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Renewable Energy Advice Officer
Community Energy Scotland
Full-time
Stirling
Hybrid
£ 30,210
to
Application closing date:
May 29, 2025
About the organisation
- Community Energy Scotland (CES) are partnering with FEL Scotland to recruit a Renewable Energy Advice Officer covering the Forth Valley & The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park area area.
Incorporated in 2007, CES’ charitable objectives are community development, environmental protection and the prevention and relief of poverty. CES has been at the forefront of community energy development since then, supporting communities to take control of and benefit from their local renewable energy resources and help lower carbon emissions.
FEL Scotland are experts in helping communities live more sustainably – making social and environmental change happen, project by project, so people and our planet can thrive. We believe powerful change can be simple to make small steps everyone can take to make their own lives better can help our world towards a healthier, more sustainable future too. We make that change happen project by project. Each one we run focuses on the things that matter to those they support across our core themes of Climate, Travel, Food, People, Nature and Sharing. But we never tell anyone what to do. We meet people where they’re at. We show communities what’s possible. We help them figure out what works best for them. And we give them the skills and confidence they need to make good things happen.
About the vacancy
- As the Renewable Energy Advice Officer, you’ll work with colleagues to help community organisations, Volunteers and Householders to take part in energy saving activities, your role specifically will be about advising on renewable energy solutions, to help improve energy efficiency, thermal comfort and adapt to the climate emergency and take local action to mitigate its effects. You’ll be responsible for improving energy expertise among current and future community leaders, and for helping them build local engagement around the issue, particularly in areas where it’s currently low. You’ll help them communities create energy saver plans, advise on renewable energy as part of the plans and then gather the evidence and build the networks they need to attract investment and resources to deliver them. You will help householders improve energy efficiency by home visits, phone/in person advice.
You’ll work closely with the FEL and Community Energy Scotland’s communications team to raise awareness and understanding of the climate and nature emergency, in particular related to renewable energy themes and to grow our FEL membership. You’ll then help our members advocate effectively for climate action and amplify the voices of their communities in pushing for change specifically relating to energy themes. You’ll also be involved in recruiting, retaining and supporting volunteers, and will manage up to 15 of them directly. The role is based at FEL’s main Stirling offices but there will be potential for home working and some need to visit FEL hubs across the Forth Valley & The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park area. You’ll also need to be able to work evenings and weekends from time to time. Please note that this role includes providing householder advice in their homes.
Key Responsibilities
- Main Tasks
• To deliver energy advice for FELs Community Energy Empowerment Programme for which the post holder has responsibility, achieve outputs and outcomes as agreed with project funder.
• Provision of in-depth support for communities and householders referred through the FEL’s phone, email or via referrals from Volunteer Energy Activators (Community Volunteer), when relating to renewable energy interventions/queries.
• To identify opportunities to deliver renewable energy presentations to community groups and the subsequent delivery of the presentations.
• Resolve or escalate community queries in line with internal processes. Referral to partner agencies such as Home Energy Scotland and Local Energy Scotland.
• To update and maintain appropriate householder records and necessary data using client management systems to ensure the progress of work towards project targets is monitored and that project outcomes are fully recorded.
• Undertake and record all follow up work to ensure all necessary actions are completed for recorded queries.
• Multitask between different work programmes and activities to support programme activities
• Work with FEL Project Coordinator required to understand real time demand and establishment of priorities to ensure client needs are met.
• Maintain knowledge and understanding through a commitment to on‐going development and learning. • Help to develop package of energy related tools & guides to be shared via FEL’s library for example Thermal Imaging Camera
• Communicate effectively to a wide range of stakeholders, but in particular communities, on climate action.
• Directly responsible for working with community organisations, to improve energy literacy, in emerging or current community leaders.
• Recruit, induct and train Volunteer Energy Activators VEAs whom support energy saver plans within communities, help develop and support the VEA’s.
• Directly responsible for helping communities especially those who have spaces (e.g. community hall) to develop renewable energy for the spaces and/or support development of community renewable generation/storage projects.
• Directly responsible for helping communities gather community energy engagement and data to provide evidence to garner investment, resources, support and collaboration to deliver their climate actions.
• Help to deliver training, capacity building and networking opportunities.
• Increase Community led Climate Action in the Forth Valley and National Park region.
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/workshops 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 Community Energy Scotland team
• Maintain a safe working environment ensuring your own personal safety and the safety of others.
• Act as an ambassador for both Community Energy Scotland and FEL, promoting Community Energy Scotland and FEL in a positive manner.
• Ensure relevant consistent branding across all CES & FEL communications.
• Provide regular appraisal of project deliverables to CES and FEL, attend project team meeting and full team meetings for CES and FEL, preparing feedback.
Key Competencies
- Essential Knowledge, Skills & Attributes:
• Experience of working with community organisations and in community development
• City and Guild Energy Awareness Level 3 or equivalent commensurate experience.
• A good understanding of community development
• Knowledge and experience of climate and nature emergency
• Knowledge of Energy Advice and Energy Efficiency
• 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
• Effective partnership-building skills and practical and effective experience of partnership working, especially with community groups
• Demonstrable communication, representation and co-ordination skills
• Willingness to work flexibly in response to changing organisational requirements
• Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, stakeholders and the wider public and deal with conflict. • Ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines
• Determination, perseverance, and sound problem-solving skills in the face of obstacles and challenges
• Ability to use Microsoft Excel for creating spreadsheets, formatting cells and organizing data
• Ability to use Microsoft Word for creating and formatting documents and reports
• Understanding of computer software programs and excellent IT knowledge and skills including networking, databases, email etc
• Ability to promote services using a range of tools including web-based
• Able to make decisions
• Problem solver with a hands-on approach
• Creative thinking and foresight
Desirable Knowledge, Skills & Attributes In addition to the above:
• Knowledge and experience of Carbon/Ecological Footprint or utilisation of comparable tools, for example financial budgeting • Volunteer management experience
• Community fundraising experience
• A track record of working in and in partnership with development trusts and/or other grassroots community member-based development organisations.
• Good understanding of inclusion and dignity in a charity setting both internal to Community Energy Scotland and FEL, and with our prospective clients/partners
• Detailed knowledge and demonstrable practical experience of community energy development
• Familiarity with research projects, working to funding specifications, team-working in a research focussed manner
• A full driving license
• Operating and utilising Thermal Imaging Camera
• An understanding of health and safety issues in the workplace
• Experience of monitoring & evaluation and reporting
• Awareness of the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation and be able to apply these within the organisation
Desired Qualifications
- A degree in community development, renewable energy or other relevant qualification or significant commensurate experience.
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