Carbon Neutral Islands Communications Officer

1. 1.      Introduction

Community Energy Scotland is recruiting for a Carbon Neutral Islands Communications Officer. We are looking to recruit an energetic, well-organised and self-motivated individual to work as part of a team supporting islands on the Carbon Neutral Islands project. Technical training as required, personal development opportunities, and support will be provided by Community Energy Scotland.

This application pack introduces you to the application process and timetable, and the Carbon Neutral Islands Officer role. If you have any queries, please contact Victoria at:

jobs@communityenergyscotland.org.uk.

1. 2.      The Application process

2.1.  Timetable

The timetable for the application process is as follows:

2.2.  How to apply

Applicants should submit a cover letter and CV to jobs@communityenergyscotland.org.uk by 12.30 on Monday 24^th July. The cover letter should provide the following information:

• Personal & contact details
• A brief explanation of your interest in the post
• How you meet the essential and desirable knowledge, skills & attributes outlined in the Person Specification on page 10
• The names and contact details of two referees, one of which should be your current or most recent employer. Referees will only be contacted once the successful candidate has been offered the job subject to references.

For enquiries about the vacancy please send an e-mail to jobs@communityenergyscotland.org.uk and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

1. 3.      background information

3.1.  Our organisation

Incorporated in 2007, CES’ charitable objects are community development, environmental protection and the prevention and relief of poverty. CES has been at the forefront of community energy development since then, supporting communities to take control of and benefit from their local renewable energy resources and help lower carbon emissions.

CES is a membership based organisation with over 400 Members across Scotland and is open to non-profit-distributing community groups to join. The Board of Community Energy Scotland is made up of up of elected and co-opted Directors. Elected Directors are nominated and voted in by Community Energy Scotland’s Members at its Annual General Meeting. Co-opted Directors are then invited by the elected Directors to join the Board to bring in additional skills and experience. Each Director brings to the Board a wide range of experience and expertise, from community development, banking and financial expertise, grid and technical knowledge, international work, social enterprise, academia and many other skills, all directly relevant to the work of Community Energy Scotland.

CES’ core values are:

• Trust: Trust is fundamental to how staff and the volunteer Board work together as a team in pursuit of CES’ aims;
• Integrity: our members and the communities we work with recognise we are reliable, impartial and deliver on our promises;
• Passion: Our Board and staff are committed to community development through a process of decarbonisation and democratisation of the energy system.

3.2.   What’s it like to be a Community Energy Scotland employee?

Community Energy Scotland currently has 22 members of staff based all over Scotland, including Orkney, the Outer Hebrides, Shetland and the Inner Hebrides. Staff have the option of working from home or being based in a local office.

In our Staff Satisfaction Survey in January 2023 when asked what they liked best about working for CES, staff gave the following feedback:

• “Really supportive and encouraging team. Love working collaboratively with colleagues and communities.”
• “CES feels both friendly and professional, which is very much a reflection of management attitudes.”
• “Feeling trusted to get on with work and being allowed flexibility when required.”
• “Staff wellbeing feels like a high priority at CES.”
• “Working with people who care on interesting projects”
• “I have a job that pays well, feels significant, based where I want to live, and I genuinely like the people I work with.”
• “Feel valued as an employee and the aims/vision of CES align strongly with my own

3.3.  The Carbon Neutral Islands Project Summary

The Carbon Neutral Islands project is a programme for government commitment aimed at supporting islands to become carbon neutral by 2040. In May 2022 the Scottish Government announced that Hoy, Islay, Great Cumbrae, Raasay, Barra and Yell were to be part of its Carbon Neutral Islands project. These Islands will demonstrate the low carbon energy potential of Scotland’s islands as hubs of innovation in renewable energy and climate change resilience, whilst positively impacting on island economies and population retention and growth.

The Carbon Neutral Islands project will help to deliver key commitments in the National Islands Plan and will create jobs, protect Scottish island environments from climate change, and contribute to the Scottish Government’s 2045 net zero commitment.

Carbon audits and a Community Climate Action Plan have been completed for all six islands, and the postholder will be part of a team delivering the next phase which includes the following key objectives:

• To ensure continued support of community engagement in relation to the Climate Change Action Plans.
• To work with the Local Anchor Organisation on each of the six CNI islands as appropriate, providing technical input and supporting engagement across the project.
• To contribute to the development of fully detailed, costed and resourced locally led investment strategies working with other key partners such as Highlands and Islands Enterprise as appropriate.
• Development of a new Community Action Handbook based specifically on the experiences of the CNI project to date.
• Support the Scottish Government in the development of a replicability strategy to allow islands across Scotland benefit from the CNI project.
• Act as anchor organisation for off-grid islands to develop an understanding of the challenges of off-grid islands to support them in their journey to net zero and inform the Community Action Handbook.
• Carry out ground truthing where appropriate to ensure carbon audits reflect as accurately as possible the picture of emissions across island communities in Scotland.

Whilst working closely with communities to move towards net zero in a fair and just way, the Carbon Neutral Islands project aims to share good practices and learnings from the project with all other Scottish islands and mainland communities.

