Job Reference: AOE-SPLC.WHWM

Location: Birmingham B3 1SF & Pitchill WR11 8SN

Positions available: 2

‍Salary: £28,964 - £31,192 per annum (subject to experience) - Band D

‍Hours: Full time only - 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (occasional weekend and evening work)

Benefits:

⏵   25 days holiday + bank holidays
⏵   Workplace pension scheme
⏵   Critical illness cover
⏵   Full Training provided
⏵   Free tea and coffee
⏵   Away days

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ABOUT US

Act on Energy is a fast growing and dynamic energy advice charity.

We have been at the forefront of expert energy advice in the Midlands for 26 years. And although Energy is in our name – we have people at our heart.

Because the climate crisis and drive to Net Zero – as well as rising energy prices and increasing fuel poverty - means that people need us more than ever. Demand for our help has never been greater. That is why we are hiring.

So, if you are looking for a career change that absolutely makes a difference to people’s lives, our region, and the environment… come join us!

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ABOUT YOU

This role will suit individuals with experience of working with vulnerable households, families, and carers. Specific experience working in Health, Housing, Education and Community engagement required as we look to build up our service offer at pace. Understanding of, and commitment to, climate and sustainability issues is also valued and positively welcomed.

You will be a confident communicator, able to identify opportunities to network and grow our embeddedness across the region, comfortable working dynamically with multiple stakeholders. People-focused and process-driven with a methodical and organised approach. Successful casework relies on quality data, so you should be able to keep comprehensive records and understand how data can be used to tell insightful and powerful stories to our funders and beyond.

Your work on this programme will be supporting customers who access services across Health, Housing, Education and in the Community who are experiencing fuel poverty and will benefit from support around their energy consumption and its associated impacts.

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ABOUT THE ROLE

This is an exciting opportunity to join Act on Energy working on a flagship project across the West Midlands Combined Authority area.

The energy efficiency sector is experiencing significant growth, with ever-increasing levels of fuel poverty accompanied by assistance programmes. The links between poor overall wellbeing and fuel poverty are well established and we’re on a mission to address this.

Pathway lead roles will be responsible for developing relationships, existing and new with Statutory, Commercial and Voluntary Sector organisations to deliver a best-in-class energy information and support journey for end customers across the whole of the West Midlands Combined Authority area.

These exciting roles will work at both an operational and influencing level. Ultimately, you will be responsible for your own caseload supporting customers who are experiencing difficulties understanding and managing their energy consumption. You will be committed to supporting customers in a person-centred way, making every contact count whether this be in the home or in community settings, supporting positive change and delivering positive impacts. More than this, we are also looking for confident and enthusiastic communicators who can build, secure, enhance and embed new relationships with key stakeholders on a local and regional basis.

The support you will offer includes improving vulnerable fuel-poor households’ knowledge around energy efficiency, budgeting skills and confidence in navigating around personal energy circumstances and welfare needs. As an effective coordinator and advocate, you will actively manage casework, produce individual action plans, and complete pre/post evaluation activities with our project funders.

You will support Act on Energy's regional activity, working with, and developing, public and partner agencies relationships to tackle fuel poverty inequalities. Building these relationships as a sector specialist in one of the outlined areas of:

⏵ Health  
⏵ Housing
⏵ Education
⏵ Community Engagement and Development

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KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

You will provide holistic energy, financial and budgeting advice to ensure vulnerable fuel-poor households access needed assistance through grant schemes and referral pathways. You will understand people's needs, empowering them to be knowledgeable and resourceful.

You will also support partner agencies' front-line staff in understanding the warm homes-health outcomes relationship.

You will work in the community, from home and at Act on Energy's offices as required.

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PERSON SPECIFICATION

The person specification is a picture of skills, knowledge and experience required to carry out the role. It will also be used in the short-listing and interview process for this post. You should demonstrate in your CV and covering letter how you meet the criteria.

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SKILLS

You must work independently, managing your workload effectively using our CRM system while understanding privacy/safeguarding.

Other key skills:

⏵ Achieving agreed outcomes/targets
⏵ Commitment to Act on Energy's values
⏵ GDPR and health/safety compliance
⏵ Effective written/oral communication

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‍Essential skills:

• Excellent customer service skills; ideally honed with diverse audiences
• Understanding of housing, health, education, social care services and community-based issues
• Ability to Interact with multi-agency projects
• Driving high customer service standards
• Have highly developed interpersonal skills
• The ability to promote and sell service offers
• Have excellent customer service skills; ideally honed with diverse audiences
• Understanding project management, KPIs and deliverables
• Analytical skills and thorough approach to accurate record-keeping
• A Desire to support vulnerable customers and improve outcomes
• Excellent self-management skills
• Strong team player skills
• Flexibility to respond positively to workload changes
• Commitment to equal opportunities and anti-discrimination
• Strong Microsoft 365 (Office) skills especially Outlook, Teams, Word and Excel
• A good knowledge of the combined authority area which includes Birmingham, Coventry, Solihull, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Sandwell & Dudley.
• Ability to drive to and cover the above areas as required including attending the offices of Act on Energy in rural Warwickshire & Birmingham city centre.
• Full Driving license and car owner

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‍Desirable skills:

• Knowledge of domestic energy/affordable warmth
• Specific work experience and specialist knowledge in one or more of the following sectors:
• Health, Housing, Education and Community Engagement and Development
• Energy Awareness qualification
• Experience with a variety of CRM systems
• Knowledge of UK energy infrastructure
• Second language skills (written and/or oral)
• Experience supporting local authorities.

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Characteristics:

• Enthusiasm for environmental/social welfare
• Flexible, dynamic, and creative approach
• Natural problem solver and agile thinker
• Caring and compassionate.

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TRAINING

Training and support will be provided to you including opportunities to attend short training courses and potentially gain qualifications as needed.

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TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT

Subject to a 6-month probationary period.
Interviews will be held in person at our offices near Salford Priors, Warwickshire.

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OUR MISSION/ CORE VALUES

At Act on Energy, we strive to engage with householders to support them through their energy journey offering a full home energy support service and impartial advice with the householder at the centre of all that we do.

We ensure that we handhold the most vulnerable householders through all their energy needs and aim to empower others to make ongoing decisions that will provide better health and economic outcomes for residents of Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Coventry, Solihull, Birmingham, and the wider West Midlands.