Community Energy local coordinator (Birmingham)
The project
The Big Solar Co-op
The Big Solar Co-op is Sharenergy’s flagship solar project. We are working to enable community solar to flourish anywhere, without the FiT subsidy, on a range of rooftops and sites. We work with an ever-growing network of highly skilled and dedicated volunteers who we support to find, assess and sign up solar host sites. These local activists are supported by a professional team providing management, coordination and administrative support.
Community Energy Birmingham (CEB)
Community Energy Birmingham aims to reduce carbon emissions from energy in Birmingham, through community energy projects. We are a community benefit society, democratically controlled by our members. We own more than 200 kW of solar electricity projects throughout the greater Birmingham area, which have been funded by community share issues. By partnering with the Big Solar Co-op, CEB can develop larger solar projects and bring benefits to the city by helping to make local businesses more sustainable.
Sharenergy
Sharenergy is a not-for-profit co-operative helping people to set up new community-owned renewable energy societies. Sharenergy works across the UK and across the technologies. Founded in 2011, we have worked with over 100 community energy groups and have been instrumental in establishing many successful and innovative projects.
The role
The Big Solar Co-op and Community Energy Birmingham (CEB) are looking for a Community Energy local coordinator (Birmingham) to join our team. You will be employed by Sharenergy Co-operative Limited (‘Sharenergy’).
As a key part of our Big Solar Co-op + Community Energy Birmingham joint project you will work with a UK-wide network of activists to build new solar PV in the greater Birmingham area on a wide range of public and commercial buildings.
You will be the first point of contact and responsible for liaison with stakeholders in the greater Birmingham area, CEB members and counterparts at the Big Solar Co-op to help deliver an ambitious target of 1000 kW of new rooftop solar in Birmingham by 2023.
Your responsibilities will include the following:
- Identification of potential solar sites in the greater Birmingham area
- Recruitment of new long-term local volunteers
- Improving our existing site referral process
- Analysing data sets on the 3d datahub to identify areas for investigation, considering aspects such as grid constraints, conservation area limitations
- Assisting potential solar site owners remotely in using the site self-referral process, including usage data
- Designing solar arrays using OpenSolar software (training will be provided)
- Developing outline proposals specific to those sites
- Showcase the Big Solar Co-op + Community Energy Birmingham partnership through marketing and publicity activities
- Administration of CEB’s home energy advice service, liaison and facilitation, allocation of retrofit coordinators and advisors to households
Person Specification
Essential:
- Confident communicator and able to initiate conversations with various stakeholders and develop partnerships.
- Understand and support the aims of the community energy movement. You will need to be fired up to find practical solutions to the climate crisis.
- Understanding of setting up and running events and online meetings.
- A commitment to diversity and anti-discriminatory practice.
- IT literate with an excellent understanding of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel) plus online tools such as Dropbox and Google Suite.
Desirable:
- Experience in a commercial or social business environment giving you a good command of financial, policy and project management fundamentals.
- Experience of recruitment, training and coordination of volunteers
- Knowledgeable about delivery of project marketing and communications.
Contract offer
Employment: Part-time, 1 year fixed term contract.
Salary: £24-26k FTE (depending on experience) – 3 days/week
Holidays: 25 days plus statutory holidays (pro rata)
Location: The role is based in Birmingham but we are happy to accept applications from candidates who are based elsewhere in the West Midlands, who may work from home or from a funded co-working space in central Birmingham. Sharenergy will cover the cost of a laptop and mobile with a contract for work purposes.
As we are working with community groups and sites throughout the greater Birmingham area, travel for site visits and meetings is a crucial aspect of the role and the successful candidate may expect to regularly travel around the greater Birmingham area.
Flexible working: The role can be delivered flexibly over 3, 4 or 5 days within (nominally) normal office hours. However it is often necessary to attend meetings in the evenings and occasionally on weekends. Applicants need to be flexible and willing to work around the needs of the projects.
Travel: All travel expenses incurred for the purposes of this work will be reimbursed by Sharenergy. Mileage can be paid when needed but, wherever reasonably possible, employees are encouraged to use public transport.
Timeline: Applications will be reviewed on the 25th of October and selected candidates will be asked to attend a one hour Zoom interview shortly after that. The shortlisted candidate(s) will be asked to come to Birmingham in person to meet with the CEB and BSC teams soon after. The role is then available for an immediate start.
If you would like further information about the role please contact us at info@bigsolar.coop