Energy Advisor / Champion

Reporting to the Energy Team Leader you will be responsible for engaging directly with partners, raising awareness of the service, the outcomes that the service achieves for clients, creating a community of energy awareness, providing face to face/telephone support.

To do this you will engage with partners and community groups on a one to one basis and through the delivery of energy awareness sessions to professionals and members of the community including sessions to raise awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide.

We are looking for someone who:

• Have excellent communication skills and be comfortable delivering presentations to groups of people.
• Be comfortable working in a target driven environment with good data analysis skills.
• Is able to build relationships with community groups and organisations.
• Is able to monitor and evaluate the impact of community engagement.
• Has experience with social media and other digital platforms.

We value diversity, promote equality and challenge discrimination. We encourage and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. We particularly welcome applications from people with disabilities and people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic groups, as they are currently under-represented in our workforce.

Please find the job pack ​here​​​

Advice Delivery

• Delivering energy advice to those at risk of, or in fuel poverty.
• Act as a consultant to advisers within our partner organisation on energy advice/energy efficiency issues.
• Deliver a programme of energy-focused ‘pop-up’ events in community locations; utilising data and local intelligence to target areas of most need.
• Undertaking assessments and offering practical energy saving tips and measures to clients.
• Advocate and liaise with energy and water suppliers on behalf of clients.
• Record and maintain case records that conform to set quality standards.
• Provide energy efficiency information to vulnerable clients along with appropriate referrals or signposting when necessary.
• Where appropriate refer clients into internal specialist services (Debt, Welfare Benefits) for clients with advice needs.
• Deliver light touch energy training to partner organisations.
• Actively promote the positive image of Citizens Advice SORT Group.

Performance targets and quality standards

• Assess the impact of energy efficiency advice and financial capability interventions in improving the financial resilience of clients.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of the service in promoting a culture of behaviour change in terms of energy awareness and income maximisation tailored to individual client groups.
• Keep up to date with changes to the energy industry and support the Manager to ensure all reporting requirements requested by funders or related external partners are met.
• Assist in the monitoring and collation of research & campaign issues and client success stories.
• Encourage good teamwork and lines of communication between all members of staff/volunteers

Professional and personal development

• Keep up to date with relevant energy advice issues and maintain an up to date working knowledge of all new relevant legislation through:

- Attending training opportunities.
- Reading monthly subscriptions, relevant publications and Citizens Advice Updates.

• Ensure all mandatory training is completed on time using the Development time allowed.
• Identify and implement plans for own training and development needs.
• Maintain personal training and development record.
• Work with your line manager to develop an annual learning and development plan which meets your development needs and the needs of the organisation.
• Take an active role by contributing to regular meetings, taking a lead on your own development.

Essential criteria

• Experience of working in a client facing environment.
• Have excellent written and communication skills and be comfortable delivering presentations to groups of people.
• Be comfortable working in a target driven environment with good data analysis skills.
• Some understanding of funder requirements and working to targets.
• Some understanding of building relationships with community groups and organisations.
• Able to monitor and evaluate the impact of community engagement.
• Experience with using social media and other digital platforms.
• Basic IT skills.
• Driving licence and own transport.
• A willingness and ability to travel across Greater Manchester on a regular basis to deliver energy awareness sessions.
• A willingness and ability to work unsocial hours on rare occasions (including weekends), with travel across the North West and other parts of the country.
• Some experience of giving energy, benefit or debt advice (desirable).
• Commitment and a desire to work in a culture that enables collaboration, where a supportive environment for colleagues is provided and where open and honest communication is championed. You live and breathe our organisational values.
• Ability to commit to and work within our values, aims, principles and policies in which equity and diversity is embedded throughout.
• Commitment to safeguarding principles and practices ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all children, young people and vulnerable adults who engage with the service.

Some of our benefits include:

• Flexible working opportunities
• 30 days annual leave + bank holidays, pro rata (plus additional days for length of service)
• 3% employer contribution
• Employee assistance scheme
• Annual and mid-year staff events
• Mental health and wider wellbeing initiatives
• Learning, development and growth opportunities