Low Carbon Infrastructure Officer - #146866

This new post addresses the growing need to plan the infrastructure changes required for housing growth, decarbonisation and climate change adaptation.

The role will lead strategic planning for electrical infrastructure and heat network projects in collaboration with consulting engineers and stakeholders such as UK Power Networks.

The role suits candidates who can think strategically, have technical knowledge and who can lead and work collaborately with consulting engineers and internal and external stakeholders.

Job Description

The post holder will build stakeholder relationships, strategically develop low carbon energy infrastructure initiatives across the council’s operational buildings, social housing stock and the city of Norwich. The role includes bidding for funding, delivering projects and reporting outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Working as part of a specialist team, act as the lead officer to develop initiatives relating to the decarbonisation of energy infrastructure in the council’s operational buildings, social housing stock and the city of Norwich.
• Research, develop and recommend new policies and strategies to accelerate the development of low carbon infrastructure.
• Lead initiatives with UK Power Networks and other stakeholders to develop and update the city’s Local Area Energy Plan.
• Develop, recommend and implement a plan to grow the council’s electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to electrify its fleet and operational buildings and work with stakeholders to grow the number of EV charge points across the city.
• Develop, recommend and implement a plan to improve or replace the council’s existing community and district heating networks, including metering and billing systems, across the council’s social housing stock.
• Strategically manage the growth of low carbon heat networks across the council’s social housing stock and in the city and keep up to date with evolving heat network regulations and make recommendations to ensure compliance across council’s networks and in the city.
• Act as the council’s Heat Network Zone regulator, as anticipated in upcoming heat network regulations.
• Support the deployment of smart meters, IOT solutions and digital energy management systems to optimise energy use and emissions reduction.
• Identify funding sources and develop business cases for low carbon infrastructure investments, including public-private partnerships.
• Manage opportunities and risks relating to infrastructure result from climate change.
• Manage consultants and advisors to develop designs and specifications for low carbon energy infrastructure, bid for funding and manage the delivery of projects.
• Assist the Service to establish and maintain effective communication and liaison with colleagues, Councillors, MPs, external organisations and key strategic partners and individuals. This includes managing the Service’s requirement to respond to FOI’s, Cllr’s Questions and other democratic service requirements.
• Work with relevant internal and external organisations to increase the awareness of climate change, fuel poverty, retrofitting and adaptation.
• To carry out other activities that fall within the scope of this post that are of a similar level of responsibility. To promote and implement the Council’s corporate strategies, policies and practices in relation to environmental management.
  
  

Essential:

Skills Required

• Knowledge of electrical and/or heat energy systems or infrastructure
• Experienced in delivering energy efficiency, decarbonisation or energy system projects
• Experience in developing stakeholder relationships and working collaboratively across teams and with external stakeholders
• Experience of information management including acquiring, collating and analysing complex data and accurate record keeping
  
  

Preferred:

• Experience of the strategic management of energy infrastructure
• Experience of working in a public sector organisation
• Experienced with working with equality, social change and environmental issues
  
  

Essential:

Skills and abilities

• Able to develop and manage a self-learning programme to keep abreast of technical and regulatory risks and opportunities
• Able to evaluate built environment technical information and make strategic recommendations based on findings
• Able to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Able to present complex data to a non-expert audience
• Able to work flexibly as a member of a small team
• Good IT skills including setting up and manipulating spreadsheets, word processing, email, web searches
  
  

Preferred:

• An enthusiasm and commitment for environmental and/or social change
  
  

Educational Requirements

Essential:

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

Preferred:

Master’s degree in a technical or engineering topic

Why work for us

Our council is full of people who have chosen to work in local government because they want to help others and make a difference to their lives or the environment in which local people live.

To find out more about working and living in Norwich Home | Work in Norwich.

The council has a long and proud history of being a council that is keen to push the boundaries of what a district can achieve, to find out more about what it is like to work in local government visit Working in local government - #LocalGov Careers - Youth Employment UK

We offer our employees a competitive pay and benefits package. Whether you’re looking for a new career, promotion, flexible working opportunity to fit with your home life or a sideways move – we have a variety of challenging employment opportunities for everybody.

Norwich City Council offers the opportunity to work with great people who are passionate about promoting Norwich and the services the council provides. We also offer good career prospects with competitive rates of pay, generous holidays and working arrangements to suit all lifestyles.

Equal Opportunities Policy

The council is committed to a policy of equality opportunity in employment, in recruitment and the services we provide. Applications are considered on the basis of their suitability for the post regardless of sex, gender reassignment, race, ethnic origin, disability, age, marital status, domestic responsibilities, sexual orientation or religious affiliation. People with disabilities are guaranteed an interview provided they are suitably qualified and/or experienced.

Candidates will be considered for shortlisting on the factual information on their application form. Therefore it is important to give as much detail as possible including information about experience gained outside employment.

Benefits

We offer our employees a competitive pay and benefits package and are proud to have the Living Wage accreditation. Whether you’re looking for a new career, promotion, flexible working opportunity to fit with your home life or a sideways move – we have a variety of challenging employment opportunities for everybody.

• All employees are eligible to join the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS)
• Paid holiday entitlement starts at 26 days per annum and increases with length of service to a maximum of 33 days per annum. This is pro rata for part-time employees
• In addition to the statutory public holidays, we grant an additional statutory day leave at Christmas
• Norwich City Council supports its employees through the provision of occupational health and employee assistance support