Water Efficiency Officer in Antrim

JOB PURPOSE

The post-holder will report directly to the Net Zero Buildings Manager and will be required to work effectively with QES Senior Managers, other Senior EA colleagues, Principals, External Partners and multi‑disciplinary Teams to deliver the EA’s Climate Change ambitions and legislative requirements.

This includes responsibility for providing advice and support to the Voluntary Grammar and Grant Maintained Integrated sector as required.

Through the delivery of comprehensive Water Efficiency support, the post-holder will contribute to the Water Efficiency management processes across QSHE and FM Services as and when required.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• STAFF MANAGEMENT AND SERVICE DELIVERY
• Responsible for delivering efficient and effective administrative support for the Quality, Energy and Sustainability (QES) Service.

This may involve managing the work of staff across multiple locations.

• Where required the post-holder will manage dedicated administrative staff by assigning work, co-ordinating activities, and dealing with recruitment and resourcing issues.
• Where required the post-holder will undertake line management responsibilities including approving annual leave requests dealing with any attendance management/disciplinary issues for a number of staff; across multiple locations as required.
• Where required the post-holder will review the performance of reporting staff, identifying individual/team training requirements and initiating further training for professional and personal development.
• WATER EFFICIENCY AND ENERGY SUPPORT
• Provide clear consistent information and coaching to EA staff to enhance the level of awareness and improve the understanding of Water Efficiency and Energy management processes throughout the FM Directorate.
• Be responsible for the development of Water Efficiency and Energy metrics across all FM services to ensure consistency of reporting and the effective analysis of all Water Efficiency and Energy related data.
• Be responsible for benchmarking, governance and service improvement in Water Efficiency and Energy.
• Provide support to the FM Heads of Service (QSHE, Maintenance, Facilities Support Services) to develop, maintain, interrogate and progressively improve Water Efficiency and Energy systems to enable central co‑ordination of key performance indicators (KPIs) and supporting data across FM.
• Be responsible for the development of Water Efficiency and Energy data management in support of all FM Services, internal and external stakeholders across schools and services e. g. planned and ad‑hoc handling of utilities queries, ensuring follow up on reported Water Efficiency and Energy related issues and planned projects to improve Water Efficiency and Energy management initiatives.
• Using the collated Water Efficiency and Energy consumption data from automated metering, and other utilities databases, be responsible for analysing and investigating positive and negative trends across FM services to inform the prioritisation of Water Efficiency and Energy interventions.
• Be responsible for the ongoing review and development of Water Efficiency and Energy related procedures and protocols to identify weaknesses and make recommendations for service improvement where required across the FM Division.
• SPECIALIST ADVICE AND SUPPORT
• Maintain the Water Database set up by the Consumer Council and analyse monthly water bills to identify consumption spikes or inefficient average daily consumption levels per pupil.
• Notify Schools of any spikes or inefficiencies and provide them with the relevant support to help them identify the source, using the self‑check guides.
• Provide advice on how best to instigate repairs, provide values for the billing costs of leaks or inefficiencies and liaise with other EA Departments or Contractors where appropriate.
• Manage the Leakage Allowance process to ensure all claims are successful and fully refunded by NI Water.
• Identify any other opportunities to reduce water bill charges including Domestic Allowance applications, identify redundant meters and pipe size reductions.
• Manage the introduction and ongoing roll out of Automated Meter Readers across the Schools and EA Corporate Estate to improve Water Efficiency performance, liaise with Third Party providers and obtain data from NI Water meters where appropriate.
• Liaise with all stakeholders involved with the Water Efficiency journey, both within EA and with outside Agencies/Departments, to include NI Water and their Key Account Manager to seek out best practice models and integrate these, where appropriate.
• Develop Water Efficiency tools that can integrate into other EA Management Systems.
• Ensure Schools and EA Corporate Building Supervisors have access to information and support to assist them to reduce water consumption and costs.
• Work with all relevant stakeholders to set targets for average daily consumption reductions and drive improvement with individual schools to achieve these.
• Provide specific training and development to EA Staff when required, e. g. ensuring existing and new processes are implemented correctly together with development initiatives, programmes, regulations or updated regulations impacting Water Efficiency related processes.
• Be responsible for the effective input to responses for correspondence, AQWs, FOIs, Ministerial Briefing Requests and Invites and DE Requests arising from enquires and complaints from parents, school principals, Board members, MLAs, MPs and other Public Representatives and Members of the Public.
• Provide support and advice to Net Zero Buildings Manager, Senior QES Manager, Head of QSHE and QSHE Service Managers to ensure compliance with the latest legislative and policy guidance relating to Water Efficiency.
• Assist the Net Zero Buildings Manager, Senior QES Manager, Head of QSHE and FM Heads of Service with the effective development of robust reporting arrangements for Water Efficiency related targets, strategies, action plans, business and operational plans; issuance of advice and reports on Water Efficiency related consumption and tariffs to end‑users.
• Support the development of policies arising from Project Boards and Working Groups including the coordination and development of Stakeholder consultations, Equality Impact Assessments in partnership with the impacted service areas and the Equality and Diversity Team e. g.

Water Efficiency related Policies, Strategies and Action Plans.

• OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES
• Build and maintain effective, professional, and respectful stakeholder relationships.
• Develop and maintain clear lines of communication and effective working partnerships with relevant internal external stakeholders.
• Comply with the Authority’s policy on General Data Protection Regulations (in particular processing sensitive personal information).
• Undertake other related duties within the grade and competence of the postholder as required.
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