1. 4.      Carbon neutral islands Communications Officer Job description

Community Energy Scotland is looking to recruit an energetic, well-organised and self-motivated individual to be part of a team delivering the next phase of the Carbon Neutral Islands project.

Personal development opportunities, and support will be provided by Community Energy Scotland.

• Fixed-Term Post to 31^st March 2024. This is a post funded by the Scottish Government – fixed Term initially until 31^st March 2024.
• Part or Full Time Post (17.5 - 35 hours per week) with potential for flexible working/job share. We welcome part time candidates and full time candidates.
• Reporting to CES Membership & Communications Officer

4.1.  Job Profile

4.1.1.      Overall Purpose

To develop and deliver a communications strategy to engage participating island communities, and wider Scottish communities, in Carbon Neutral Islands, working in the team in CES, and in partnership with island communities.

4.1.2.      Job Description

Main Tasks 

• Promote and raise awareness of the Carbon Neutral Islands project and active examples of community-led climate action on the islands, identifying opportunities to improve the accessibility and suitability of activities to wider demographics
• Develop creative and compelling communications and marketing for and about the participating islands across a wide range of channels including effective visual storytelling
• Orrganising events as part of the reliability strategy
• Developing and managing a new Carbon Neutral Islands website
• Create content for the website and written communications including bulletins, newsletters, social media & website based on audience and community group needs
• Establish, build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders in the island communities, strengthening a strong network of island communities delivering community-led climate action plans
• Support the development of the communications elements of the replicability strategy for Carbon Neutral Islands
• Working as part of the CNI team in CES to develop a new Community Action Handbook based specifically on the experiences of the CNI project to date
• Collaborating to create content and information, ensuring accuracy and all project partners are happy with all communications.
• Work closely with the Scottish Islands Federation Communications Officer on building the network and communication
• Work closely with the CES Membership & Comms officer and provide support
• Support island communities to carry out meaningful local participation and engagement to inform the investment strategies.
• Creating and developing educational materials and training sessions to help the communities fill in knowledge gaps.

Administration 

• To keep all personal work records up to date such as annual leave requests, My Hours and Monday.com

Other Tasks

• To prepare, deliver and facilitate presentations/open meetings and discussions when required.
• To play a full role in the evolution and operation of the team at Community Energy Scotland, and support the success of Community Energy Scotland as a whole
• Ongoing requirement to ensure work activity is well communicated to the wider CES team
• Subject to Covid restrictions, travel to meet clients and visit sites/islands is anticipated.
• To undertake other duties as may be required from time to time by the Chief Executive.

4.1.3.      Person Specification

The post holder will be expected to work on their own initiative, be self-motivated and well organised, in order to meet the deadlines and funding requirements of this project. 

4.1.3.1.            Essential Knowledge, Skills & Attributes

• A degree in communications, journalism, marketing, public relations, English, Education, community development or other relevant qualification or significant commensurate experience.
• An individual with excellent communication, interpersonal, representation and co-ordination skills to communicate effectively with colleagues, community groups, stakeholders and the wider public.
• Effective partnership-building skills and practical and effective experience of partnership working, especially with community groups
• Strong awareness of the requirements for effective team-working and related communications updates
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presentation skills
• An understanding of the communications mix and content production across multiple formats
• A clear understanding of social media, social advertising and digital communications
• Experience dealing with media both proactively and reactively
• Experience of working with community organisations or in community development
• A high level of self-motivation and strong commitment to Community Energy Scotland, its ethos and purpose
• Ability to prioritise work and meet deadlines
• Determination, perseverance, and sound problem-solving skills in the face of obstacles and challenges

4.1.3.2.            Desirable Knowledge, Skills & Attributes

In addition to the above, it may be desirable for candidates to possess some or all of the following:

• Driving licence and own transport due to location of some of the islands
• Written and spoken Gaelic
• Graphics, filming and video editing skills (willingness and demonstrable ability to learn relevant software) - desirable
• Familiarity with research projects, working to funding specifications, team-working in a research focussed manner.
• Good understanding of inclusion and dignity in a charity setting both internal to CES and with our prospective clients/partners
• A track record of working in and in partnership with development trusts and/or other grassroots community member-based development organisations.
• Knowledge of the renewable energy sector, decarbonisation, climate accounting and Net Zero

4.1.4.      Salary

• £28,500 per annum pro rata. Progression from starting salary is reviewed annually, and subject to satisfactory performance and Community Energy Scotland’s financial status.
• Employer’s monthly contribution to pension at a rate of 3% of monthly salary. If employment with Community Energy Scotland extends to over one year’s service, the contribution provided by Community Energy Scotland will at that stage rises to 6% of monthly salary.
• 36 days of leave per annum pro rata; comprising of 25 days flexible annual leave, plus 11 days of fixed and flexible bank holidays. Increasing to 27 days flexible leave after 2 years of service.
• Travel costs are reimbursed at £0.45 per mile.

4.1.5.      Location

Flexible – but resident on a Scottish Island is preferred. We currently have office provision in Orkney, Shetland, Benbecula and Lewis. Some travel to other Scottish Islands is likely to be required, while keeping our carbon footprint down following CES’ environmental policy.

4.1.6.      Start Date

August 2023 or as soon as possible thereafter.