Low Carbon Infrastructure Officer in Norwich

This post addresses the growing need to plan the infrastructure changes required for housing growth and electrification/decarbonisation across the council's 14000 council homes, operational buildings and the city more widely.

The role will assist with the strategic planning of energy infrastructure for new and existing buildings, including solar PV, heat pump and electrical vehicle projects, in collaboration with consulting engineers and stakeholders such as UK Power Networks.

The role suits candidates who can think strategically, ideally have either electrical or heating system technical knowledge, or at least good theoretical/scientific knowledge, and who manage internal and external stakeholders. The successful candidate will work within a supportive and technical team who plan and deliver projects. This post is suitable for newly qualified candidates as well as those with more experience.

The post holder will build stakeholder relationships, strategically develop low carbon energy infrastructure initiatives across the council’s operational buildings, social housing stock and the city of Norwich. The role includes bidding for funding, numerical analysis, creating and presenting business cases, being part of projectdelivery teamsand reporting outcomes.

1. Working as part of a specialist team, act as the lead officer to develop initiatives relating to the decarbonisation of energy infrastructure in the council’s operational buildings, social housing stock and the city of Norwich.

2. Research, develop and recommend new policies and strategies to accelerate the development of low carbon infrastructure.

3. Lead initiatives with UK Power Networks and other stakeholders to develop and update the city’s Local Area Energy Plan.

4. Develop, recommend and implement a plan to grow the council’s electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure to electrify its fleet and operational buildings and work with stakeholders to grow the number of EV charge points across the city.

5. Develop, recommend and implement a plan to improve or replace the council’s existing community and district heating networks, including metering and billing systems, across the council’s social housing stock.

6. Strategically manage the growth of low carbon heat networks across the council’s social housing stock and in the city and keep up to date with evolving heat network regulations and make recommendations to ensure compliance across council’s networks and in the city.

7. Act as the council’s Heat Network Zone regulator, as anticipated in upcoming heat network regulations.

8. Support the deployment of smart meters, IOT solutions and digital energy management systems to optimise energy use and emissions reduction.

9. Identify funding sources and develop business cases for low carbon infrastructure investments, including public-private partnerships.

10. Manage opportunities and risks relating to infrastructure result from climate change.

11. Manage consultants and advisors to develop designs and specifications for low carbon energy infrastructure, bid for funding and manage the delivery of projects.

12. Assist the Service to establish and maintain effective communication and liaison with colleagues, Councillors, MPs, external organisations and key strategic partners and individuals. This includes managing the Service’s requirement to respond to FOI’s, Cllr’s Questions and other democratic service requirements.

13. Work with relevant internal and external organisations to increase the awareness of climate change, fuel poverty, retrofitting and adaptation.

14. To carry out other activities that fall within the scope of this post that are of a similar level of responsibility. To promote and implement the Council’s corporate strategies, policies and practices in relation to environmental management.

Essential:

• Knowledge of electrical and/or heat energy systems or infrastructure

• Experienced in delivering energy efficiency, decarbonisation or energy system projects

• Experience in developing stakeholder relationships and working collaboratively across teams and with external stakeholders

• Experience of information management including acquiring, collating and analysing complex data and accurate record keeping

Preferred:

• Experience of the strategic management of energy infrastructure

• Experience of working in a public sector organisation

• Experienced with working with equality, social change and environmental issues

Skills and abilities

Essential:

• Able to develop and manage a self-learning programme to keep abreast of technical and regulatory risks and opportunities

• Able to evaluate built environment technical information and make strategic recommendations based on findings

• Able to work under pressure and to tight deadlines

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Able to present complex data to a non-expert audience

• Able to work flexibly as a member of a small team

• Good IT skills including setting up and manipulating spreadsheets, word processing, email, web searches

Preferred:

• An enthusiasm and commitment for environmental and/or social change

Essential:

Undergraduate degree in a technical, engineering or environmental or equivalent experience or capability.

Preferred:

Master’s degree in a technical or engineering topic

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