Energy and Low Energy and Low Carbon Project Officer - Climate Action

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. 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 Project Officer to lead ECC's work on generating investment in renewable energy and low carbon projects. Essex needs investment in renewable energy generation and smart local energy systems that brings the private and public sectors and local communities together to get to net zero.

The post holder will be responsible for developing area based plans for investment in the renewable energy and housing sectors and join these plans up with colleagues working on our strategy for electric vehicle infrastructure.

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 climate action at a local level and the role local smart energy systems can play. You will be confident in working with elected members, senior managers, communities, the energy network operator and private sector partners to drive forward new projects. You will understand data and finance and be comfortable thinking and working on novel ideas to tackle this exciting challenge.

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

You will support the Head of Service on Climate change, energy and low carbon programmes. You will ensure that projects are co-ordinated, and work with the Council's political and internal governance to establish, direct and lead projects that support delivery of ECC's climate ambitions.

You will work with external and internal stakeholders to develop a pipeline of investment-ready projects in low carbon technologies and renewable energy generation in Essex, such as utility scale solar farms and low carbon heating.

You will develop new approaches and delivery mechanisms that enable investment in renewable energy and low carbon technologies that attract green finance and community finance to Essex. This will include delivering investment in renewable generation, energy storage, low carbon heat and local energy networks across the County.

You will maintain up-to-date knowledge of technological, legal and policy developments in the energy sector, the field of climate change and carbon reduction, confident in providing technical, financial and business intelligence expertise to senior leadership on significantly reducing ECC carbon emissions from electricity purchased from renewable sources.

You will lead on developing strong working relationships with District Authorities to support joint efforts on climate action and investment in local area energy solutions. You will also build relationships and develop opportunities for low carbon projects with private sector partners in the County.

You will support in the preparation of business cases, briefings, Cabinet Member Actions and Key Decision papers for members as required, whilst working to clear objectives, producing plans that help to deliver the recommendations of the Essex Climate Action Commission

Knowledge, skills and experience

With education to degree level in a relevant environmental subject, and continuing professional development, you will be highly numerate, confident in analyzing data and information, with the ability to contextualize this into simple messaging, focused on actions. With this, you should be confident in communicating openly and with confidence on complex topics.

You will have knowledge of the Energy and Low Carbon sector, experience of renewable energy and low carbon technology investment, Ideally you will have knowledge of Green Finance and understand the role that local energy can play in the a low carbon future.

You will also bring with you a knowledge of public finance and procurement processes.

You will have experience of working with or for the local government sector on the climate action agenda and understand the opportunities local government has to lead on climate action and accelerate the pace of change.

Above all, you will be a team player, passionate about making a difference, able to work in an environment where we are breaking new ground and often working with uncertainty, be persistent, resilient and professional, and have a high level of commitment and enthusiasm.

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