3x CARES LaunchPad Officer/Assistant Officer

Community Energy Scotland is an independent Scottish ‘more-than-profit’ charity (2007) that evolved from the success of the Highlands and Islands Community Energy Company (2004) in response to a growing sustainable development agenda in Scotland.
We are a team of engineers and specialists who are available for large and small projects throughout the country.

We are looking to recruit energetic, well-organised and self-motivated individuals to support communities to build their capacity, develop new community energy project ideas and work alongside them to apply for funding and deliver projects. Candidates will be expected to work at least one day per week within agreed climate action hubs. On the days when they are not working at those hubs or visiting community groups the work is suitable for home working or alternative office space or co-working space can be secured if required. Priority will be given to applicants who can start as soon as possible.

Main Tasks:

• Proactively mapping and reaching out to community groups that may be interested in taking forward sustainable energy projects using CARES funding.
• To proactively and reactively provide support and advice to community groups across the region.
• Develop and deliver workshops to raise awareness of community energy.
• Attend local and national events, set up and attend to information stalls and delivering short presentations about support on offer.
• Provide one to one support to community groups to identify opportunities for community energy projects and undertake community engagement.
• Assist community groups in hosting consultation events and surveys to identify local aspirations and priorities.
• Carry out early-stage options appraisals to help groups narrow down their options.
• Coordinate knowledge transfer, enabling peer support from other organisations and practitioners across Scotland, and building the understanding and capacity of groups to enable them to take their own projects forward.
• Support local communities in creating development plans for community energy projects.
• Support community organisations to identify suitable sources of funding to take forward community energy rojects and support them to gather relevant information and data and develop CARES funding applications.
• Refer community groups to other sources of support and information – including signposting to DTAS for governance support and LES for further support.
• Identify skills gaps in the community and support the community to upskill or find people within the community who can fill the role.
• Undertake desktop research to identify local priorities and needs related to energy.
• Meet with and build good relationships with external stakeholders in the local community, such as climate action hubs, public bodies or Third Sector Interfaces, to discuss partnership working to support community groups.

Administration:

• Keep detailed records of all engagement with community groups.
• Support the Project Manager with collating data, tracking progress towards key project milestones and compiling project reports.
• Update the Community Energy Scotland database and project specific spreadsheets on a regular basis.
• Liaise with the membership officer to encourage all new community groups engaged with to join Community Energy Scotland as members.
• 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.
• Providing photographs and updates to the Communications Officer for use on social media and the website.
• Maintain a safe working environment ensuring your own personal safety and the safety of others.
• Act as an ambassador for Community Energy Scotland, promoting Community Energy Scotland in a positive manner.
• Ensure relevant consistent branding across all CES and funder communications.
• Undertake other duties as may be required from time to time by the CEO.

Essential Knlowledge, Skills and Attributes

• A high level of self-motivation and strong commitment to Community Energy Scotland, its ethos and purpose.
• A commitment to diversity and inclusion and achieving a Just Transition in Scotland.
• Knowledge of sustainable energy technologies such as renewable electricity, low-carbon heat, sustainable transport or energy efficiency.
• Knowledge of the process of and challenges for communities in deploying sustainable energy projects.
• Understanding of community development and community engagement processes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to adapt communication styles to different audiences including individuals, community groups, government agencies and private developers.
• Strong negotiation skills, and an ability to adapt quickly to new requirements and opportunities.
• Effective partnership-building skills and practical and experience of partnership working, especially with community groups.
• High-quality IT and administration skills, including the use of Excel and data management.
• Creative thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrable ability to understand and explain complex technical & financial information for new audiences.
• Ability to build, maintain and work effectively in high-performing teams.
• Ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines.

Essential Experience:

• A minimum of three years (Project Officer role) or one year (Assistant Project Officer role) of experience of working or volunteering in a related role, e.g. with community organisations and in community development or in renewable energy projects.
• A degree in community development, renewable energy or other relevant qualification or equivalent commensurate experience.
• Ability to use Microsoft Excel and databases for creating spreadsheets, formatting cells and organizing data.
• Ability to use Microsoft Word and Canva for creating and formatting documents and reports.
• Good IT skills.

Desirable Knowledge, Skills & Attributes:

• Detailed knowledge and demonstrable practical experience of community energy development.
• 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 with our prospective clients/partners.
• A full driving license.
• Experience of monitoring & evaluation and reporting.
• Good understanding of the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation and be able to apply these within the organisation.
• Experience of seeking funding and applying for it.