Salary: £58,177 (Pro-rata)

Location:  Hybrid working with the expectation to work in the London office one day per week.

Contract: Fixed Term Contract until March 2028 working part-time, 0.8 FTE / 4 days per week with flexible working options.

Report to: Head of Cities.

Closing date: Midday on 28 August. We may close this vacancy early if we receive a high number of applications.

About Ashden  

Ashden boosts climate innovation in the UK and Global South. Our support brings clean energy to villages and refugee camps and fixes up cold and draughty homes.  

Ashden’s Sustainable Towns and Cities Team works across the UK, to support local authorities and communities to reduce carbon emission and adapt to the changing climate.  We have a strategic focus on energy efficiency and retrofit, local renewable energy systems, citizen engagement and community co-design, skills building and adaptation.  

About the Role  

We are seeking an experienced Project Manager to lead the delivery of a UK-wide Energy Learning Network designed to ensure that learning is shared right across the devolved nations to deliver impact that is greater than the sum of its parts.  The aim of the Network is to enable community groups focused on energy to maximise their scale and impact, whilst supporting those new to the sector. The Network is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund, delivered in partnership with Community Energy England, Community Energy Scotland, Community Energy Wales, Action Renewables and Centre for Sustainable Energy.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead a network designed to scale up the role and benefits of community energy across the UK. Do you have exceptional project management skills? Can you support hands-on delivery of the project? Do you have proven experience in managing partnerships?  

What you might find yourself doing:

• Managing the governance structures for the new Energy Learning Network partnership, including a project management group and advisory board. 
• Building and maintaining effective relationships with the programme partners and other stakeholders. 
• Managing the day-to-day governance of the partnership and reporting to the National Lottery Community Fund. 
• Undertaking stakeholder mapping of communities, local authorities or councils wishing to deliver community energy projects. 
• Managing peer mentoring support to help communities go faster. 
• Facilitating workshops and/or online seminars drawing on the experience of the whole network.
• Working with Ashden and network colleagues to promote community energy and signpost to great resources right across the UK. 
• Managing effective monitoring and evaluation to track the programme’s progress against its agreed outcomes.   
• Managing the programme budget Speaking at a wide range of events about the multiple benefits of community energy in all its forms.  

• Are a persuasive communicator who can convey complex information effectively to a diverse range of people, organisations, communicates and stakeholders.  
• Thrive on managing people and partnerships to deliver outcomes greater than the sum of their parts.
• Have top-notch project management and financial management skills.
• Are enthusiastic about the potential role of community energy across the UK to deliver positive local change.
• Are able to design and deliver a range of knowledge sharing activities such as workshops, seminars or case studies to support others to learn quickly.
• Are willing to take accountability and work in a self-managed way as well as working and collaborating with team members and partners.
• Bring passion and enthusiasm to the role.  
• It is also desirable (but not necessary) for you to have:
• First-hand experience of working with or in a community energy organisation.
• A good understanding of national, regional and local government.
• Specific project management training or qualifications.  

Core benefits

• Pension – generous pension scheme (12% employer contribution with opportunity for personal contribution also) and access to pensions advice and retirement planning. 
• Insurance – life assurance, critical illness cover, income protection scheme and will writing support.  
  Cycle to work scheme and interest free season ticket loan.  
• Discounts – for a wide range of shops, restaurants, cinema (and more) via our Discount Hub.   
  Holiday – 30 days annual leave (inclusive of 3 days office closure in December)
  Health, wellbeing and personal support
• Private health and dental care – we pay the cover, you pay the tax (and you can add dependants). 
  Annual health assessments – access to a free annual health check with a private GP.  
• Employer Assistance Programme (EAP) – free, independent support and advice including access to a GP service 24/7, counselling sessions, finance / legal advice, medical second opinion, and wellbeing resources.  
• Mental health support – our network of mental health first aiders can be a first point of contact, or support while you’re receiving professional help. 
  Occupational Health – including flu vouchers, eye care vouchers, and professional occupational health support. 
• Wellbeing related policies and initiatives – a range of policies and events that support employee wellbeing including offering enhanced family leave (Maternity/ Paternity/ Shared Leave/ Adoption/ Neonatal Care Leave/ Carers Leave) and running free information sessions on topics such as resilience and menopause.
  Work-life balance
• Flexible and hybrid working - we respect people’s different working preferences and the need for a healthy work-life balance. Job dependent, we offer flexible and hybrid working arrangements. 
  Social events – throughout the year, from book clubs and sports clubs to birthday cakes and team outings.
  Contributing to the community
• Volunteering policy – up to six days’ paid leave per year to undertake volunteering activities.  
  Give As You Earn - allows you to make tax-free donations to the charities you care about.