Low Carbon Infrastructure Officer

The Methodist Church in Britain; Norwich; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Norwich City Council is seeking an officer to plan energy changes for housing growth and decarbonisation across council homes, buildings and the city. You will lead heat networks, EV charging and solar PV initiatives, and contribute to the Local Area Energy Plan.

The role is open to newly qualified and experienced candidates and involves managing consultants and a small team, with a 37-hour week and a focus on technical energy systems and regulatory knowledge.

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a technical, engineering or environmental subject.
• Experience delivering energy efficiency, decarbonisation or energy system projects.
• Developing stakeholder relationships and working collaboratively internally and externally.
• Managing information, analysing complex data and keeping accurate records.
• Knowledge of electrical and/or heat energy systems or infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Lead initiatives to decarbonise energy infrastructure across operational buildings, social housing and the city.
• Develop and implement a plan to grow the council's EV charging infrastructure, electrify its fleet and operational buildings, and grow city charge points with stakeholders.
• Develop and implement a plan to improve or replace community and district heating networks, including metering and billing, across social housing.
• Manage the growth of low carbon heat networks and keep up to date with heat network regulations to ensure compliance.
• Act as the council's Heat Network Zone regulator.
• Lead work with UK Power Networks and other stakeholders to develop and update the city's Local Area Energy Plan.
• Research, develop and recommend policies and strategies to accelerate low carbon infrastructure.
• Identify funding sources, bid for funding, and develop business cases including public-private partnerships.
• Manage consultants and advisors to develop designs and specifications and deliver projects.
• Support the deployment of smart meters, IoT solutions and digital energy management systems.
• Manage opportunities and risks to infrastructure from climate change.
• Build relationships and liaise with councillors, MPs and partners, including managing FOI and councillor enquiries.

Skills

Electrical/heat energy systems

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Communication

IT skills

Education

Undergraduate degree in a technical, engineering or environmental subject

Job description

Norwich City Council's specialist low carbon infrastructure team needs an officer to plan energy changes for housing growth and decarbonisation across council homes, buildings and the wider city. The work centres on leading heat network, EV charging and solar PV initiatives, the city's Local Area Energy Plan, funding bids and business cases. It is a 37-hour post open to newly qualified and experienced candidates, with consultants to manage and a small team to deliver projects. Fit is decided by knowledge of electrical or heat energy systems and a technical degree.

What the job involves

• Lead initiatives to decarbonise energy infrastructure across operational buildings, social housing and the city
• Develop and implement a plan to grow the council's EV charging infrastructure, electrify its fleet and operational buildings, and grow city charge points with stakeholders
• Develop and implement a plan to improve or replace community and district heating networks, including metering and billing, across social housing
• Manage the growth of low carbon heat networks and keep up to date with heat network regulations to ensure compliance
• Act as the council's Heat Network Zone regulator
• Lead work with UK Power Networks and other stakeholders to develop and update the city's Local Area Energy Plan
• Research, develop and recommend policies and strategies to accelerate low carbon infrastructure
• Identify funding sources, bid for funding, and develop business cases including public-private partnerships
• Manage consultants and advisors to develop designs and specifications and deliver projects
• Support the deployment of smart meters, IoT solutions and digital energy management systems
• Manage opportunities and risks to infrastructure from climate change
• Build relationships and liaise with councillors, MPs and partners, including managing FOI and councillor enquiries

What's required

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in a technical, engineering or environmental subject, or equivalent experience or capability

Experience

• Delivering energy efficiency, decarbonisation or energy system projects
• Developing stakeholder relationships and working collaboratively internally and externally
• Managing information, analysing complex data and keeping accurate records

Skills & knowledge

• Knowledge of electrical and/or heat energy systems or infrastructure
• Evaluating built environment technical information and making strategic recommendations
• Developing and managing a self-learning programme on technical and regulatory risks and opportunities
• Presenting complex data to a non-expert audience
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Good IT skills, including spreadsheets, word processing, email and web searches

Other

• Working under pressure and to tight deadlines
• Working flexibly as part of a small team

Nice to have

• Experience of strategic management of energy infrastructure
• Experience of working in a public sector organisation
• Experience working with equality, social change and environmental issues
• Enthusiasm and commitment to environmental and/or social change
• Master's degree in a technical or engineering topic