Senior Energy Officer (Domestic)

To act in a senior capacity and lead a team of energy officers, graduates and other technical staff to develop and deliver domestic energy services and projects for Portsmouth City Council.

The postholder, and the team they manage, are responsible for the management of the Switched On Portsmouth service, the cross-tenure domestic energy support service run by the in-house energy services team; as well as developing and delivering projects relating to energy efficiency and renewable generation within a domestic setting. This includes funding identification and applications, feasibilities, procurement, managing services and works contracts and project management.

The postholder is responsible for shaping and leading the domestic energy services in conjunction with the Head of Service and managing staff and budgetary resources to achieve the programmes, service levels and objectives.

Leading, managing and developing a team to deliver the domestic energy services function of the Council; including taking new graduates through their competency programme.

The team:

Portsmouth City Council's award-winning energy services team is responsible for the delivery of services related to domestic and non-domestic energy efficiency and renewable generation, procurement and management of energy and fuel poverty mitigation programmes to help the city's most vulnerable households. Within the Housing, Neighbourhoods and Buildings directorate, the team comprises energy professionals, energy officers, assessors, graduates and administrative support.

Although with a link into all of the areas of the service, the candidate will lead and primarily work within the domestic function of the service, which manages Switched On Portsmouth and other projects and services related to domestic energy.

What is the role?

Personal Responsibilities

• Leading the development and delivery of domestic elements of the energy service, including personally managing high-value projects with high political scrutiny


• Development and leadership of the domestic team to ensure that staff are competent, motivated and perform


• Procurement and management of works and services related to domestic energy projects and services


• Working across teams (internal and external to the service) to develop a wide range of projects and services related to domestic energy efficiency and carbon reduction


• Management of staff and budgetary resources in accordance with financial and contract rules


• Taking responsibility, leading from the front to inspire and give confidence to both colleagues and stakeholders


• Creating, building, and maintaining good working relationships with a range of key internal and external stakeholders, including funders and central government agencies


• Following and influencing council and governmental policy where appropriate; acting in an agile manner to take advantage of grant funding opportunities as they arise


• Development of business cases for intervention for energy efficiency


• Working in a consultancy capacity for developing energy efficient homes and deep retrofit projects within planned social housing projects


• Responding to demand created by internal and external customers


• Contributing to the overall energy service and being the key lead on matters related to domestic energy efficiency


• Act as a subject matter expert on matters of domestic energy efficiency and fuel poverty mitigation


• Acting as an escalation point for the officers within the domestic energy team


• Monitoring the performance of the services by using a range of key performance metrics and measures


• Understanding the current context in which the role and projects and services carried out by their team sits, particularly relating to energy, carbon and tackling fuel poverty


Other responsibilities include:

• To contribute to the development of, and deliver on, the relevant business priorities for the service


• To work with the head of service and other managers on the development and delivery of strategies, particularly those related to carbon, sustainability and tackling poverty, and actions in related areas


• To work with stakeholders to develop programmes of work and services, and ensure timely delivery of said programmes to fit mandated timescales or funding deadlines


• Marketing and communication work, including developing communications plans related to domestic energy and dealing with media enquiries
  
  That they have the relevant energy, building services or environmental-based degree or MSc including the disciplines of energy management, sustainable design, building services, renewables and power systems or significant experience in a similar role. Appropriate membership of professional bodies such as EI, IEMA or EMA together with extensive knowledge of the energy sector, with a particular emphasis on domestic and fuel poverty mitigation. Experience of developing and delivering complex projects related to energy, managing budgets, and:

1. Substantial relevant experience for this role.
2. Procurement, contract management and project management.
3. Knowledge of, and the ability to provide, advice and lead others regarding domestic energy efficiency and fuel poverty mitigation.
4. Ability to lead a team of energy professionals and graduates to achieve the demands of the service
5. Ability to develop staff training and competency; in particular the ability to lead graduates through to full energy officer status
6. Work with the head of energy services and other managers to develop projects, services and programmes of work.
7. Have knowledge of, and experience of working with, key energy technologies related to energy efficiency or renewable generation.
8. Have experience of managing contractors, suppliers and consultants to develop and deliver works and services related to domestic energy.
9. Communication with clients, customers and other stakeholders to allay concerns and manage expectations. Acting as an escalation for the rest of the team where issues are encountered.
10. Ability to inspire change in themselves and their team in reaction to changes of legislation, subsidies, funding or by identifying opportunities or weaknesses from the analysis of measures.
11. Knowledge of the prevailing legislation and regulations related to domestic energy services and fuel poverty mitigation.
12. Developing procurement strategies for the delivery of domestic energy projects and services
13. Experience of communicating with internal and external stakeholder at all levels of the organisation and undertaking presentations and leading meetings as appropriate.
14. Performance management - setting and achieving targets, monitoring progress, recognising good performance and dealing with poor performance.

We really appreciate our employees and fully realise they are essential to our success and look to offer an inclusive, supportive working environment where employees can reach their potentials with a healthy work life balance, offering the following rewards:

• A generous pension scheme


• Up to 31 days annual leave per year pro rata + bank holidays


• Flexible / hybrid working where appropriate


• A range of retail discounts via our reward portal offering discounts at retailers including IKEA, Currys, Tesco


• Free Access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and wellbeing support


• Access to a wide range of training and development opportunities including apprenticeships


• Potential to purchase additional annual leave


• Business travel support and initiatives, including bike loans