Project Manager

About the National Energy Foundation: The National Energy Foundation is an independent charity based in Milton Keynes, which has been at the forefront of improving the use of energy in buildings since 1988. We aim to give people, organisations and government the knowledge, support and inspiration they need to understand, manage and reduce the use of energy in buildings.

Role Overview: Our Project Managers are fundamental to the successful leadership and delivery of NEF’s programmes and projects. You will be responsible for the oversight of one or more projects, which could include leading a NEF team to deliver excellent results to funders, customers and important stakeholders. This vacancy sits under our SuperHomes work stream and focuses on supporting customers wishing to improve the energy efficiency of their home as a part of whole home retrofit approach through a one stop shop service. You could also be leading projects in our core work stream related to fuel poverty. Our Project Managers need to be highly organised, proactive and comfortable managing people. You’ll also be representing NEF in a leadership capacity externally. This could include contract review meetings, funder events, conferences and other stakeholder engagement events. Whilst this role is very much about communication and people, you’ll also need exemplary organisational skills and understand how to implement and lead projects from inception to successful completion. This job could be suitable for a candidate without previous formal experience of project and people management provided they have the right level of experience in our industry and have an excellent ‘can do’ attitude and willingness to take responsibility for delivering good project outcomes and satisfied clients.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead project delivery, potentially managing a team of internal staff, overseeing day-to-day project requirements, reporting on KPIs and inputting into future project strategy.
• Accountable for delivering successful projects, potentially across any one of NEF’s core strands, including comprehensive recording of costs, allocated resources, time spent and income obtained. Maintain accurate financial records (and process invoices) where required and ensure that your projects are delivered within budget and on time.
• Provide inspirational leadership to the delivery team and staff under your line management, ensuring team members have clear objectives, regular reviews, personal development plans and day-to-day guidance and support.
• Feed into the development (and improvement) and manage a range of systems and processes, including relevant CRM systems and/or databases.
• Provide overall project oversight to senior members or staff and/or external stakeholders, through regular reports and analysis.
• Champion the NEF Quality Management Systems (QMS) and ensure good operating practice is embedded into your team.
• Lead project steering groups, driving the direction of projects and ensuring projects are delivered successfully, ensuring everyone on your team is cognisant of the aims of the project.
• Be actively engaged in recruitment exercises and provide training, mentoring and support to delivery staff, both at the commencement of their role and ongoing.
• Act as a key representative of NEF, in a leadership role, at external events and/or meetings as required.
• Contribute fully to NEF’s business development direction, as well as delivering existing projects.
• Support, assist and deputise for your Line Manager as workload and/or circumstances might require.
• Lead or contribute to research and best practice associated with positive retrofit and health related outcomes including data evaluation.
• Provide general administrative support to the SuperHomes team and colleagues.
• Other activities as agreed with your Line Manager.

Person Specification:

• Ability to work with and for our customers in a professional and non-judgmental way.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to represent NEF at external events, deliver training and write project reports.
• A good understanding of Project Management within our sector and excellent knowledge of at least two of the following: energy saving (through behaviour change), energy efficiency, fuel poverty, renewable energy, project management tools.
• The ability to lead, engage, challenge, inspire and support a team of internal staff and external contractors.
• Ability to manage a range of internal and external stakeholders, customers and consumers at varying levels.
• High levels of emotional intelligence.
• Highly organised, with a methodical approach to projects and a keen eye for detail.
• Ability and willingness to travel. Regular travel to events is a feature of the job.
• Ability to work outside of office hours, by arrangement.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office Outlook, Excel, Word, Office 365 and Dynamics 365.
• Possession of a full UK driving license and use of a car with business insurance cover.

Desirable:

• Experience of project management relating to retrofit or energy efficiency with a focus on excellent customer service.
• A professional qualification in a retrofit or similar related role.
• Experience of working with vulnerable adults and knowledge of principles of safeguarding (training will be provided).