Climate Action Programme Officer (Housing retrofit)

Fixed Term, Full Time

Up to £40,469 per annum

Location: Chelmsford

Closing Date: 17th June 2021

Please note this is a 2 year fixed term contract.

Essex County Council is committed to taking action on climate change. It has created the Essex Climate Action Commission to set a very ambitious programme of work to reduce carbon emissions and get the county to net zero. The Commission will shortly publish its recommendations and start work on action plans for delivering a wide range of bold and ambitious projects to tackle climate change and emissions across housing, energy, industry, land use and transport.

We are now looking to recruit an ambitious, committed and energetic professional to the role of Climate Action Programme Officer to lead on ECC's work to tackle greenhouse gas emissions from our Housing sector. Essex has just over 630,000 households and they are responsible for about 1/3rd of our total greenhouse emissions so this is an important and critical challenge.

The post holder will be responsible for shaping our retrofit strategy, and lead on delivery of that strategy. They will also take our existing projects such as the Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery scheme on to the next level.

You must enjoy working in a fast paced environment, thrive on making things happen where the team is often breaking new ground and have the tenacity to work on a what is a complex and challenging issue. You will need to bring knowledge of the climate action agenda at a local level, and know how to work with elected members, senior managers, partners and communities to drive forward new projects. You will understand the housing retrofit challenge and be excited by the opportunity to shape how we deliver a route to emission free housing.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

· The role requires a strong leadership and strategic mindset to support project delivery, identify and bid for further funding as well as develop the domestic energy efficiency strategy, being able to prioritise and organise effectively.

· Profile the market for home decarbonisation and resilience in Essex, develop a funding strategy to support the rapid development of demonstration projects, and work with partners to develop the market for financing net zero and resilient homes and encourage financial innovation at scale.

· Build strong working partnerships with key stakeholders in the public and private sectors involved in the retrofit challenge to develop an ambitious action plan that takes forward the recommendations from the Essex Climate Action Commission and the Council's climate action ambitions.

· Monitor the Domestic Energy Efficiency sector market trends, regulatory developments, and local government commercial activity to identify opportunities that align with and accelerates the Councils' Climate Action ambitions. Draw on the best practice and evidence from across the UK to inform ECC's action plan.

· Prepare business cases, briefings, Cabinet Member Actions and Key Decision papers for members as required.

Knowledge, skills and experience

· Educated to degree level in a relevant environmental subject or equivalent by experience

· Evidence of continuing professional development and expert knowledge in relevant professional area e.g., members of IEMA

· Experience in accessing and delivering funding bids, preferably in domestic housing retrofit and fuel poverty initiatives.

· A background in a relevant field, with knowledge of domestic energy efficiency retrofit essential, with experience developing strategies and working with multiple stakeholders.

· Experience of Green Finance and some knowledge of issues of financing energy efficient buildings and financial solutions that incentivise retrofit projects desirable.

· Must be highly numerate, highly confident analyzing data and information, excellent analytical skills but able to contextualize into simple messaging focused on actions

· Basic understanding and knowledge of public sector business practices ideally with knowledge and/or experience of public procurement processes.

· Shows persistence and resilience. Confident team player who is also able to work on own initiative - action orientated. Professional with a high level of commitment and enthusiasm with good ability to prioritise, plan and manage competing demands.

For further information, please contact Thomas Day, Head of Energy and Low Carbon Programme, 0774 0180158.