This vacancy has now closed


  • Advertised from 4th July 2022
  • 35 hrs/week. 'Initial fixed term contract to March 2023, expected to extend
  • 3%-6% Employer monthly pension contribution

Role

Organisation Summary

Community Energy Scotland is a Scottish Charity with around 400 non-profit community group members. We want to strengthen and empower local communities by helping them to own, control and benefit from their local renewable energy resources & decarbonisation activity; control and reduce their energy costs; regenerate their communities and play their part in the low carbon transition.

Our staff work on cutting-edge innovation projects in Scotland and internationally, delivering benefits to communities from local renewable energy and storage.

Community Energy Scotland provides independent and ongoing practical & technical support for community project development. We make it possible for member organisations to link up and network, both with each other and with policy makers. Collaboration with like-minded and relevant organisations is the norm for us, where we provide a collective voice on your behalf and represent members at policy level. Our service contracts are delivered regionally, nationally and internationally.

Project summary

The Carbon Neutral Islands project is a programme for government commitment aimed at supporting islands to become carbon neutral by 2040. In May 2022 the Scottish Government announced that Hoy, Islay, Great Cumbrae, Raasay, Barra and Yell are to be part of its Carbon Neutral Islands project. These Islands will demonstrate the low carbon energy potential of Scotland’s islands as hubs of innovation in renewable energy and climate change resilience, whilst positively impacting on island economies and population retention and growth.

The Carbon Neutral Islands project will help to deliver key commitments in the National Islands Plan and will create jobs, protect Scottish island environments from climate change, and contribute to the Scottish Government’s 2045 net zero commitment.

The project will involve carbon audits across the islands and a pilot phase to inform learning. A report on the project will be published over the summer and plans will be developed for individual islands in collaboration with key partners and the communities involved.

The project will also align with the Scotland wide net zero work and contribute to the Scottish Government’s 2045 net zero commitment. Whilst working closely with communities to move towards net zero in a fair and just way, the Carbon Neutral Islands project aims to share good practices and learnings from the project with all other Scottish islands.

Overall Purpose

Working as part of a team in CES, and in partnership with the six island communities to deliver Community Island Climate Plans and contribute to the delivery of a climate accounting exercise by 31st March 2023.

Job Description

Main Tasks

• To deliver CES’ roles and responsibilities in the Carbon Neutral Islands project.

• To develop community climate change plans on the six carbon neutral islands, which build on the in-depth climate accounting exercises.

• Supporting island communities to carry out meaningful local participation and engagement to inform the Community Climate Plans.

• Identification of common values, needs and goals on each island and provision of educational materials and training sessions to help the communities fill in knowledge gaps.

• Working with a communications officer to share information and data, communicating widely across the islands.

• Working with communities to compile surveys, supporting them to distribute them locally.

• To undertake surveys, analysis and compile reports on the social inclusivity of project activities and identify opportunities to improve the accessibility and suitability of activities to wider demographics.

• Working as a team to carrying out options appraisals and analysis of the technical & financial feasibility of climate projects identified by each island community.

• Support to communities in compiling, delivering and reporting the Community Climate Plans.

• To establish, build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders in the island communities.

• To generally support community energy groups and their activities and collaborate with local organisations to further the aim of a Just Energy Transition.

• To undertake other duties as may be required from time to time by the Chief Executive.

Administration

• To keep all personal work records up to date such as annual leave requests, My Hours and Monday.com

Other Tasks

• To prepare, deliver and facilitate presentations/open meetings and discussions when required.

• To play a full role in the evolution and operation of the team at Community Energy Scotland, and support the success of Community Energy Scotland as a whole

• Ongoing requirement to ensure work activity is well communicated to the wider CES team

• Subject to Covid restrictions, travel to meet clients and visit sites/islands is anticipated.

Person Specification

The post holder will be expected to work on their own initiative, be self-motivated and well organised, in order to meet the deadlines and funding requirements of this project.

Essential Knowledge, Skills & Attributes

• A degree in community development, renewable energy or other relevant qualification or significant commensurate experience

• Knowledge of the renewable energy sector, decarbonisation, climate accounting and Net Zero

• Experience of working with community organisations and in community development

• A high level of self-motivation and strong commitment to Community Energy Scotland, its ethos and purpose

• Strong awareness of the requirements for effective team-working

• A good understanding of community development

• Effective partnership-building skills and practical and effective experience of partnership working, especially with community groups

• High quality communication, representation and co-ordination skills

• Ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines

• Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, stakeholders and the wider public.

• Determination, perseverance, and sound problem-solving skills in the face of obstacles and challenges

• Good understanding of inclusion and dignity in a charity setting both internal to CES and with our prospective clients/partners

• Familiarity with research projects, working to funding specifications, team-working in a research- focussed manner

*Flexible – but resident on a Scottish Island is preferred. We currently have office provision in Benbecula and expect to resume offices in Lewis and Orkney in the near future. Homeworking is also an option. Some travel to other Scottish Islands is likely to be required, while keeping our carbon footprint down following CES’ environmental policy.

Fixed Term Contract to 31 March 2023 Grant allocation for the financial year 2023-2024 for the Carbon Neutral Islands project is subject to written confirmation by the Scottish Ministers following the outcome of the annual spending reviews.

Application notes

For more information and to apply please visit our website

Please note we DO NOT require CVs.

Closing date Friday 22 July 5pm