives space for individual expression. The collective sum of our individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, innovation, self-expression, talent and hard work form the bedrock of who we are and who we aspire to be.

We are committed to equal employment and advancement opportunity irrespective of race, color, ancestry, social background, religion, gender, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability and gender identity.

ABOUT US 

NextEnergy Group was founded in 2007 to become a leading market participant in the international solar sector.  Since its inception, it has been active in the development, construction, and ownership of solar assets across multiple jurisdictions.  NextEnergy Group operates via its three business units: NextEnergy Capital (Investment Management), WiseEnergy (Operating Asset Management), and Starlight (Asset Development).

NextEnergy Capital manages the Group's investment activities and has invested in over 520 solar plants, exceeding 2GW in capacity across its institutional funds.

• NextEnergy Solar Fund (NESF): Listed on the London Stock Exchange, NESF manages 102 solar and energy storage assets in the UK and Italy, with a total installed capacity of 983MW and a gross asset value of £1,014m.
• NextPower II (NPII): A private fund of 105 solar plants (149MW) focused on Italy, successfully divested in January 2022, delivering net IRRs exceeding its 10-12% target.
• NextPower III ESG (NPIII ESG): A private fund targeting solar infrastructure in OECD countries (e.g., US, Spain, Italy), with $896m raised, exceeding its $750m target.
• NextPower UK ESG (NPUK ESG): A private fund dedicated to new-build solar plants in the UK, with ~£600m raised.
• NextPower V ESG (NPV ESG): A private OECD solar fund investing in solar and adjacent technologies like battery storage. To date, it has raised $745m, targeting $1.5bn ($2bn ceiling).

WiseEnergy® is NextEnergy Group’s operating asset manager.  WiseEnergy is a leading specialist operating asset manager in the solar sector.  Since its founding, WiseEnergy has provided solar asset management, monitoring, technical due diligence and under construction services to over 1,500 utility-scale solar power plants with an installed total capacity in excess of 3.4 GW.  WiseEnergy clients comprise leading banks and equity financiers in the energy and infrastructure sector. 

Starlight is NextEnergy Group’s development company that is active in the development phase of solar projects.  It has developed over 100 utility-scale projects internationally and continues to progress a large pipeline of c.10GW of both green and brownfield project developments across global geographies.

NextSTEP is the venture capital fund of NextEnergy Group, dedicated to investing in innovative startups in the field of environmental sustainability. The fund primarily focuses on investments in Italy and the United Kingdom but also extends its reach to the rest of Europe and the United States, targeting startups in the pre-seed and seed stages. NextSTEP pays particular attention to emerging entities from incubators, startup accelerators, universities, and research centers, supporting projects that address global challenges in crucial areas such as Climate Change, Energy Transition, CO2 Capture and Sequestration, Circular Economy, Sustainable Cities, Sustainable Mobility, Sustainable Fashion, Waste Management, Water and much more.

NextEnergy Foundation is a non-profit organisation founded in 2016 by the NextEnergy Group that operates internationally and whose mission is to proactively participate in the global effort to reduce carbon emissions by providing clean energy sources in regions where they are not yet available and thereby contributing to poverty reduction. As the main sponsor of this foundation, the NextEnergy Group donates at least 5% of its consolidated net profits each year. The NextEnergy Foundation has no overhead costs and therefore 100% of the funds raised go to donations for the various projects. Since 2016, in 8 years of operation the foundation has donated more than £1.2 million, supporting over 30 projects in 27 different countries around the world.