Energy Services Manager (Fixed Term) in Gateshead

Fixed term role initially for 12 months with potential to be extended to 18 months.

Do you want to help make Gateshead a place where everyone thrives? If that sounds like you, keep reading - we might be the perfect match. We’re delighted that you’re interested in working with us. You’d be joining us at a very exciting time. We pride ourselves on our ambitious and forward‑thinking approach to taking care of Gateshead and its people, and we passionately believe that our employees reflect that spirit in truly enabling Gateshead to thrive.

At Gateshead Council you’d be a highly valued member of a team that recognises and respects the skills that you bring to your role, encourages creativity and passionately advocates a great work‑life balance. Our actions speak louder than words, and with flexi‑time and hybrid working available across many of our roles, as well as a full suite of outstanding employee benefits, we’re confident that it isn’t just the salary that attracts our staff.

Supporting real change in how energy is used across Gateshead, the Energy Services Team sits within the Council’s Design and Energy service and plays a key role in supporting Gateshead’s ambitions to decarbonise energy and tackle climate change. The team leads on the development and delivery of energy efficiency initiatives, low‑carbon projects and the borough’s District Energy Network, working closely with council services, partners, communities and residents. With a strong focus on innovation, data‑driven decision‑making and practical delivery, the team works at pace to reduce energy use, carbon emissions and costs, while supporting the provision of affordable, low‑carbon heat and contributing to the Council’s Climate Change Strategy and Vision 2030.

As Energy Services Manager, you will play a vital supporting role in leading the service to deliver the Council’s energy and sustainability priorities. You will deliver the Council’s vision for energy services to ensure Gateshead is a leader in the field, be strategic lead on energy services, manage commercial operations of Gateshead Energy Company, deliver key performance targets in Thrive, the Corporate Plan and the Group Plan, implement energy and carbon management strategies, co‑ordinate the Council’s approach to tackling fuel poverty, be responsible for savings to council, housing company and schools utility budgets, develop business cases, deliver and control budgets for major invest‑to‑save, energy generation and efficiency projects.

This is a fixed‑term post, to work alongside the current Energy Services Manager whilst we go through a period of change and improvement across Energy Services and the Gateshead Energy Company. We support flexible working, and are open to discussions for alternative working patterns such as compressed hours or reduced hours; the minimum expectation for this role would be 30 hours per week to meet the workload requirements of the role.

What You Will Get To Do

• Lead the delivery of the Energy Services team’s priorities, including Vision 2030, the Climate Change Strategy and Carbon Management Plan.
• Provide leadership and guidance to the service through change, with support from the current Energy Services Manager, to continue to build a strong and effective Energy Services team.
• Be a strategic lead on energy services, including energy and carbon management of the Council’s estate and of the borough of Gateshead, and any associated climate change and environmental policies.
• Support the management of commercial operations of Gateshead Energy Company, and development of new trading opportunities.
• Support key capital projects as overall project sponsor, such as extensions of the energy network and domestic energy efficiency projects.
• Liaison with partners and stakeholders across Gateshead, extending delivery to other local and regional partners.
• Overall responsibility for relevant key performance targets in Thrive, the Corporate Plan and the Group Plan.
• Deliver an efficient and cost effective service for our customers across the Council services including housing, property and schools.
• Business case development, project delivery and budget control of major invest‑to‑save, energy generation and efficiency projects in Council and school buildings, securing external funding as appropriate.
• Any other duties appropriate to the post.

What You Will Bring

• Knowledge of energy management, climate change and sustainability issues.
• Experience in leading multi‑disciplinary teams or services.
• Knowledge of government policies, strategies and initiatives in relation to the energy industry.
• Experience of budget management across capital and revenue budgets.
• Experience in building and managing relationships, with colleagues, customers and stakeholders.
• Proven ability to work on your own initiative and as part of a team, using effective organisational skills following a support induction period.
• Excellent customer service and communication skills, dealing confidently with both internal and external customers.
• A degree or equivalent experience in an energy, environmental or climate change discipline.

What’s In It For You

• Competitive Salary: We offer fair and transparent pay that reflects your skills and experience.
• Outstanding Pension Scheme: We invest in your future too.
• Generous Annual Leave: 28 days of annual leave, rising to 32 days after 5 years (2 of which can be fixed by the Council), plus the option to buy up to 10 extra days.
• Flexible Working Hours: Benefit from up to 26 flexi days per year (subject to business needs), giving you more control over your time.
• Hybrid & Flexible Working: We support a healthy work‑life balance with flexible and hybrid working options. There is a requirement for you to spend 40% of your time office based.
• Learning & Development: Access a wide range of training, development and progression opportunities to help you grow your career.
• Health & Wellbeing Support: From discounted gym memberships through our partner GLL to mental health resources, we care about your wellbeing.
• Cycle to Work Scheme: Save money and stay active with our tax‑efficient cycle to work programme.
• Electric & Hybrid Car Scheme: Get behind the wheel of a brand‑new electric or hybrid vehicle through our salary sacrifice car scheme in partnership with NHS Fleet Solutions.
• Exclusive Discounts & Salary Sacrifice: Through our VIVUP employee benefits platform, enjoy discounts on shopping, travel, and services plus salary sacrifice options on white goods, electronics and more.

Our commitment to you: We are an equal opportunities employer and aim to have a culture and a workplace where our people feel a sense of belonging, are respected and empowered to do their best work. We deliver better services when our workforce reflects the full range of backgrounds and experiences in the society we serve. We welcome applications from suitably qualified people from all sections of the community, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. We encourage you to bring your full self to work, and this starts from when you apply to work with us. If you would like to discuss the support we can put in place to help you to bring your full self to do your best work, please get in touch. As a Disability Confident employer, we guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role.