Join the ECOE team! Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash
Exeter Community Energy has four new roles open to applicants! They are:
Solar PV Project Manager
Renewable energy project management skills needed to expand Devon-based organisation’s generation assets principally in the Exeter area.
What will you be doing?
Exeter Community Energy (ECOE) is looking for a new Solar PV Project Manager. The successful candidate will ensure the successful deployment of several new solar photovoltaic (PV) sites, principally rooftop. We have already identified several potential sites. The project manager will work closely with board members who have experience project managing the development and operation of ECOE’s existing 10 sites.
This is a paid self-employed role with flexible hours. The sites will be expected to operate for 20 years, but the project manager will only see them through to the completion of installation and generation of income. The timeframe of the project will depend greatly on the process of coming to legal agreements. This could be complete in six weeks, but typically takes around a year. There will therefore probably be long quiet periods in the process, mixed with short, intensely busy, periods. We anticipate paying £20 per hour but are open to negotiation on this. The role will involve about 30 hours work per month, increasing to 40 hours per month during installation, estimated to July 2023, then reducing thereafter.
The role will close to applications on January 31, with a view to interviewing the week commencing February 6. We would like the successful applicant to start the week of February 13.
The ideal candidate will have:
- previous experience project managing community energy rooftop solar deployments with appropriate references available
- project management experience and/or qualifications
The role will involve:
- ensuring the viability of the projects where sites have already been identified including making queries with Western Power Distribution to ensure a grid connection is possible
- handling interactions with ECOE’s solicitor for the lease and power purchase agreements
- tendering for and commissioning contractors to perform the installation
- co-ordinating work activities between the site and contractors
- identifying and managing risk
- maintaining a project plan to ensure that the project is running to time and budget
- ensuring work is completed to the correct standard
- undertaking regular, clear and concise reporting to ECOE’s Board of Directors
- potentially identifying potential additional solar PV opportunities within ECOE’s geographical area of operation
Please send a CV and cover email or letter to andy@ecoe.org.uk and state the hourly rate that you would like for the role.
Healthy Homes Operations Manager
This role is responsible for the delivery of our energy efficiency projects, both funded projects and professional services contracts.
The Healthy Homes Operations Manager will work alongside our Advice Team Leader, Community Energy Champions Manager, and Project Manager to deliver existing projects, develop and initiate new projects and services to create a stronger more sustainable future for ECOE and our communities. They report to the Healthy Homes Project Manager. The Operations Manager is a key role in enabling us to better serve our customers and our communities.
This is a flexible paid self-employed role, based at home, working 25–35 hrs per week, paid at £23 per hour. The role will close to applications on January 31, with a view to interviewing the week commencing February 6. We would like the successful applicant to start the week of February 13.
Key responsibilities and duties:
Service Delivery and Development
- Manage the delivery of the Healthy Homes energy advice service and maintain high standards across all delivery channels
- Manage a team currently consisting of 1 Team Leader, 12 Home Energy Advisors, 4 Project Support Officers
- Coordinate team activity and schedule work to deliver the services in line with contractual obligations
- Implement a culture of continuous improvement to update procedures and develop new working guidelines
- Embed a customer focussed and efficient delivery ethos within the team and develop team members’ skills, through guidance, coaching and training
- Lead recruitment and manage inductions of new team members
- Keep up to date on the latest developments in home energy advice which could potentially be adopted by the service
- Lead the development of resources for marketing and advice for the service
- Raise the profile of Healthy Homes through social media, the ECOE website, partner meetings and promoting the service to community groups at events
Finance and Budgets
- Manage project budgets and our Hardship Fund
- Submit regular progress reports to funders
- Authorise payments of invoices
- Place orders for stock and energy efficiency measures
- Plan resources including team capacity projections, colleagues’ contracts and/or recruitment according to budget
Forecasting, reporting and performance management
- Create accurate monthly performance reports on service delivery
- Write regular reports and evaluation of projects for project funders and ECOE’s board of volunteer Directors
Partnership Working
- Work with existing project partners and develop new partnerships to expand energy services across the area
- Attend regular partnership meetings and participate in meetings of stakeholders and funders
Other Activity
- Collaborate with the wider ECOE team to deliver any other task or projects from time to time, as directed by the Directors
- Contribute to the on-going development of Healthy Homes, including attending appropriate networking meetings, team meetings and training sessions
Person Specification:
| Key Skills and Attributes | Essential | Desirable |
| Degree Level Qualification (or equivalent) | X | |
| Level 3 Award in Energy Awareness or other energy qualification, or willingness to undertake a relevant qualification | X | |
| Understanding of sustainability issues and interest in ECOE’s objectives | X | |
| Experience providing home energy advice and knowledge or programmes / funding for energy efficiency improvements for low income households | X | |
| Project planning, monitoring, evaluation and delivery | X | |
| Project Management in energy efficiency, housing, local government or social services | X | |
| Workload prioritisation – managing multiple priorities and having a flexible approach | X | |
| Excellent written and verbal communication skills | X | |
| Good IT Skills – including Word, Excel and PowerPoint | X | |
| Proven Operational Leadership experience | X | |
| Budgetary experience in a service delivery setting | X | |
| Managing team compliance – GDPR, H&S etc. | X | |
| Experience managing services for vulnerable customers | X |
To discuss this opportunity, or for further information, please contact Tara Bowers, Project Manager on 0800 772 3617 or tara@ecoe.org.uk. Otherwise please send Tara a CV and cover letter.
