Energy Hub Coordinator / Home Energy Efficiency and Renewables Advisor (one or two posts)

Location: Sheffield
Rate: £25 per hour
Contract type: Self-employed, part-time

About Sheffield Energy Hub

Sheffield Energy Hub is a community-led initiative supporting individuals, communities and organisations to navigate the transition to a more sustainable, low carbon energy system.

We operate a city centre advice and information centre, and aim to extend outreach activity across Sheffield.

The Hub brings together information, advice, events and connections around home energy efficiency, retrofit, renewable energy, community energy, fuel poverty and decarbonisation.

We work with a wide range of partners, including community organisations, local authorities, energy and retrofit professionals, and other voluntary and public sector organisations.

Role purpose

Subject to funding, we are hoping to expand our team and are inviting expressions of interest for two posts. The roles could potentially be combined into one post.

For both posts, we are looking for people with relevant knowledge and experience to help deliver the Hub’s advice, information and outreach services.

Depending on the post, the role will involve providing different mixes of information and advice delivery to members of the public, supporting people to understand their options around home energy efficiency and renewable energy, helping to develop and deliver outreach activity, and contributing to the Hub’s online presence and day to day operation.

The roles will suit people who are comfortable working independently, communicating with a wide range of people, and translating complex energy issues into practical and accessible information.

Key responsibilities

Advice, information and service delivery

Cover public access sessions at the Energy Hub and outreach sessions at other locations, providing accessible information and advice on home energy efficiency, retrofit, low-carbon technologies, renewable energy and community energy.
Understand people’s circumstances and priorities and provide appropriate information, advice and signposting, including referrals to relevant specialist services and partners.
Support the development and delivery of outreach sessions and events in community and other settings.
Identify gaps in information, advice or support and feed these back into the development of the Hub’s services.

Communications and digital content

Gather, create and publish useful and accessible content for the Hub’s website and social media channels.
Help promote Hub activities, events, advice sessions and relevant opportunities.
Contribute to keeping information provided by the Hub accurate and up to date.

Hub coordination and administration

Support operational planning, administration and rota management.
Help ensure Hub sessions and outreach activities are well organised and welcoming.
Support monitoring and evaluation of Hub activity, including maintaining appropriate records and tracking key outputs and outcomes.
Maintain effective referral pathways and working relationships with relevant partners.
Contribute to a positive, inclusive and collaborative environment within the Hub.

Partnership and development

For post 2, responsibilities may also include:

Developing and maintaining relationships with relevant public, private and voluntary sector organisations.
Supporting collaborative activity between the Hub and its partners.
Supporting partners to contribute to Hub events, advice sessions and outreach activity.
Identifying opportunities to strengthen the Hub’s services and reach.

Working arrangements

The two posts are part time and will involve a degree of flexibility in working patterns, with hours and days agreed by mutual arrangement.

Post 1: approximately 9 hours per week. This post will focus primarily on public access sessions, general purpose outreach activities, advice and information provision, and supporting Hub activity. A typical distribution might be two 3 hour sessions in the energy hub building and one 3 hour evening or Saturday at an outreach location.

Post 2: approximately 15 hours per week. This post will have a more specific remit, promoting street-wide approaches to solar and battery investment as part of the ‘Every Sheffield Street a Power Station’ programme, preparing advice handouts, etc. in response to learning. This will include case study write up. This post will require evening and [possibly weekend working.

The Hub currently provides public access sessions from 10am to 4pm, Thursday to Saturday. The roles may also involve occasional evening or weekend outreach sessions, meetings and events.

Working hours may vary from week to week by agreement, according to the needs of the Hub and the availability of the post holder.

Travel time and reasonable travel expenses for agreed outreach activity away from the Energy Hub will be paid. Travel to and from the Energy Hub itself will not be paid.

The roles are offered on a self-employed basis. The successful applicants will be responsible for invoicing Sheffield Energy Hub for work undertaken and for meeting their own tax and National Insurance obligations.

Person specification

Essential

Good knowledge of domestic energy efficiency, home energy, retrofit, renewable energy and/or fuel poverty, supported by relevant experience, training or qualifications.
Ability to provide clear, impartial and accessible information and advice to members of the public.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively with people from a wide range of backgrounds.
Ability to work independently and manage time and priorities effectively.
Ability to combine practical delivery with an understanding of the wider energy and housing context.
Commitment to tackling fuel poverty, climate change and social inequality.
Willingness to work flexibly and contribute to the wider needs of a small and developing organisation.

Desirable

An energy advice, retrofit, energy efficiency or related qualification.
Knowledge of PAS 2035 and the domestic retrofit process.
Knowledge of renewable energy technologies, particularly solar PV, battery storage and heat pumps.
Understanding of community energy models and local energy systems.
Experience of working with local authorities, social landlords, community organisations or the voluntary sector.
Experience of developing or managing energy, sustainability, housing or community-based projects or services.
Experience of creating digital content and using social media to communicate with the public.
Understanding of relevant energy, housing and consumer protection policy and regulation.
Experience of managing budgets or securing funding.
A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for outreach activity.

How to express interest

Please send a CV and covering letter to in**@****************ub.org