Outer Hebrides Community Support Officer

HIJOBS; Scotland; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading community support organization in Scotland seeks a dedicated professional to focus on delivering community energy projects in the Outer Hebrides. This role involves securing funding, engaging with local communities, and facilitating project tasks. The ideal candidate will have experience in community engagement, project management, and a strong understanding of sustainability initiatives. This full-time or part-time contract spans six months, offering a unique opportunity to contribute to the region's net-zero goals.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering community projects, particularly in energy and sustainability.
• Strong organizational skills for managing multiple tasks and stakeholders.
• Ability to engage effectively with island communities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of funding bids for community energy projects.
• Support communities in implementing net-zero projects.
• Facilitate meetings and coordinate activities of energy consortiums.

Skills

Community engagement

Project management

Funding development

Networking

Education

Relevant degree or equivalent experience

Job description

Working as part of the CES team, and in partnership with island communities to support community energy projects in the Outer Hebrides we're advertising a 6 month contract. This post will focus on delivering the Islands Centre for Net Zero project and facilitation of the Community Power Outer Hebrides consortium and the delivery of its tasks.

Full time or part time post available - 6 month contract

Overall Purpose

Working as part of the Outer Hebrides team in CES, and in partnership with island communities to support community energy projects and CES’s strategic aims. This post will focus on delivering the ICNZ project and facilitation of the Community Power Outer Hebrides consortium and the delivery of its tasks.

Main Tasks

Your role will be to deliver the following tasks:

Outer Hebrides Domestic Decarbonisation Project

CES is leading on the development of the Outer Hebrides Domestic Decarbonisation Project and the following tasks:

• Lead on securing match funding for the project, working on the development and coordination of funding bids with partners.
• If match funding is secured, work on the development and implementation of the project.

Islands Centre for Net Zero

• Engage and support Outer Hebrides communities in developing net-zero projects, providing support to the ICNZ Outer Hebrides Officer on projects
• Support long-term planning for ICNZ, including contributing to developing a Year 4 work plan
• Attend Outer Hebrides ICNZ coordination meetings
• Support ICNZ and Island Climate Action Network activities in the Outer Hebrides, including organising and publicising events
• Assist in planning and organising the ICNZ team meeting in the Outer Hebrides
• Support other ICNZ projects and tasks as required

Community Power Outer Hebrides

• Facilitate and organise CPOH quarterly meetings and regular peer-to-peer meetings, which provide the group with an opportunity to share learning or discuss key issues
• Facilitate meetings between CPOH and commercial wind generators, Enercon, Scottish and Southern Energy Networks, Regional Energy Strategic Plan (RESP) and National Energy System Operator (NESO), Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Energy and other partners and stakeholders.
• Support the CPOH members to develop their repowering project development plans (900kW – 9MW wind sites) with input from the CES technical team
• Support CPOH members with operation & maintenance issues and negotiating for EPK renewals, repowering, insurance and other urgent issues that may arise
• Work with the CES Policy Manager and Public Affairs Manager to provide support on relevant policy & advocacy work, and to respond to consultations
• Suggest and explore options and topics which would be useful to CPOH for workshops or learning journeys, including organising knowledge exchange sessions with external speakers such as local energy markets, right to sell locally etc
• Explore interesting or collaborative opportunities for the CPOH generators such as supplying data centres in the Western Isles
• Plan for, and report on, annual CPOH activities, surveying CPOH community groups to prioritise plan
• Keep CPOH members informed with relevant news, events and opportunities (funding, training etc)
• Organise CPOH files and develop database tools for tracking CPOH information.