Job advert
Download as a PDF here.
Deadline for applications: 5pm, Weds 5th August 2015
Interviews: in Manchester w/c 10th August, w/c 17th August 2015 (flexible due to holidays,
Skype interviews possible)
Start date: September/October 2015
Application: please submit a recent CV along with a maximum two page covering letter outlining your suitability and how you meet the essential elements of the role as outlined below.
1. Introduction
Carbon Co-op are seeking a highly motivated, flexible person to assist in a number of areas of our development and to become part of a small but growing staff team. The post is part time – 15 hours a week – initially for six months but with the potential for full time and more permanent employment options as work progresses. The role is based at Carbon Co-op's office space in central Manchester – flexible work hours and locations will be considered though some work at the office is required.
Carbon Co-op is a fast growing not-for-profit, social enterprise based in Greater Manchester. We pilot innovative, low carbon projects in the area of householder energy and provide support services to householder members and the wider community.
2. Overview
We need assistance in the following areas:
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The development of our My Home Energy Planner web tool
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Delivery of various community engagement activities
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Development of Carbon Co-op membership services
3. Tasks
The role is a mixture of the following tasks listed below. You will work alongside other Carbon Co-op staff members and freelancers and frequently use pre-existing templates, models and tools.
i. Delivery of community engagement activities (40% of role)
Carbon Co-op frequently delivers community-focussed activity, commissioned by local authorities or using grant funding. We need assistance in the following areas:
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Delivery of participatory workshops in a variety of scenarios to groups of householders or organisations at private or public events
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Organising open events and activities to engage members and the wider public in home energy efficiency, eg arranging bus tours, deliver workshops and seminars etc
ii. Assistance with the development of My Home Energy Planner (30% of role)
My Home Energy Planner is a new open source, whole house retrofit assessment and decision making web tool developed by Carbon Co-op and technical partners URBED. Carbon Co-op are currently in the middle of delivering a 12 month long development project. Assistance is needed in the following areas:
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Assisting business planning and development for the long term exploitation of the tool ie training, consultancy services etc
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Assisting with Community Energy partner engagement, organisations who will deliver assessments in the other parts of the UK
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Piloting aspects of the project with householders and community groups
iii. Development of Carbon Co-op membership services (30% of role)
Carbon Co-op is a community benefit society with a membership approaching 100 people. Members pay £35 a year and receive a range of benefits. We need assistance with activities such as:
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Assisting with the delivery of Carbon Co-op membership events and socials
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Researching and initiating new membership offers with low carbon suppliers, installers and manufacturers
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Facilitating member communication and interaction through tools such as the Carbon Co-op website and members' forum
The role will include some contribution to bid writing in order to secure future funds.
4. Reporting
Carbon Co-op is governed by a voluntary board, elected by the membership and meeting on a bi-monthly basis. Carbon Co-op has two staff members, Jonathan Atkinson who acts as project manager for the organisation and Matt Fawcett who works on our Smart Grids project. You would work within the staff team at our office in the Northern Quarter (part of URBED's studio) and report to Jonathan.
5. Outline of the role
The role requires the person to posses a mixture of skill and aptitude in the following areas. Due to the diversity of activities required we are looking for someone who is flexible with adaptable skills and capabilities.
i) Skills and experience
Essential
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Project Development experience – a track record of instigating new and/or developing existing projects, including writing project proposals and plans, creating budgets, completing funding bids and working with partners to build a project. You will demonstrate creativity and problem solving ability.
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Workshop facilitation and delivery – delivering workshops in a community, campaign or voluntary sector context, facilitation of meetings to involve and include participants (rather than simply deliver information to them).
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Organisational ability – experience of organising the delivering an event, project or activity, ie managing logistics, co-ordinating people and activities, communicating with different stakeholders, managing budgets and spend etc
Preferred
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Business development – experience of developing an enterprise in whatever context, eg micro, small, large; eg your own enterprise or another organisation's; eg informal, social enterprise, public sector or private sector. Development might include, developing ideas for income generation, creating business plans, carrying out market research, formulating financial projections, promoting or selling a product or service
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Publicity and marketing – experience of raising awareness about an event, activity or project, this could involve designing marketing materials, using social media, authoring press releases etc
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Administration – experience of basic administration eg record keeping, spreadsheets, issuing invoices, authoring short reports etc
Useful
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Membership development – working within a membership organisation, designing services for members and facilitating member interaction
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An understanding of the concepts of energy efficiency, low carbon development and environmental sustainability
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Grant funding bid writing experience
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Experience of co-operatives and social enterprises or Community Energy sector
ii) Person specification
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Highly motivated, able to spot and exploit new opportunities as they present themselves
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Ability to demonstrate flexibility and adaptability in to a range of skills and disciplines
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An excellent communicator, enthusiastic and engaging, able to communicate complex technical ideas in a simple and comprehensive manner
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Quick to learn and pick up new skills, working interchangeably, under instruction, in collaboration with others or alone
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Possessing the ability to facilitate the involvement and participation of others
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Excellent organisational abilities including the ability to organise oneself and others to ensure timely delivery of activities and outputs
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A good networker, able to make contacts and broker relationships
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Enthusiastic, positive and a problem solver
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Motivated by environmental and social justice concerns
6. Pay
2.5 days a week
FTE £20,000-25,000/annum (dependent on experience)
6 months contract
Self employed status would be considered
7. For more information
Contact: Jonathan Atkinson, jonathan@carbon.coop, 0161 448 6492 (or matt@carbon.coop w/c 27th July due to holiday)