Chief Executive, Community Energy & Growth

Staffordshire Community Energy is an ambitious and award-winning community benefit society delivering community-owned renewable energy projects that directly benefit our communities across the administrative County and Stoke-on-Trent. We’re driven by a belief that communities can and must play a central role in the transition to a clean energy and secure future.

Since 2011 SCE has been delivering clean energy and creating funds for local projects. We currently have five sites with rooftop solar PV totalling 490kWp with another project of 736kWp under negotiation and several school sites under investigation. Our annual turnover is estimated at £340k in 2026/27, and this should increase in future years as new projects come on stream.

With the establishment of Great British Energy and the Local Power Plan promising a £1bn programme of investment in local and community energy there is huge potential for the sector opening up – SCE intends to be at the centre of the crusade in Staffordshire. We have created this new post to lead the drive to take advantage of the new prospects and maximise the potential.

About the role

• Contribute to strategic leadership of SCE, working with the Board
• Lead the preparation and delivery of SCE’s long-term vision and business plan
• Establish and oversee the operations of the organisation, ensuring high quality project delivery and operation, and robust financial management
• Lead on governance, risk, insurance and commercial oversight on existing and new SCE projects
• Grow a strong pipeline of community-energy renewable and retrofit projects taking projects from early stage “desk-top” appraisals through to formal investment decisions, construction and commissioning. This includes creation of commercial proposals
• Lead fundraising and develop new income, opportunities to put the organisation on a secure long-term financial future including grant and investment opportunities, encompassing preparation of grant applications and share offer documents.
• Build and nurture relationships with host sites, investors, partner organisations, local businesses and local authorities in Staffordshire
• Represent SCE publicly and champion the cause of community-led energy
• Lead and manage a small team comprising a part-time administrator, consultants, contractors and volunteers fostering a collaborative and delivery-focused culture
• Report to the Chair of the Board and attend Meetings of the Board and appropriate Board Committees (all usually held online)

We have grant funding for the post until the end of 2027 and one of the key challenges will be to secure a sound ongoing financial base for SCE and this post via funding from operations and grants.

This is a unique opportunity to shape and grow an ambitious organisation with a strong track record, an experienced Board and an active community base. SCE is looking to play a significant role in Staffordshire’s energy transition, expanding its portfolio, strengthening its membership model and deepening its impact across the County and Stoke-on-Trent.

This is expected to include a larger portfolio of onsite solar, both rooftop and ground mount but will also require SCE to actively consider other energy initiatives such as Smart Local Energy Systems, retrofit, energy efficiency and other energy assets such as wind power, heat networks and battery storage.

About you

They looking for someone who is:

• An experienced leader with a background in sustainability, community energy, climate action, social enterprise or similar
• Passionate about community energy and committed to community-led change
• Financially astute, comfortable with financial models, budgets, reporting, cashflow and grant requirements
• A strong communicator who can engage a diverse set of stakeholders including local and central government, community groups, and technical partners
• Collaborative, organised and comfortable operating both at a strategic and operational level
• Proactive, dynamic self-starter who works independently with confidence to drive progress and deliver results
• Interested in the detail of delivering and operating a portfolio of renewable energy projects
• Knowledge of sustainable energy and experience of energy projects
• Preferably located in or near Staffordshire

Why join SCE?

• Lead tangible, impactful, local energy and climate action projects
• Work with a passionate and experienced Board
• Join us at an exciting time, with the opportunity to shape the role and drive the next stage of our growth and impact on the communities we serve
• Flexible working arrangements and a values driven environment

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