Debt and Benefits Adviser
The role is to work with clients to help them maximise their income, resolve debt or other money problems, support their budgeting, and agree and implement debt solutions. The debt and benefits adviser will work alongside the Healthy Homes for Wellbeing team of energy advisers to provide holistic support to local residents. They will report to the Healthy Homes Project Manager. The role is primarily home based, but will also include outreach and/or home visits. This is a paid self-employed role with flexible hours, part-time or full-time, paid at £19-£21 per hour, dependent on experience. Full training can be given. The role may be separated into a Benefits Advisor and a Debt Advisor subject to experience of candidates. Voluntary positions for outreach work also available.
Key responsibilities and duties:
- Provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere to clients
- Engage and build rapport with a variety of clients
- Work with clients to make a thorough analysis of their problems and concerns
- Assist with benefits checks, form filling and budgeting support
- Help clients to create a plan to deal with the problems, to which they feel able to commit
- Signpost or refer clients to any other sources of help or support
- Support clients as they work through the agreed plan, and help them to respond to correspondence/calls concerning the plan
- Provide clients with the information and tools to enable them to make sound financial decisions in the future
- To keep accurate and up to date records of each client meeting using an online client management system
- To operate within the code of practice, policies and procedures of the service, in line with Financial Conduct Authority regulations
- Undertake appropriate training, and keep up to date with benefits and debt sector matters
- Attend team meetings
Person Specification:
| Key Skills and Attributes | Essential | Desirable |
| Experience of working in an advice setting providing benefits advice, or willing to learn new skills | X | |
| Experience of working with clients to solve debt and money issues, or willing to learn new skills | X | |
| Experience of working with vulnerable customers | X | |
| Empathetic, non-judgmental and a good listener | X | |
| Ability to relate to a wide range of people
|
X | |
| Ability to work methodically to find positive solutions | X | |
| Ability to organise and prioritise workload, and work under own initiative | X | |
| Appreciate the importance of working within policies and procedures, and to maintain confidentiality for our clients | X | |
| Ability to remain objective and act with integrity | X | |
| Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and good level of numeracy | X | |
| Good IT Skills – including Word, Excel and customer databases | X | |
| Self motivated with the ability to work independently and as part of a team | X | |
| Full UK Driving license | X |
To discuss this opportunity, or for further information, please contact Tara Bowers, Project Manager on 0800 772 3617 or tara@ecoe.org.uk
Home Energy Adviser
Due to the success of our home energy projects , and an increasing awareness around climate change and energy efficiency, Exeter Community Energy is seeking additional Home Energy Advisors (HEAs) to work on various existing and new projects in the Teignbridge/Torbay area. Immediate start date.
HEAs are required to provide tailored advice and support on a 1:1 basis, helping residents to cut costs and energy consumption and help make homes warmer. Work is carried out via telephone assessments and Home Energy Visits. Participation at drop-in energy advice clinics in the community, talks to community groups, training sessions with frontline workers and partnership building with key local organisations are other activities that make up this role.
This is a paid self-employed role with hours to suit the successful applicant’s needs and availability. It will be paid at £16-£21 per hour based on experience.
HEAs play an important role in the overall aims and objectives of Devon’s Community Energy Groups, working as part of an innovative team, directly helping to improve the lives of those living in our local community, as well as promoting a low-carbon life style.
There will be opportunities to progress to ‘Retrofit’ roles for those interested in developing a long term career in this industry.
Skills and requirements:
- IT literate and own laptop or ipad
- Have own vehicle/access to vehicle for carrying out visits
- A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be required.
- Enthusiasm, dedication to problem solving, and ability to build rapport with residents and colleagues in the community
- A team player, able to work on own initiative with limited supervision
- Have previous experience of working with the public
- A caring and understanding approach and ability to show empathy
- Excellent written and oral skills
- Experience is preferred, but not essential, as training can be provided to the right candidate. A willingness to study and take a few exams would be required.
Full role specification available on request
If you or anyone you know would like to know more about these opportunities, please contact Tara Bowers, Director at ECOE and Project Manager Healthy Homes for Wellbeing on tara@ecoe.org.uk or 0800 772 3617.
