Water Efficiency Officer at Education Authority Northern Ireland

Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

07 Oct, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

09 Jul, 26

Experience

2 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Water Efficiency Management, Data Analysis, Stakeholder Management, Budgeting and Billing, Performance Benchmarking, Staff Supervision, Reporting, Legislative Compliance, Project Management, Coaching, KPI Development, Resource Management

Industry

Education Administration Programs

Description

JOB DESCRIPTION REPORTS TO: Net Zero Buildings Manager RESPONSIBLE FOR: The post-holder will ensure effective administrative and operational support to the Quality, Energy and Sustainability (QES) Service, other QSHE Services and FM Services in relation to Water Efficiency. The post-holder may have supervisory responsibilities for administrative staff and will manage specialised areas of work. JOB PURPOSE The post-holder will report directly to the Net Zero Buildings Manager and will be required to work effectively with QES Senior Managers, other Senior EA colleagues, Principals, External Partners and multi-disciplinary Teams to deliver the EA’s Climate Change abitions and legislative requirements. This includes responsibility for providing advice and support to the Voluntary Grammar and Grant Maintained Integrated sector as required. Through the delivery of comprehensive Water Efficiency support, the post-holder will contribute to the Water Efficiency management processes across QSHE and FM Services as and when required. MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES STAFF MANAGEMENT AND SERVICE DELIVERY · Responsible for delivering efficient and effective administrative support for the Quality, Energy and Sustainability (QES) Service. This may involve managing the work of staff across multiple locations. · Where required the post-holder will manage dedicated administrative staff by assigning work, co-ordinating activities, and dealing with recruitment and resourcing issues. · Where required the post-holder will undertake line management responsibilities including approving annual leave requests dealing with any attendance management/disciplinary issues for a number of staff; across multiple locations as required. · Where required the post-holder will review the performance of reporting staff, identifying individual/team training requirements and initiating further training for professional and personal development. WATER EFFICIENCY AND ENERGY SUPPORT · Provide clear consistent information and coaching to EA staff to enhance the level of awareness and improve the understanding of Water Efficiency and Energy management processes throughout the FM Directorate. · Be responsible for the development of Water Efficiency and Energy metrics across all FM services to ensure consistency of reporting and the effective analysis of all Water Efficiency and Energy related data. · Be responsible for benchmarking, governance and service improvement in Water Efficiency and Energy. · Provide support to the FM Heads of Service (QSHE, Maintenance, Facilities Support Services) to develop, maintain, interrogate and progressively improve Water Efficiency and Energy systems to enable central co‐ordination of key performance indicators (KPIs) and supporting data across FM. · Be responsible for the development of Water Efficiency and Energy data management in support of all FM Services, internal and external stakeholders across schools and services e.g. planned and ad-hoc handling of utilities queries, ensuring follow up on reported Water Efficiency and Energy related issues and planned projects to improve Water Efficiency and Energy management initiatives. · Using the collated Water Efficiency and Energy consumption data from automated metering, and other utilities databases, be responsible for analysing and investigating positive and negative trends across FM services to inform the prioritisation of Water Efficiency and Energy interventions. · Be responsible for the ongoing review and development of Water Efficiency and Energy related procedures and protocols to identify weaknesses and make recommendations for service improvement where required across the FM Division. SPECIALIST ADVICE AND SUPPORT · Maintain the Water Database set up by the Consumer Council and analyse monthly water bills to identify consumption spikes or inefficient average daily consumption levels per pupil. · Notify Schools of any spikes or inefficiencies and provide them with the relevant support to help them identify the source, using the self-check guides. · Provide advice on how best to instigate repairs, provide values for the billing costs of leaks or inefficiencies and liaise with other EA Departments or Contractors where appropriate. · Manage the Leakage Allowance process to ensure all claims are successful and fully refunded by NI Water. · Identify any other opportunities to reduce water bill charges including Domestic Allowance applications, identify redundant meters and pipe size reductions. · Manage the introduction and ongoing roll out of Automated Meter Readers across the Schools and EA Corporate Estate to improve Water Efficiency performance, liaise with Third Party providers and obtain data from NI Water meters where appropriate. · Liaise with all stakeholders involved with the Water Efficiency journey, both within EA and with outside Agencies/Departments, to include NI Water and their Key Account Manager to seek out best practice models and integrate these, where appropriate. · Develop Water Efficiency tools that can integrate into other EA Management Systems. · Ensure Schools and EA Corporate Building Supervisors have access to information and support to assist them to reduce water consumption and costs. · Work with all relevant stakeholders to set targets for average daily consumption reductions and drive improvement with individual schools to achieve these. · Provide specific training and development to EA Staff when required, e.g. ensuring existing and new processes are implemented correctly together with development initiatives, programmes, regulations or updated regulations impacting Water Efficiency related processes. · Be responsible for the effective input to responses for correspondence, AQWs, FOIs, Ministerial Briefing Requests and Invites and DE Requests arising from enquires and complaints from parents, school principals, Board members, MLAs, MPs and other Public Representatives and Members of the Public. · Provide support and advice to Net Zero Buildings Manager, Senior QES Manager, Head of QSHE and QSHE Service Managers to ensure compliance with the latest legislative and policy guidance relating to Water Efficiency. · Assist the Net Zero Buildings Manager, Senior QES Manager, Head of QSHE and FM Heads of Service with the effective development of robust reporting arrangements for Water Efficiency related targets, strategies, action plans, business and operational plans; issuance of advice and reports on Water Efficiency related consumption and tariffs to end-users. · Support the development of policies arising from Project Boards and Working Groups including the coordination and development of Stakeholder consultations, Equality Impact Assessments in partnership with the impacted service areas and the Equality and Diversity Team e.g. Water Efficiency related Policies, Strategies and Action Plans. OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES · Build and maintain effective, professional, and respectful stakeholder relationships. · Develop and maintain clear lines of communication and effective working partnerships with relevant internal external stakeholders. · Comply with the Authority’s policy on General Data Protection Regulations (in particular processing sensitive personal information). · Undertake other related duties within the grade and competence of the postholder as required. This job description will be subject to review in light of changing circumstances and is not intended to be rigid and inflexible but should be regarded as providing guidelines within which the individual works. Other duties of a similar nature and appropriate to the grade may be assigned from time to time. In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act (1998), the post-holder is expected to promote good relations, equality of opportunity and pay due regard for equality legislation at all times. To view the summary of terms and conditions for this post, click here. PERSON SPECIFICATION NOTES TO JOB APPLICANTS 1. You must clearly demonstrate on your application form under each question, how, and to what extent you meet the required criteria as failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. You should clearly demonstrate this for both the essential and desirable criteria, where relevant. 2. You must demonstrate how you meet the criteria by the closing date for applications, unless the criteria state otherwise. 3. The stage in the process when the criteria will be measured is outlined in the table below. 4. Shortlisting will be carried out on the basis of the essential criteria set out in Section 1 below, using the information provided by you on your application form. 5. Please note that the Selection Panel reserves the right to shortlist only those applicants that it believes most strongly meet the criteria for the role. 6. In the event of an excessive number of applications, the Selection Panel also reserves the right to apply any desirable criteria as outlined in Section 3 at shortlisting, in which case these will be applied in the order listed. It is important therefore that you also clearly demonstrate on your application form on how you meet any desirable criteria. Section 1 - Essential Criteria The following are essential criteria which will initially be measured at the shortlisting stage and which may also be further explored during the interview/selection stage. You should therefore make it clear on your application form how, and to what extent you meet these criteria. Failure to do so may result in you not being shortlisted. Factor Essential Criteria Method of Assessment Qualifications/ Experience Hold a HNC/HND or above examination qualification and have a minimum of two years’ experience of working in a water efficiency advisory role across a diverse estate, providing advice and support directly to Senior Managers; OR Have a minimum of four years’ experience of working in a water efficiency advisory role across a diverse estate, providing advice and support directly to Senior Managers. Demonstrable experience of tracking, managing and evaluating water efficiency related performance issues across a large organisation Demonstrable experience of establishing and maintaining productive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders at a range of levels. Demonstrable experience in the research, collation and analysis of water consumption data from various sources to inform and priorities programmes of work. Shortlisting by Application Form Knowledge Demonstrable knowledge of putting in place a water management system to monitor NI Water bills centrally to optimise water efficiency and maximise the available financial savings across a large organisation. Demonstrable knowledge of the challenges facing a large organisation to effectively manage water consumption and cost. Shortlisting by Application Form Other The successful candidate will be required: to have access to a suitable vehicle (appropriately maintained and insured for Education Authority business) that will enable them to carry out the mobility requirements of the post in an efficient and effective manner and thus meet this essential criterion; OR be able to provide sufficient information on the application form that will satisfy the employer that he/she has access to an appropriate alternative form of transport that will enable them to carry out the mobility requirements of the post in an efficient and effective manner and thus meet this essential criterion. Shortlisting by Application Form Section 2 - Essential Criteria The following are additional essential criteria which will be measured during the interview/selection stage in line with EA’s Game Changing People Model. Factor Essential Criteria Method of Assessment Qualifications/ Experience Demonstrable knowledge of the challenges facing the EA in relation to water efficiency performance across the Schools and EA Estate. Interview Skills/ Abilities In line with EA’s Game Changing People Model we will look for evidence of: Flexibility to meet changing demands and to prioritise as required to deliver effective results on time. Proven ability to write, edit, analyse, collate and interpret information ensuring it is accurate, clear and concise for an intended audience. Ability to use own initiative and to take a responsive and customer focused approach to work. Ability to provide specialist advice and support where required. Proven ability to organise a busy workload to deliver effective results on time. Interview Values Orientation Evidence of how your experience and approach to work reflect EA’s ethos and values. You will find information about our Values here. Interview Our Values Through the selection process we will also seek evidence that the personal values of candidates align with those of the EA. This will include evidence of commitment to equality and excellence in service delivery. These reflect our aim which is to meet the needs of all our children and young people equally, removing barriers to learning and ensuring equality of access to excellent education services so that every child can develop to his or her full potential. DISCLOSURE OF CRIMINAL BACKGROUND The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (Northern Ireland) Order 2007 defines working directly with children or young people or in specified places as ‘regulated activity’. In the event that you are recommended for appointed to a post that involves ‘regulated activity’, the Education Authority will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure of Criminal Background. Please note that you WILL be expected to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate. Details of how to make payment will be sent to you at the pre-employment stage. Further information can be accessed at NI Direct or the Department of Justice. APPLICANT GUIDANCE NOTES To view the applicant guidance notes, please click here. To learn about the many great benefits of joining the Education Authority, click here The Education Authority is an Equal Opportunities Employer.

Responsibilities

The post-holder provides administrative and operational support for water efficiency and energy management across the Education Authority's estate. This includes analyzing consumption data, managing water bills, and providing specialist advice to schools to reduce costs and environmental impact.