Bradford Community Energy (BCE) is seeking to appoint a full time Lead Energy Auditor for our Community Energy Service team. This is a full-time role (37 hours per week) with a fixed-term contract to end of June 2022.
You will lead the Community Energy Service team. While based in our Park Lane Business Centre office, some home working is acceptable, a considerable proportion of time will be spent in our client organisation buildings (subject to pandemic restrictions) across Bradford District conducting energy audits. It is expected you will also collaborate with the Directors to identify and prepare for follow on opportunities for the service and organisation and provide line management function to the small team.
Regular attendance is required during the initial induction period depending on the latest health guidance from the Government.
What we do
BCE is a Mutual Benefit Society founded in 2020, that helps people and organisations from the voluntary and public sectors meet the challenges of rising energy costs and climate change. We do this by giving advice, managing innovative energy projects, and undertaking research and policy analysis. If you have not done so already, check out our website at www.bcel.org
Our funders and clients include local government, associated agencies and other voluntary sector organisations. These include the Big Lottery Fund, Booster Fund (Community Shares Unit), Bradford Metropolitan City Council, Coops UK, and Bradford Trident.
Community Energy Services
The Community Energy Service team is responsible for developing and delivering projects that provide energy advice and low carbon energy retro-fit services for not-for private profit owners and operators of community buildings, across Bradford District, principally through conducting Environmental Performance Certificate reviews. Enabling local community organisations to understand their energy use, improve the thermal performance of their buildings and develop their plans to complete their Race to Zero. We believe our role is to help ensure that sustainable energy services are available locally and delivered to high quality.
This is our first project to deliver Community Energy advice and from it we hope to identify our next round of renewable energy generation projects as part of the Society’s evolution.
We operate several solar voltaic insulations with partners and wish to see this co-finance model replicate our success with other localities across the district. We also interested to pilot innovative approaches to energy efficiency schemes to help customers retrofit their buildings to cut their fuel bills and make their venues more comfortable and substantially reduce their carbon emissions.
Our work
You will be working in community owned or managed buildings, as an energy auditor. You will assist management committees in gather the information they need to prioritise improvement options and agree energy improvement plans and thus support them to develop more comfortable and cheaper to operate venues. By providing a comprehensive energy advice service, we help ensure community organisations can improve their longer resilience whilst responding proactively to the climate emergency challenge. The holistic service will accurately map the current thermal efficiency of the building and identify the full range of actions to improve energy efficiency ranging from renewable energy installations, physical building improvements, upgrading equipment and adopting energy saving behaviours and practices.
You will help us to improve the environmental performance and financial sustainability of community organisations who have venue responsibilities. You will also be responsible for helping the project team develop relationships with (and provide training to) wider energy professionals, charitable organisations and installers who can provide the funding and technical skills to improve the energy efficiency of the VCSE collective estate.
Job details
The role of Lead Energy Auditor is full time, 37 hours a week on a 6 month fixed-term contract.
The postholder will lead a Non-domestic Energy Audit team at BCE responding to approaches from organisations who are interested in improving their venues to reduce their energy consumption and emissions.
The focus of this role is to undertake assessments of community buildings in accordance with the relevant sections of the (PAS) 2038:2021 Retrofitting non-domestic buildings for improved energy efficiency, and, most importantly, collection of all information required to complete the BRE Simplified Building Energy Model (iSBEM) relating to the functionality, energy efficiency and environmental impact of the building and the issuing of Environmental Performance Certificates (EPCs).
The data will be collated into a report used by the postholder and Building management Committee to identify the most effective measures to action – from solid wall insulation, boiler replacements or high-end glazing, to solar panels, a heat pump or battery storage.
We are looking for an excellent communicator with a good understanding of retrofitting sustainable energy measures who is keen to join a busy team at the forefront of BCE’s work. You should ideally already hold a Non-Domestic Energy Assessor accreditation but training can be provided on appointment.
Our administrator will support in arranging your diary for site assessments.
You will be responsible for your own casework and will help us deliver the project targets by achieving positive outcomes for the organisations you support:
- Engage with community organisation that sign up for the scheme and who need help with their energy issues.
- Improve the knowledge and confidence of community organisations in energy efficiency to better manage their energy use.
- Identify how community buildings can be made more affordable to heat and light and give advice on general energy efficiency.
- Identify grants and finance models that are available to improve community buildings and help them apply for them through sharing our reports.
- Share the learning from our projects with other practitioners who wish to build on best practice.
- Build a database of respected local builders, energy installation companies that have been used by local community groups.
You will discuss with clients (and present to Management committees if required) the range of options available to them and the indicative costs and payback periods.
The role will also involve general administrative tasks including data inputting, marketing support and evaluation. The successful applicant will have excellent verbal and written communication with good attention to detail. We are looking for an individual who is highly organised, with an enthusiasm for energy efficiency and renewable energy project development. Helping community organisations achieve carbon reductions and enhancing their resilience can be extremely rewarding.
Please refer to the job description for accountability and person specifications. You are very welcome to contact carlton@bradfordtrident.co.uk if you would have any questions or would like to find out more about the role.
Pay and conditions
The post is open to job share arrangements. The position if funded for 37 hours per week, with a preference for a full-time commitment until end of June 2022. The role is subject to a 2-month probationary review.
The salary for the role is £34,500 per year (FTE) based on skills and experience.
Full time employees are entitled to 25 days paid holiday (plus statutory holidays) per calendar year – your annual leave entitlement for the fixed term will be calculated once we have agreed working hours and start date.
We will pay fees and expenses for attendance on relevant training courses and any expenses incurred in the course of your work will be reimbursed in accordance with BCE’s standard staff expenses policy. You will be required to undertake a City and Guild’s energy awareness course (approximately 20 hours) and project-specific training as required. Currently, the majority of this is taking place online due to the pandemic.
Application procedure
Applications should be made on the application form, available at www.bradfordtrident.co.uk/vacancies. Your application should demonstrate how your skills and experience relate to the person specification. CVs and supporting letters will not be considered as part of the application process. The front sheet of the application form containing personal information will be removed prior to the de
Interviews will take place on the afternoon of 28 January 2022. We anticipate that interviews will be in person in a suitably large and ventilated venue.
Applications should be sent to Becci Holmes:
by email to Becci@bradfordtrident.co.uktails of the form is read by the selection panel.
Completed application forms, whether posted or emailed, should arrive no later than noon on
24 January 2022.
Interviews will take place on the afternoon of 28 January 2022. We anticipate that interviews will be in person in a suitably large and ventilated venue.
Applications should be sent to Becci Holmes:
by email to Becci@bradfordtrident.co.uk