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Responsible to: Programme Coordinator

Accountable to: Chief Executive 

Located: Community House, Peterlee 

Scale/Salary: £27,500 pro rata

Hours: Part Time - 20 hours per week - must include a Friday morning, and at least a half day on Wednesday or Thursday 

Term: Fixed term until 31st October 2029 

Closing date: 9th March 2026 

Interviews: Interviews will take place on either Monday 16th March or Wednesday 18th March. Please ensure your availability on these dates. 

 

Are you passionate about tackling climate change and helping your community reduce carbon emissions? Do you want to help people save energy, lower their bills, and enjoy warmer, healthier homes?

 

If so, the Energising East Durham Programme needs you! Our mission is to provide trusted, expert advice on home energy savings through 1-1 casework, engagement events and advice clinics in local communities. 

This role is perfect for someone who wants to take practical action on climate change and enjoys working with people.

 

Role Outline 

Funded by the National Lottery Community Fund until October 2029. Energising East Durham is a community led response to the energy crisis and the climate emergency in the 27 towns and villages of the East Durham coast. 

 

East Durham Trust is seeking a motivated Energy Adviser to support delivery of energy-related projects across East Durham. This role involves working as part of a team of seven, collaborating with the community and various stakeholders on programme delivery. 

The Trust is an exciting place to work and offers a genuine opportunity to impact positively and bring about genuine change in the communities of East Durham. This post offers the chance to work alongside an experienced team to deliver a programme connected to that literally transforms lives.

Development opportunities may be possible as the organisation grows and evolves.

 

What does an Energy Adviser do? 

  • Engage the community in energy conversations
  • Conduct home assessments.
  • Provide energy efficiency advice to community members. 
  • Engage the public at energy efficiency events and advice clinics. 
  • Recommend behaviour changes and home improvements to reduce carbon emissions. 
  • Offer information on home improvements to decarbonize energy use at home. 
  • Work flexibly, including some evenings and weekends. Promote the service through word of mouth, online and offline media. 


Geographic Location 

The base of operations for the Energising East Durham programme is Community House in Peterlee. The Energy Adviser will be working around East Durham to meet our communities where they are and may, at times, work within other settings and services.

 

Duties and Key Responsibilities 

  • Engage with the public sympathetically and confidently. 
  • Complete any necessary Energy Adviser training. 
  • Provide accurate and knowledgeable advice on household energy savings. 
  • Guide individuals through the Fairer Warmth home action plan process. 
  • Support vulnerable and non-digital individuals with advice. 
  • Commit to delivering energy-saving advice at community events. 
  • Stay updated with technical and practical information to deliver high-quality energy advice. 

 

Sustainability Initiatives: 

  • Promote and implement sustainable energy practices within stakeholders, partners and the community. 
  • Advocate for renewable energy solutions and energy-efficient technologies in the community. 

 

Required Skills and Experience: 

  • Customer service or people-facing experience – you must enjoy engaging people in conversation and learning! 
  • Excellent verbal and listening skills, with a good dose of empathy. 
  • A friendly and professional attitude towards the public. 
  • Interest in and knowledge of energy efficiency measures and ways to save and decarbonise energy at home (full training provided). 
  • Ability to work independently and identify opportunities to extend the service. 
  • Organised and reliable with good time management. 
  • Computer-literate and comfortable using digital tools to give and track advice. 
  • Good administrative skills. 
  • Enthusiasm for combating climate change by reducing and decarbonizing energy use.


Training Provided: 

  • All needed training will be provided. 
  • Follow-up online modules for additional skills and training on the provided online tool to create energy efficiency plans. 
  • Additional training and support as needed, with funded training available for those wishing to progress. 
  • Basic computer skills required to operate a tablet device during advice sessions and log interactions into a database. 
  • You will need an email address, a phone number for contact, and internet access to log interactions and timesheets. 


 Benefits  

28 days holiday pro rata plus Bank Holidays rising to 33 days for long service, Contributory Pension, TOIL system, Health Assured Employee Assistance Programme, Access to training, Childcare Voucher Scheme, Carer Friendly Employer, Complimentary tea and coffee throughout the day, Free staff parking 


 Education and training 

  • Essential - Educated to A Level, Level 3 or equivalent

 

Experience 

Essential 

  • Experience in similar community-based role 
  • Proven experience in organizing own workload (e.g. caseload) and multitasking

 

Desirable 

  • Experience of community organising and/or supervising volunteers 
  • Experience of organising events and activities to engage the public 

 

Knowledge & Understanding 

Essential

  • Knowledge and understanding of the communities East Durham or areas of a similar nature 
  • Commitment to ensure equal opportunities and inclusion 
  • Understanding of Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sectors. 

 

Desirable

  • Knowledge of behaviour changes and home improvements that can reduce carbon emissions. 
  •  
  • Understanding of working in and with communities who face social and economic barriers.

 

Skills & Attributes 

Essential

 

  • Ability to engage and motivate individuals and communities
  • Proven ability to work independently, multitask and organize own workload (eg caseload) to complete both self-directed and directed tasks, as well as designated duties. 
  • Excellent organisational skills to ensure an effective start and finish of tasks. 
  • Good IT skills including use of all Office 365 based programs, CRM Software and other web-based systems 
  • Ability to effectively operate data and information systems