The Head of Operations Driving the Energy Transition

Careers can develop rapidly here at RWE. Whether it’s upwards into more senior strategic roles or sideways to broaden their skill sets, our people are always on the move. Jessica Woodhall is a case in point. Our current Head of Operations Optimisation & Support, she started out on our graduate training programme in 2008. We spoke to her about the secret of her success.

An early desire for Renewables

Jessica Woodhall joined RWE fresh from graduating with a first class degree in Mechanical Engineering with Renewables from Durham University. She’d always wanted a career in renewable energy and added it on to her degree “because it felt important”, she says. “I feel as though I am contributing to a global project and something that has huge impact.”

A leap into strategy

Joining the Onshore team proper with her appointment to the Engineering and Performance team, Jessica’s career has powered on since then and it wasn’t long before she took on a more strategic managerial role working with the New Ways of Working (NWoW) Team. Next she stepped up to manage large teams as Head of Operations in the UK and later Europe.

Time for progression

Progressing to a new role every couple of years, it’s been quite a journey for Jessica—but what tips does she have for those looking to progress in their careers? Well, for her it’s not always about moving upwards with every new role. “Having a breadth of knowledge is important before stepping up within the business. This is one key element I love about working in Operations. We cover a breadth of topics, one minute you are talking about an in-depth technical issue and then the next, a people topic or commercial analysis.”

A passion for people

Jessica may have devoted her career to deriving energy from wind and the sun but it’s something else that powers her career at RWE. “I get my energy from interactions with people who are really engaged in what they are doing. Who care about renewables and are proud to do what they do. We all have a shared value in common.”

Looking to the future

And what about her support from the business? “RWE have been really flexible. I have been really supported to work part time and now as a job share. This hasn’t impacted my career progression, which I think is still quite rare.”

Thought she has come a long way here, there are many options for Jess when it comes to what lies ahead. Whether it is a lateral move in to a different discipline or a direct step up to Director of Operations, there are lots of interesting paths and new challenges out there.

To find out more about a career in Engineering or Development at RWE, check out our careers website.